Imagine International Academy of North Texas (IIA-NT), a public charter school in McKinney is looking for community support during North Texas Giving Day.
With a goal of raising $70,000 for the Dragon Annual Fund by midnight on Sept. 19, 2024, IIA-NT aims to continue its growth and enhance student experiences. The funds raised will help close the funding gap and address teacher salary disparities between public charter schools and independent school districts.
Charter schools, like traditional public schools, receive state funding based on student enrollment. However, they receive less funding compared to traditional public schools.
According to the txcharterschools.org, charter schools receive $676 less per student compared to ISDs. Charter schools do not receive any local revenue, which constitutes more than half of ISD budgets. As a result, charter schools rely entirely on state funding.
Founded in 2012, IIA-NT currently serves over 1,400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with an equally extensive waitlist. The school’s curriculum is built on a strong foundation of critical thinking, intercultural awareness, foreign language acquisition and a commitment to community service.
While many public school districts continue to face the lingering effects of post-COVID learning gaps, students at IIA-NT have demonstrated exceptional resilience and achievement, consistently outperforming state averages.
According to the school, elementary and middle school students score 89% higher in math and 88% higher in reading, while the high school earned a national ranking of #129 and a Texas ranking of #18 by U.S. News & World Report. High school students at IIA-NT achieve STAAR scores that are 53% higher in math, 57% higher in reading, and 42% higher in science compared to their peers across the state.
"These exceptional results come despite receiving less funding from the state and the unfortunate reality that our teachers earn less than their counterparts in Texas ISD schools,” Central Administration Officer Elisha Upton said in an official statement. “This speaks volumes about the dedication of our educators and the commitment of our students and families.”
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