Hidalgo County Districts: Idea Public Schools schools welcomed most students in 2021-22 school year

TX Commissioner of Education Mike Morath 2023 | State Board for Education

By Mid City Times

Oct 4, 2023

Idea Public Schools had the highest enrollment among Hidalgo County districts, welcoming 67,988 students during the 2021-22 academic year, according to the Texas Education Agency report.

Out of the total students welcomed in the 2021-22 school year, 50.3% of them were boys, and 49.7% were girls.

Data also showed that most of the students were Hispanic, representing 85.7% of the Idea Public Schools total enrollment.

Among the 24 districts in Hidalgo County, Edinburg CISD ranked second in enrollment numbers with 32,078 students, while Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD welcomed 29,250 students and ranked third in the 2021-22 school year.

Idea Public Schools generally encompasses schools within Hidalgo County with its main office in Weslaco.

In the previous school year, Idea Public Schools had the highest number of students among Hidalgo County districts.

The Texas education system is currently torn between public schools and taxpayer-funded private schools.

Critics argue that private schools use funds that should go to the public school system, while private school advocates claim they’re offering better education for more Texas students.

Education in Texas is often a hot button issue, especially as test scores lag behind other states.

“The problems commonly cited are flaws in the school financing system, relatively low teacher salary, poor test performance by students, dropouts from traditional schools in favor of charter schools, gun violence, and mental health issues,” claimed the Texas Almanac.

Enrollment in Idea Public Schools Over 3 Years

Enrollment in Hidalgo County Districts During 2021-22 School Year

District	City (Main Office)	Total enrollment
Idea Public Schools	Weslaco	67,988
Edinburg CISD	Edinburg	32,078
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD	Pharr	29,250
La Joya ISD	La Joya	24,163
Mcallen ISD	McAllen	20,410
Weslaco ISD	Weslaco	15,639
Texas College Preparatory Academies	Lewisville	15,238
Mission CISD	Mission	13,990
Donna ISD	Donna	13,061
Sharyland ISD	Mission	9,503
Premier High Schools	Lewisville	6,834
Vanguard Academy	Pharr	5,364
Mercedes ISD	Mercedes	4,418
South Texas ISD	Mercedes	4,251
Edcouch-Elsa ISD	Edcouch	4,140
Valley View ISD	Pharr	3,790
Hidalgo ISD	Hidalgo	2,839
Progreso ISD	Progreso	1,393
Horizon Montessori Public Schools	Weslaco	1,392
Monte Alto ISD	Monte Alto	890
La Villa ISD	La Villa	560
Santa Maria ISD	Santa Maria	544
Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley	McAllen	485
Excellence In Leadership Academy	Mission	301