KIPP NYC

Being a student at KIPP NYC is about building a better tomorrow.  It’s about commitment and reward:  the commitment that our high expectations require and the rewards of learning, character development and a caring team and family.

Every KIPP NYC student – 80% come from low-income families, 98% are African American or Latino, all are selected by lottery – must sign a Commitment to Excellence form, promising to abide by the basic rules of engagement at our schools.  Among these promises are:

• I will arrive at KIPP every day by 7:25 A.M. (Mon. - Fri.)
• I will remain at KIPP until 5:00 P.M. (Mon. - Thurs.)
• I will come to KIPP on appropriate Saturdays at 9:00 A.M. and remain until 1:00 P.M.
• I will attend KIPP during summer school.
• I will always work, think, and behave in the best way I know how and I will do whatever it takes for me and my fellow students to learn.  This also means that I will complete all my homework every night; I will call my teachers if I have a problem with the homework or a problem with coming to school, and I will raise my hand and ask questions in class if I do not understand something.
• I will always make myself available to parents, teachers, and any concerns they might have.
• I will always behave so as to protect the safety, interests, and rights of all individuals in the classroom.  This also means that I will always listen to all my KIPP teammates and give everyone my respect.
• I will follow the KIPP dress code.
• I will come to school every day with all the materials I need for success.
• I am responsible for my own behavior.

We hold students accountable for these commitments just as we hold ourselves accountable for similar promises that we make to students and families.  Other key elements of the student experience include the following:

• Enough time to learn and grow. KIPP NYC students enjoy a substantially longer school day, Saturday morning classes twice a month, and several weeks of summer school.  There is no substitute for time – to devote to core skill development and critical enrichment activities.
• Focus on character. Success in school and in life is about more than sheer academic prowess. Character traits such as hopefulness and resiliency equip students to tackle unforeseen issues and deal with setbacks.  Every teacher is responsible for focusing on character development, regardless of the subject that he or she teaches.  At some schools, students are rewarded for positive character growth (and classroom successes) with “paychecks,” which provide regular weekly feedback to students and their families.  KIPP NYC schools also hold advisory periods during which small groups of students meet to discuss character-related issues.
• Enrichment activities. A KIPPster’s experience is a rich tapestry of programs that may include orchestra, band, choir, drama, visual arts, capoeira (dance), and physical education, as well as journalism, foreign language, dance, yoga, African drumming, spoken word, origami and much more.
• Field Trips. We support out-of-classroom learning and life experience-building through local field lessons and end-of-year trips.  Trip destinations include Washington, D.C., Utah, the Northeast, and California.  During these trips, students may visit colleges and places of historical importance, as well as build teamwork and character.

A KIPPster’s Day

So what’s it really like to be a KIPP NYC student?  While schedules vary, here’s what you might find a KIPPster doing on a typical day: