Empowering students.  Proving the possible in public education.

Organizational Overview

KIPP New Orleans is developing an influential network of open-enrollment, public, college preparatory charter schools that gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in school and in life.  KIPP New Orleans currently operates three high performing schools in New Orleans, serving more than 700 of some of our city’s highest needs students. Our schools include two middle schools, KIPP Believe and KIPP Central City, and one pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school KIPP McDonogh 15. 

In addition to operating three schools, KIPP New Orleans plans to open a new elementary school in 2008 and a new high school in 2010.  KIPP New Orleans also has a School Support Center which coordinates shared services of operations, academic support, teacher recruitment, communications, and development across the regional network.

KIPP New Orleans is committed to serving traditionally under-served communities to prove that our students’ demographic profiles do not determine their destiny.  The students who attend KIPP New Orleans schools are from among the most under-served communities in our city.  On average, our students begin the school year more than two grade levels below their wealthier peers in reading and math.  Over 93 percent of our students qualify for federally subsidized meals, and more than 95 percent of our students are African-American.  With longer school days, innovative teaching, and a motivating learning environment, we are working to ensure that all of our students are prepared for competitive high schools and college.  

Organizational History

KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) began in 1994 when two teachers, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, launched a fifth grade public school program in inner-city Houston, TX, after completing their commitment to Teach For America.  In 1995, Feinberg remained in Houston to lead
KIPP Academy Middle School, and Levin returned home to New York City to establish KIPP Academy in the South Bronx.  Since their founding, the original KIPP Academies have sustained track records of high student achievement and have grown to a national network of 57 locally operated schools located in 17 states and the District of Columbia.  For more information about the Knowledge is Power Program nationwide, click here.

Impact & Results

In New Orleans, KIPP is committed to rebuilding the public education system in our community.  As we build an influential network of high performing, college preparatory public schools that will meet the academic and character development needs of our students and, at the same time, work to ensure that each student can and will achieve. In just our second year of operation, KIPP New Orleans is establishing an impressive track record of success.  On average, our students have improved at least two grade levels in a single school year.  More than ninety percent of our fourth and eighth grade students passed Louisiana’s high stakes LEAP test, required to advance to the next grade, outperforming the majority of schools in New Orleans year, our Stanford Achievement Test results indicated that students (grades 3-8) began the school year at the 18th percentile and completed the year at the 40th percentile in reading and more than 60th percentile in math.  While, where on average 50% of students passed these tests, including some selective admission schools.  Last these results are impressive, we strive to do more to prepare our students for competitive high schools, college, and life.

We strive to serve as a model for change in public education in New Orleans, setting and raising the bar for educational excellence in New Orleans for public charter and district run schools and proving that, with leadership and innovative teaching, all students can achieve.

The KIPP New Orleans Schools

Click on a logo below to go to a school website.

1607 South Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118           info@kippneworleans.org