KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) currently consists of 183 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serving nearly 70,000 students. More than 87 percent of our students are from low-income families and eligible for the federal free or reduced-price meals program, and 96 percent are African American or Latino. Nationally, more than 94 percent of KIPP middle school students have graduated high school, and more than 82 percent of KIPP alumni have gone on to college.
KIPP schools enroll all interested students, space permitting, …show more content…
Since its founding in 1994 by Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin in a Houston classroom of 47 5th-graders, KIPP.org has aided in the development of education, skills, and valuable skills that enhance children’s ability to advance onto higher education.
As fifth grade educators in Houston’s impoverished and crime-filled Third Ward, Mike and Dave witnessed first hand the need for children to have a path towards high-quality college prep instruction and high-quality mentorship. With their determination, KIPP has continued to grow, and has proven itself pivotal to the communities it serves. In fact, by 1999, KIPP.org’s two middle schools in Houston and New York City ranked among some of the best-performing public charter schools in their communities.
KIPP.org’s success stories have been growing in its 22 years with the highly effective utilization of KIPP.org’s Five Pillars: High Expectations, Choice and Commitment, More Time, Power to Lead, and Focus on Results.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
KIPP schools have clearly defined and measurable high expectations for academic achievement and conduct. Students, parents, teachers, and staff create and reinforce a culture of achievement and support through a range of formal and informal rewards and consequences for academic performance and behavior.
CHOICE & …show more content…
With family, friends, and fellow teachers for support, the founders focus on recruiting teachers and students, developing excellent academic skills, and training potential leaders. In 2000, the KIPP Foundation was established to train, recruit, and develop candidates who would become leaders to run future KIPP schools. KIPP successfully open its first elementary and high schools which would become a Pre-K to 12 system.
The Students of KIPP
PRE-K/ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
KIPP pre-kindergarten/elementary schools typically begin with a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten class and add a grade each year until eventually enrolling up to fourth-grade students. Currently, KIPP operates 71 elementary schools across the nation.
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
The traditional KIPP middle school starts with a fifth grade and adds a grade each year to serve fifth through eighth grades. There are currently 90 KIPP middle schools around the country.
HIGH SCHOOLS
KIPP high schools begin with ninth grade and add a grade each year until they become full ninth through twelfth grade high schools. KIPP has grown to reach 22 high schools serving communities around the country.
KIPP.org was founded by teachers who wanted to make a difference and in turn have paved the way to educate and mentor countless children in the process.
Sources:
Five Pillars from KIPP.org’s official