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austin-moms-blog-idea-public-schoolsIDEA Public Schools’ Class of 2016 Celebrates 100% College Acceptance at College Signing Day Ceremony
507 graduating seniors will reveal for the first-time the college or university they will attend in the fall

Last week, IDEA Public Schools’ 507 seniors revealed their college choices to a packed arena. This year marks the 10th consecutive year IDEA will send 100% of their graduating seniors on to college. This accomplishment is all the more impressive since the vast majority of IDEA’s students –90% – come from low-income households in some of the most underserved communities in Texas.

IDEA Public Schools’ Class of 2016 is an impressive group of young people, with many exceptional accomplishments. Here is just a sample of the highlights from the Class of 2016;

  • 35% of 2016 graduates were accepted to a Tier 1 or 2 College or University – up from 25% last year.
  • The Class of 2016 has already earned $22 million in scholarships, including three Dell Scholar recipients.
  • Class of 2016 graduates will be attending the University of Texas, Northwestern University, Dartmouth, Yale and Boston College, just to name a few.

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IDEA Public Schools believes that college will be a reality for all children. Just last month, U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Post ranked several IDEA High Schools among the best and most challenging schools in the nation. IDEA makes sure their students have what it takes to get into college, and then gives them what they need to graduate from college. Students who attend top colleges and universities, Tier One and Two, are statistically more likely to graduate and receive advanced degrees. IDEA has deliberately focused its curriculum and college support services to get more of its graduates into these institutions. The increase in IDEA students accepted to Tier One and Two colleges is a direct reflection of IDEA’s commitment to offer students access to all the opportunities of the most elite public and private high schools.

IDEA College Signing Day 2016 from IDEA Public Schools on Vimeo.

While there were more than 500 success stories to celebrate at IDEA’s College Signing Day event, two students have blazed their own unique trails to the Ivy League.

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Carolina Cantu: Carolina will enter Princeton University in the fall of 2016 after graduating from IDEA Quest College Prep in Edinburg, TX. She came to IDEA in 6
th grade and has been preparing every day since then to be the first member of her family to attend college.

Carolina says, “I am so excited about going to Princeton. I can’t believe that I was able to get this life-changing opportunity through the Questbridge program. I know I will go and make my family and community proud.”

Francisco Macossay: Francisco will celebrate his acceptance to Brown University with his classmates, teachers and family. While any student would be proud of this accomplishment, it’s even more remarkable for Francisco. A native of Reynosa, Mexico, Francisco came to this country when he was fourteen years old. Now, three years later, he’s headed to one of this country’s most prestigious institutions. But there is even more to Francisco’s story. Francisco took AP Spanish as part of IDEA’s AP for All initiative. He was one of just 55 students worldwide, to receive a perfect score.

“I’m extremely excited about being accepted to Brown because I know it will open up a world of possibilities and my dream is now becoming a reality,” said Francisco of his IDEA experience and his acceptance to Brown.

These students will leave IDEA with more than a world-class K-12 education. IDEA’s College Support Team will make sure they have every resource – from financial aid to housing and travel, to academic and counseling supports, well into their college careers. IDEA begins preparing students for success in college from the first day of kindergarten with campus visits, college counseling and application supports, and that support doesn’t end until each IDEA alumnus graduates from college.

“It’s common place to celebrate young, gifted athletes when they select a college. Some will make it all the way to the pros, while some will never make it out of college, but we recognize their athletic achievements, all the same. College Signing Day is the most important event on the IDEA Public Schools calendar, because it celebrates our students’ academic achievements. They’ve worked just as hard, and if we have anything to say about it, every single one of them will earn their college degree,” said IDEA co-founder Tom Torkelson. “Every year our students and teachers prove that every child can and will succeed regardless of demographics, income, or geography.”

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About IDEA Public Schools

IDEA Public Schools is a growing network of tuition-free K-12 public schools serving nearly 24,000 students in 44 schools across Texas (San Antonio, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley). With a track record of success including top-ranked high school by US News & World Report and The Washington Post, 100% college acceptance, and a college graduation rate five times the national average for low-income students, IDEA families, students, and staff are proving that college is possible for all children.

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