Mega Doctor News
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – IDEA Public Schools in the Rio Grande Valley is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year. Right now, IDEA Rio Grande Valley currently serves over 35,000 students in 51 schools.
IDEA in the RGV area continues to set a high bar for academic excellence with multiple campuses earning national recognition. In the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings, 13 IDEA RGV schools ranked among the top five percent of best high schools in the state. Notably, IDEA McAllen College Preparatory, IDEA Frontier College Preparatory, and IDEA Quest College Preparatory were ranked in the top one percent of best high schools across the nation. Furthermore, the 2024–2025 TEA accountability ratings awarded A and B letter grades to 88 IDEA schools across the state, 41 hailing from IDEA RGV, underscoring the consistently strong academic performance of the network. IDEA’s expert teachers partner with students and families every step of the way to ensure that students are prepared for success in college and life.
For the 2026-27 school year, IDEA Harlingen College Preparatory and IDEA Palmview College Preparatory will welcome their first senior class. The graduating class of 2027 began their journey as 6th graders and are set to fulfill IDEA’s mission of going to and through college by completing over 11 AP courses, career tech courses, and visiting over 15 colleges and universities.
“IDEA’s presence in the RGV is growing stronger each year as we work hand-in-hand with families to create lasting pathways to college success,” said Jill Dominguez, Area Superintendent for the Rio Grande Valley. “As we celebrate milestones, we are reminded that our mission is bigger than academics. It’s about opening doors of opportunity and ensuring every child is prepared to succeed in college and beyond.”
The deadline to apply for the 2026-27 school year is Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Parents can submit an application here.
A random lottery will be held on February 21, 2026, to determine which scholars will fill spots available at each IDEA school. If randomly selected, families will be notified and invited to attend a “Welcome to IDEA” event where scholars celebrate their acceptance to IDEA and orient to IDEA’s culture, curriculum and expectations.
Students not randomly selected to attend IDEA will be placed on a wait list, and the wait list order will be randomly determined. Student applications on the wait list will remain on file for the rest of the 2026-2027 school year. If a spot becomes available, students will be selected from the wait list, and parents will be notified of their selection and informed of the next steps.
Families can find a list of the IDEA Rio Grande Valley campuses here.
To learn more about IDEA Public Schools, please visit www.ideapublicschools.org.
