Location
Grade Levels
- 9-12
Learning Models
- Personalized Learning
- Project-Based Learning
- Real World Learning
Governance
Grades Served: 9-12
Students Served: 201
About
In its fifth year of operation, IDEA at James W. Fannin is focused on three major pieces for its students. First, the school provides a personalized education for every student, where students are engaged in content that is appropriately rigorous and challenging for their needs, interests and skill sets. Second, the school offers work experience, where each underclassman is paired with a professional mentor and works towards securing an internship by as early as sophomore year. Third, the school focuses on next-generation, soft skills like innovative thinking, articulate communication and collaboration.
The Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship Academy (IDEA), located in downtown Dallas, Texas, is a public high school within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) that provides a forward-thinking education focused on design thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. IDEA serves students in grades 9 through 12, offering a dynamic and personalized learning environment to prepare them for college, careers, and leadership roles in the 21st-century economy.
At IDEA, students engage in project-based learning, tackling real-world problems in collaboration with local businesses and community partners. The curriculum integrates core academic subjects with design principles and entrepreneurial skills, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability.
Key features of IDEA include:
- Design Thinking: Students learn to approach challenges with a human-centered, problem-solving mindset.
- Entrepreneurial Focus: Courses and projects encourage students to develop business ideas, innovate solutions, and pitch concepts to real audiences.
- Personalized Learning: Small class sizes and individualized attention ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed academically and personally.
IDEA’s downtown location provides students with access to professional resources, mentorships, and internship opportunities. The school also emphasizes the development of professional skills such as collaboration, communication, and leadership, equipping students with tools for success in any field.
By combining rigorous academics with hands-on learning and real-world applications, IDEA empowers students to become innovators and changemakers in their communities and beyond.