KIPP Houston Public Schools (KIPP)

KIPP Houston's mission: To build a better tomorrow, we educate our students with the academic and character skills necessary to thrive in college and lead choice-filled lives. KIPP began in 1994 with a powerful idea: to create a classroom that helped children develop the knowledge, skills, character, and habits necessary to succeed in college and build a better tomorrow for their communities. Founders Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin began by redefining what was possible for a classroom of public school students in Houston. Essential to creating a great system of schools is having our eyes on the same goal: college graduation. At KIPP Houston, teachers, leaders, students, and parents are all united around this goal. By providing outstanding educators, more time in school learning, and a strong culture of achievement, KIPP Houston is helping students build the skills needed to make it not only to, but through, college. During the 2017-18 school year, approximately 13,600 students were enrolled in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. KIPP Houston operated 10 primary schools, 12 middle schools and 4 high schools. The students that KIPP Houston serves are predominantly minorities with 62% identified as Hispanic, 33% as African-American, 1% as Caucasian, 1% as American Indian or Alaskan Native, and 3% as Asian. The school day begins at 7:25 a.m. and ends at 4:15. On Fridays, the school day begins at 7:25 a.m. and ends at 3:00. All KIPP students, parents, and teachers sign a Commitment to Excellence pledge in which they commit to do whatever it takes for themselves and their teammates to learn and prepare for college. From day one in our schools, college is the focus; college banners line the school hallways and classes are identified by the year those KIPP students are projected to go to college. KIPP Houston's ultimate goal is to raise the college graduation rate for KIPPsters to 82%. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to address the achievement gap between our nation's low and high income students. Although 91% of KIPPsters come from economically disadvantaged families, 96% of KIPP Houston students graduate from high school; and 85% have matriculated to a higher education institution. Tracking from the eighth grade, nearly 50% of alumni have graduated from college and another 10% are still persisting. This college graduation rate is more than five times the graduation rate of comparable low-income students across the United States.