Frequently Asked Questions
Who attends KIPP NYC schools?
KIPP NYC schools are tuition-free public charter middle schools. Enrollment in a KIPP NYC school is open to all students who reside in the five boroughs of New York City, with preference given to students residing in the school's home district. Each year, KIPP NYC schools establish a list of students who are interested in attending for the following school year and conduct an admissions lottery in the spring. KIPP NYC seeks to serve a student body that represents the population of New York City. Students are admitted without consideration to prior academic or behavioral record, socioeconomic background, home language, or Special Education status.What does a typical KIPP school day look like?
Although class schedules vary from school to school, KIPP NYC students attend school from 7:25 am to 5:00 pm. Typically on Fridays, students are dismissed between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. Additionally, KIPP NYC students attend Saturday school twice per month from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, as well as a three-week summer session from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. KIPP NYC students take classes in all of the required core content areas including English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies, as well as Thinking Skills. Students also participate in essential enrichment activities including orchestra, capoeira, dance, and other activities. KIPP NYC students spend approximately 67% more time on-task in school than their counterparts in traditional public schools. Being on-task represents a commitment that students are engaged in learning during that additional time in school. Common to all KIPP NYC schools and integrated into all classes, activities, and interactions at KIPP is a determined focus on character growth and development for students and staff.What curriculum do you use?
All KIPP NYC curricula are teacher-created and aligned with the New York State Content Standards. Over the past 14 years, curricula and instructional materials have been modified and augmented to better serve the needs of our students.What are KIPP NYC's future plans?
KIPP NYC has four academically rigorous middle schools in operation throughout NYC – KIPP Academy in the Bronx, KIPP STAR in Harlem, KIPP AMP in Brooklyn, and KIPP Infinity in Harlem. In July 2009, KIPP NYC will open a high school to serve the students of the four KIPP NYC middle schools, beginning with grade 9. Also in 2009, KIPP NYC will open two elementary (K-4) schools, beginning with grades K-1. Additional KIPP elementary schools will open in 2010 and 2011. Click here for more information on the KIPP NYC expansion plans.What is the average class size in a KIPP NYC school?
The average KIPP NYC class ranges from 27-35 students.How do KIPP NYC schools deal with discipline issues?
We believe that by focusing on the smaller issues, we are able to eliminate many of the larger issues that become obstacles to creating a rigorous academic environment. To achieve this, KIPP teachers try to create a school environment where expectations are clear and issues are dealt with consistently. One tool that some KIPP NYC schools use is the "paycheck." Although the paycheck has no true monetary value, it is a valuable tool used to communicate with students and their parents about behavior each week. Students earn points based on their positive and negative academic and behavioral actions each week. These are tallied and sent home every Monday for parents to review and sign. Students are eligible for various positive reinforcements as well as negative consequences based on the values of their paychecks. Further, by focusing on character development, KIPP teaches students to become team players as well as leaders within their classrooms and within their schools. Helping students to become successful leaders and team players is an effective tool in preventing and remediating behavior issues.How much does it cost to run a KIPP NYC school?
Amazingly, KIPP NYC schools are able to offer our students an extended-day and extended-year program with a wide range of extracurricular experiences for a lower per-pupil cost than that of the traditional New York City public school. In this way, every day, KIPP NYC makes a commitment to prove what is possible for students.What is KIPP NYC's relationship to the KIPP Foundation?
KIPP NYC is a family of independently-run KIPP schools in New York City that collaborate to maximize opportunities for professional development and leverage the power of shared services such as development, operations, finance, and technology. KIPP Foundation is a national organization that focuses on recruiting, training, and supporting outstanding teachers to open new, locally-run KIPP schools in high-need communities. KIPP Foundation is not a charter management organization.What are the experience and background of a typical KIPP NYC teacher?
KIPP NYC is always looking for teachers!!! The primary requirement for teaching at a KIPP school is a belief in a very simple concept. At KIPP, we believe that all of our students will be successful, and that we have the responsibility of helping each and every student down the road to successful lives of their choosing. KIPP teachers understand that being a teacher doesn't end at the classroom door. All of our teachers have and teach our students the character strengths of zest, grit, self-control, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor. There is no specific type of person who makes a great KIPP teacher. Our faculty consists of people straight out of college, veteran public school teachers, and individuals pursuing second careers.Do KIPP NYC teachers have to be certified?
KIPP NYC schools must comply with state and federal laws, which require that 70% of charter school teachers must be certified. To help meet this requirement, KIPP NYC, in collaboration with Achievement First and Uncommon Schools, has created a teacher training institute housed at Hunter College in which teachers may earn their Master's degrees and state certifications.Does KIPP NYC offer professional development/training?
KIPP NYC believes in helping teachers grow into the best teachers they can be through continual professional development. Teachers have a wide array of professional development and training opportunities, beginning with constant formal and informal observations by principals and colleagues. They have the opportunity to collaborate with their counterparts at other KIPP NYC schools through regular content area meetings, KIPP NYC-wide professional development days, and scheduled days during the year to visit other KIPP NYC classrooms. We also have exciting new initiatives in videotaped lessons and reflections, as well as curriculum sharing via a sophisticated web platform.How does KIPP NYC recognize and reward its teaching staff?
We value our teachers and view them as professionals. KIPP teachers are committed to doing whatever it takes to help their students be successful in high school, college, and the competitive world beyond, and we do everything we can to recognize and reward that commitment. Compensation is on average $15,000 higher than the district salary, with the same or comparable benefits. We provide the supplies and resources necessary so that teachers can focus on teaching. And we like to have fun! :-)With an extended school day and year, how does KIPP NYC support its teachers?
KIPP NYC believes in finding great people and doing everything we can to keep them. A typical teaching load is 4-5 hours a day, which is comparable to instructional time in traditional public schools. We build in time during the day for teachers to plan, collaborate with others, and take care of their lives. We have many staff members with families, and we hope to have more! We believe in making this sustainable, because we view our work as a marathon, not a sprint.Are there options at KIPP NYC outside of the classroom?
Yes!!! KIPP to College (KTC) provides essential academic and personal support to all of our alumni to ensure that they can build on their KIPP NYC education to climb the mountain to and through college and have fulfilled, meaningful, and engaged lives. KTC is always seeking outstanding individuals in the areas of High School Placement and Academic Support; College Counseling; Career Services; Individual, Group, and Family Counseling and Enrichment Programs; and Operations. The KIPP NYC Shared Services Team (SST) provides development, operations, finance, human resources, and technology services to all KIPP NYC programs. By focusing on these areas, the Shared Services Team ensures that every other member of the KIPP NYC team is able to solely dedicate themselves to the needs of our students and families. Please click here for more information on these programs.What is the application process?
We invite you to consider joining our team and family! Please click here to access our current openings and to apply online. We will review your information thoroughly and respond within three business days. If you are selected for the next round, possible next steps could include a conversation with a school leader, visiting the school, and meeting our staff members.How can I get involved with KIPP NYC now?
We have an open-door policy at all of our schools and welcome visitors at any time! Please feel free to contact Carol Lee at clee@kippnyc.org or (212) 991-2600 x6002 to set up a tour or to learn more about volunteering, tutoring, and other opportunities to get involved. Click here to learn more about donating to KIPP NYC.
