Pre-K at IDEA Public Schools

ACMB is happy to partner with IDEA Public Schools to share information on their Pre-K program.  

IDEA Public Schools believes the road to college starts at a young age.

IDEA’s philosophy: children excel in high school, college, and beyond if they’re fundamentally sound readers, writers, mathematicians, and thinkers. IDEA’s Pre-K program helps ensure every student is prepared for success in kindergarten and beyond.

In the fall of 2017, IDEA will offer Pre-K in San Antonio at four of its campuses— IDEA Brackenridge, IDEA Ewing Halsell, IDEA Harvey E. Najim, and IDEA South Flores —with plans to expand to all IDEA San Antonio campuses in the future.

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IDEA Pre-K Beginnings

Three years ago, IDEA launched its Pre-K program at IDEA Pharr Academy in the Rio Grande Valley. Their goal was to place new, young scholars on the path to college with a quality Pre-K program. 

“We saw the data from Pre-K at IDEA Pharr Academy explode—kids were responding,” Dolores Gonzalez, IDEA’s Chief Program Officer, said about the pilot. “They were beginning to learn the building blocks of literacy at four years old.” 

Due to tremendous success at IDEA Pharr Academy, IDEA now offers Pre-K at 12 schools and will offer it at 22 schools across the Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio in the fall of 2017.   

What Makes IDEA’s Pre-K Program Special?

Beyond fundamental instruction in reading, language, and math, IDEA’s Pre-K curriculum also includes science lessons, field trips, and activities that promote the development of problem-solving and social skills. IDEA’s half-day program lends itself to small, intimate learning groups with no more than 10 students per group.  This allows teachers to devote plenty of personalized attention to each student, and also provide opportunities for re-teaching when needed. 

IDEA’s literacy component is fun and engaging, and is the central focus of the Pre-K program, serving as the foundation to all content. IDEA believes that great readers make great learners. If students can’t read, they certainly can’t solve a math word problem or grasp science concepts. That’s why IDEA’s high-quality teachers make sure students learn the sound each letter makes through game-and-activity-oriented lessons.      

IDEA’s Pre-K scholars are a perfect example of the connection between literacy and learning. In fact, 94% of IDEA’s youngest learners finished the year completing kindergarten work! 

Why Half Day?

At four years old, students are just learning how to be a student—asking questions, absorbing instruction, and cooperating with others.  IDEA’s Pre-K program is half-day and gradually increases the needed length of attention-span, so that, little-by-little, your child develops the tools to engage with the material they’re exposed to, apply the knowledge they’ve acquired, and learn to work independently as they become ready for a full day of instruction as a kindergartener.     

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Future College Graduates

IDEA’s high-quality teachers are committed to building character and academics for each and every student. Even in Pre-K, IDEA instills in them the expectation that they will go to college. This expectation is woven in the fabric of everything IDEA teachers and leaders say and do.

IDEA pre-kindergarteners aren’t just talking about college—they’re preparing for it. The early years of education are some of the most important for students. A lack of a solid foundation can lead to children falling behind later in their academic career, but IDEA’s Pre-K program ensures your child develops the tools to start kindergarten strong and grow each year in school.

Apply Now

IDEA is thrilled to announce the launch of Pre-K in San Antonio. By 2018, they will serve grades Pre-K through 12 in the Alamo City, and accept student applications at any grade level. Today, IDEA operates 14 schools serving more than five thousand students in grades K-10 across San Antonio: the Eastside, the Westside, the Southside, and the Northeast. Each IDEA San Antonio student is preparing for success in and after college, and IDEA staff and families work together to ensure 100% college acceptance, matriculation, and—eventually— graduation.  Your child can start on the path to college now. Limited spots are available.

 

 Apply today for the 2017-18 school year!

Michelle
Michelle moved to San Antonio eight years ago and yet still feels like a newcomer. She is rather smitten with the Alamo City. She and her husband met at Texas A&M and started their marriage in Minnesota. After six years of very cold winters, they returned to Texas. Michelle has two kids (12 and 9), along with a very quirky rescue dog and two rather cute guinea pigs. A former corporate food scientist turned part-time yoga instructor, she still takes her food very seriously—she just doesn’t get paid for it anymore. She is fueled by tea, cold brew coffee, yoga, dog walking, books and quickly googling answers to her kids eleventy million questions.