History
1995: The KIPP Idea is Born
Teach For America alums Michael Feinberg and David Levin found the first two KIPP schools in Houston TX and South Bronx, NY. Both schools grow to become the highest-performing middle schools in their districts.
1999: KIPP on TV
CBS airs a special on KIPP on 60 Minutes
2000: KIPP Goes National
Doris and Donald Fisher, founders of the Gap Inc., and Scott Hamilton, director of their education-focused Pisces Foundation, propose to fund a national scaling effort for KIPP schools.
The KIPP Foundation is established to provide aspiring school founders with the training and support to create and lead KIPP public schools in high-need communities across the country. These founders, known as “Fisher Fellows,” are provided with a stipend for their one-year apprenticeship in the KIPP School Leadership Program.
The KIPP Foundation is established to provide aspiring school founders with the training and support to create and lead KIPP public schools in high-need communities across the country. These founders, known as “Fisher Fellows,” are provided with a stipend for their one-year apprenticeship in the KIPP School Leadership Program.
2003: A Leader…and a School… Emerges
School founder Josh Zoia participates in the School Leadership Program, which includes a Summer Institute at the University of California at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and a residency placements at KIPP Gaston College Preparatory in Gaston, NC and Academy of the Pacific Rim in Hyde Park, MA.
Josh returns to North Shore of MA where he grew up, eager to open a KIPP school in his community. He literally walks the streets to recruit students, visiting the Boys and Girls Club, the YMCA, Girls, Inc., churches, etc.
KIPP Academy Lynn submits its final charter application on November 14, 2003.2004: KIPP Academy Lynn Opens
In its new location on the grounds of Holy Family Church, KAL opens its doors to the first class of 77 fifth grade KIPP-sters.
2008: KIPP Academy Lynn Flourishes
By April, 2008, enrollment grows to 304.
By June, 2008, the first class of KIPP Academy Lynn eighth graders graduates.
By June, 2008, the first class of KIPP Academy Lynn eighth graders graduates.
2009: More Growth
In December 2009, the charter for KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School is renewed, allowing the school to extend its grade levels from the current middle school (Grades 5-8) to a middle and high school serving Grades 5 through 12.
2011: KAL Collegiate High School
KAL Collegiate High School opened in August 2011 with 96 ninth graders, 70 students from KAL Middle School and 26 students who entered through the lottery.
2012 and Beyond: The Future of KIPP Massachusetts
In June 2012, our founding class of KAL 5th graders (Class of 2012) will graduate from high school and matriculate to college, supported by our KIPP Through College program. Our new Middle School and High School Campus in Lynn will open in August 2012. We have concrete plans to add elementary grades in Lynn, and to pursue opening multiple KIPP schools in other urban districts in MA.
