About KIPP LA Schools

Mission.

The mission of KIPP LA Schools is to teach the academic skills, foster the intellectual habits, and cultivate the character traits needed for our students to thrive in high school, college, and life. Through the success of our students, the KIPP LA team and family will serve as a model of excellence and collaborate with others to raise the quality of education in Los Angeles.

History & Overview.

KIPP LA’s two middle schools, KIPP Academy of Opportunity in South Los Angeles and KIPP LA Prep in Boyle Heights, opened in summer 2003. KIPP LA’s first elementary school, KIPP Raíces Academy, opened its doors in summer 2008 in East Los Angeles. The two middle schools collectively serve 730 students in grades five through eight. Our elementary school serves 200 kindergartners and first graders, and will add one grade each year until it reaches 500 students in grades K through four.

Currently, 62 percent of our students are Latino, 36 percent are African American, and two percent are Asian/Pacific Islander. Eighty-eight percent of our students are from low-income communities.

Students typically enroll in our middle schools performing two to three years below grade level in the core academic subjects, and the majority of our elementary school students are English Language Learners. During their time at KIPP LA, our students make significant academic progress and are prepared to successfully “climb the mountain” to college. To see our results, click here. 

Expansion Plan.

In summer 2008, KIPP LA launched an expansion effort that will take us to fourteen schools – seven elementary schools serving grades K through four, and seven middle schools serving grades five through eight – by 2015. By 2019, our schools will enroll approximately 6,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in South and East Los Angeles.

Our next two schools, KIPP Comienza Community Prep and KIPP Empower Academy, both of which are elementary schools, are scheduled to open in summer 2010.