The Rio Grande Valley in Texas is not the first place that policymakers look for solutions to America's most enduring problems. But from this region of chronic poverty comes a charter school network so good at teaching the poor that it has attracted nearly $1 billion in bonds, as well as bids from leaders around the country eager to help finance its expansion into their cities.
IDEA Public Schools is the fastest-growing school district in America. Founded in 2000 by two Teach for America alums on the second floor of a church near the Mexican border, IDEA today comprises 79 schools, 45,000 students, 5,100 employees, and a budget of $500 million. It opened 18 schools last year and will open 18 more in 2019. It has expanded into El Paso and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (its first location outside Texas). It will open schools in Fort Worth in 2019, Houston in 2020, and Midland and Tampa in 2021. By 2022, it expects to have 173 schools and 100,000 students, almost all from poor homes.
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