The district has been criticized for selecting students based on academic performance. Dr. Ed Fuller, a professor at Pennsylvania State University has said that IDEA schools do not enroll "underserved" students. Antonio Limon, a San Benito school Superintendent, criticized the district for "cherry picking" its students. Limon claimed that IDEA picked higher performing students when holding lotteries for admission. Torkelson has denied these claims, stating that schools host "transparent, public lotteries." Limon, however, said that even though lotteries are hosted, the district keeps the "best" students, while taking out the lower performing ones.