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What is KIPP Philadelphia |
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 KIPP Philadelphia Charter School opened its doors on July 14, 2003 under the direction of Marc Mannella, with support from a community coalition of parents and business leaders and a dedicated group of founding teachers. KPCS began with only 90 fifth-grade students, and spent its first year operating out of the Hartranft Community Center at the corner of 8th and Cumberland in North Philadelphia. The following year the school kept their founding students as 6th graders and brought in a new fifth grade class. KPCS had outgrown the space in Hartranft Community Center, so the school moved to the top floor of a newly-renovated building at the intersection of Broad Street and Lehigh Avenue, eight blocks away.
For the next two years, KPCS added two more grades so that by the 2006-2007 school year it was a full middle school, serving 300 students in grades 5 to 8. In June 2007, KIPP Philadelphia Charter School proudly promoted its first class of 8th-graders to some of the city's best public and private high schools.
In 2008 Marc Mannella moved into the role of CEO for KIPP Philadelphia Schools and the school leadership transferred to a KIPP teacher Eric Leslie, who remains the current school leader.
Today, KPCS serves 340 students in grades 5-8. Currently, 82.5% of our students qualify for federally subsidized meals. 92% of students are African-American, 6% are Latino or Hispanic, and 2% are Multicultural. Since our first group of 8th graders promoted to high school 100% of our students earned acceptances to college preparatory high schools in Philadelphia and across the country. Students spend 50 hours a week in academic and enrichment programs, amounting to 65% more time on task than their peers in traditional district schools. Norm-referenced scores indicate that students make 2-3 years of educational progress each school year. Criterion-referenced (PSSA) scores show that from 5th-8th grade our students are closing the achievement gap by outscoring local and state peers. These extraordinary gains demonstrate that the actual proves the possible and with a commitment to hard work, high expectations, and strong results, all students will achieve. |
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