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By now, we’re sure you’ve heard about Restore Rundberg, a community revitalization project led by the Austin Police Department for the neighborhood that once had the highest crime rate per capita in Austin. The neighborhood has already seen a drastic improvement due to partnerships between the Austin Police Department and organizations working to improve the neighborhood like the University of Texas, City of Austin, and community at large.

One of those community organizations is IDEA Public Schools. IDEA is a network of tuition-free, college preparatory schools in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Austin, serving over 24,000 students in 44 schools with a mission of “College For All.”

IDEA founded its flagship Austin campus, IDEA Allan Academy and College Preparatory in 2012. Last year, IDEA expanded its presence in Austin and opened IDEA Rundberg Academy and College Prep in the former Showplace Lanes. The former bowling alley has been transformed and is now in its seventh month of operation as a high-performing school serving 468 students in grades K-2 and 6 under the leadership of Karen Weissinger and Pike Nichols.

“IDEA Rundberg is truly a neighborhood school,” said Larkin Tackett, executive director of IDEA Austin. “More than 70% of students attending IDEA Rundberg come from within a three mile radius and we’re happy to be here.

What’s more, besides being invested in the Restore Rundberg community effort, IDEA Rundberg recently sold additional land back to the City of Austin to build a six-acre park for the community. The park will have an access point to IDEA Rundberg for students and families to have a safer walking route to the campus—a priority for this neighborhood given its history.

IDEA Public Schools is proud to be making an impact in our Austin communities like the Rundberg area. Today, only 5.9% of low-income students in Austin will earn a college degree, which is lower than the national and state average of 8%. IDEA exists to change that and is making strides in Austin. As of today, IDEA Rundberg is on its way to being one of the highest ranked IDEA schools in our network of 44 schools!

Want to know more about IDEA Public Schools?

We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions! There’s lots of ways to get in touch. We look forward to talking to you.

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