Idea Ewing Halsell Academy

Idea Ewing Halsell Academy is a K-5 charter school in San Antonio, TX, serving 704 students as part of the Idea Public Schools district, where about 78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school has experienced a significant decline in recent years, dropping from a 4-star rating (77th percentile) to a 1-star rating (25th percentile). While reading scores remain a relative strength—with 5th grade reading at 54.62% proficiency, the highest among nearby schools like Hutchins Elementary (47.83%) and Roy Benavidez Elementary (36%)—math scores have declined for three consecutive years. For example, 5th grade math dropped from 29% to 25.58% proficiency, which is lower than Price Elementary (54.55%) and Hutchins Elementary (43.48%). Interestingly, 5th grade science was a standout at 37.69% proficiency, exceeding the state average of 29.57% and far outperforming all nearby schools.

Compared to its nearest neighbor, Hutchins Elementary (0.2 miles away), Idea Ewing Halsell has a reading advantage in 4th and 5th grades but a significant math deficit. Hutchins has shown improvement and now ranks higher overall (31st percentile vs. 25th). The school operates on a lower budget (~$8,291 per student) than nearby district schools, which spend $10,000-$13,000 per student, suggesting efficiency but possibly at the cost of math support. While the school was once highly effective with at-risk students, recent data shows a collapse in performance for low socio-economic status students, dropping from the 56th to the 26th percentile. For families, this school offers strong reading and science instruction but requires careful attention to math support needs.