About the School
IDEA Public Schools is a tuition-free, Pre-K??2 public charter school network in the United States, focused on preparing every child for college. Founded in 2000 in Donna, Texas, by Tom Torkelson and JoAnn Gama, IDEA operates 143 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohio, serving over 87,000 students. The organization emphasizes a rigorous curriculum that includes Advanced Placement courses and structured literacy instruction. IDEA is dedicated to supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with a significant portion of its student body being Hispanic. Nearly 100% of IDEA graduates have enrolled in college, reflecting the network's commitment to college readiness. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, IDEA aims to expand its reach to serve 1 million students in the future.