Cameron 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 San Antonio Standard

Oct 1, 2023

Idea Public Schools had the highest enrollment among Cameron 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 18 districts in Cameron County, Brownsville ISD ranked second in enrollment numbers with 38,448 students, while Harlingen CISD welcomed 17,037 students and ranked third in the 2021-22 school year.

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

In the previous school year, Idea Public Schools had the highest number of students among Cameron 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 Cameron County Districts During 2021-22 School Year

District	City (Main Office)	Total enrollment
Idea Public Schools	Weslaco	67,988
Brownsville ISD	Brownsville	38,448
Harlingen CISD	Harlingen	17,037
Los Fresnos CISD	Los Fresnos	10,355
San Benito CISD	San Benito	9,211
Premier High Schools	Lewisville	6,834
Jubilee Academies	San Antonio	5,764
Harmony Science Academy (San Antonio)	San Antonio	4,466
South Texas ISD	Mercedes	4,251
La Feria ISD	La Feria	2,911
Point Isabel ISD	Port Isabel	1,976
Rio Hondo ISD	Rio Hondo	1,603
Raul Yzaguirre Schools For Success	Brownsville	1,563
Horizon Montessori Public Schools	Weslaco	1,392
Promesa Public Schools	Austin	1,018
Santa Rosa ISD	Santa Rosa	849
Santa Maria ISD	Santa Maria	544
Triumph Public High Schools-Rio Grande Valley	McAllen	485