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KIPP Launches Ambitious Expansion Plan
Caroline Grannan Comment: An interesting one from Fox News in Memphis: 83 percent of KIPP Charter School students go on to college or the military.
Standard practice is for KIPP supporters to just make up whatever figure they want for the "it's a miracle!" line about what percentage go to college, but it certainly puts it in a different light when you add "or the military."
They made this one up too: "For a child to qualify to go to a KIPP school they must receive free or reduced lunch or attend a failing school."
by Lauren Lee
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A charter school program with a track record of getting kids into college is expanding in the Memphis area.
83 percent of KIPP Charter School students go on to college or the military, while Memphis City Schools only has a 67 percent graduation rate from high school.
KIPP stands for 'Knowledge Is Power Program.' Its national charter school system has the most ambitious expansion plan in the country; from serving hundreds to ten thousand students in just a few years.
An entire KIPP classroom is full of engaged students, with kids excited to be learning about math, geography and Spanish in a unique way.
"We call them chants," explained KIPP student Quentillis Bagley. "It's a way for us to learn different things instead of memorizing, trying to make it a little bit better."
Quentillis Bagley is a KIPP Diamond Academy student. Only in 8th grade, Quentillis already has big plans to attend Rhodes College and become an attorney.
The halls at the North Memphis school are covered in collegiate pennants. Gaining a post secondary education is the focus for these students, many of whom came to KIPP from Memphis City Schools one or more years behind their grade level.
"We recruit teachers who are passionate and dedicated to their careers. And we do whatever it takes for students to learn," said Dwight Ho-Sang with KIPP Academy. "We have no problem staying later hours; we have no problem driving kids home, doing whatever our kids need to be successful."
Right now the program is 5th through 8th graders, but KIPP is expanding. Next year KIPP Collegiate High School will open, which is a relief to students like Quentillis.
"We're already at a level that's higher than the other schools and they want us to stay there," he said.
After next year, KIPP's goal is to open five more schools, including an elementary in North Memphis and a K-12 in a not-yet-determined part of town. KIPP hopes to grow from serving 400 students to 10,000.
"The idea of growing has always been in the back of our minds," said Jamal McCall with KIPP Academy. "To see it come to fruition is an exciting time."
Quentillis is going to school everyday with a focus on college and a unique way to learn. He says he will be ready for life after his school career.
"Where I was before I came to KIPP, they didn't challenge me enough, so they sent me here to challenge me," related Quentillis. "Everyday I've been challenged, I'm still being challenged and I will forever be challenged at KIPP Diamond."
For a child to qualify to go to a KIPP school they must receive free or reduced lunch or attend a failing school. Also, KIPP is very dependent on private and corporate donations.
— Lauren Lee
My Fox Memphis
2010-08-13
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/081310-kipp-launches-ambitious-expansion-plan
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