Frequently Asked Questions

Like all public schools, charter schools are open to any student who lives in the enrollment area. There is no entrance requirement, such as testing or prior academic record. At KIPP, if a school has more families wanting to attend than spaces available, we choose applicants at random through a blind lottery.

The enrollment process is relatively simple and is managed at the local level, so the process is different depending on where you live. Use our KIPP School Directory to find a KIPP school near you, and learn more about how to enroll.

New KIPP schools start with a single grade level and then admit one additional grade level each year until reaching full enrollment. New KIPP middle schools open with just a fifth grade, then admit fifth and sixth graders in year two, then admit fifth, sixth, and seventh graders in year three, and fifth through eighth graders in year four.

Yes, anyone can attend KIPP! There are no admissions requirements. KIPP schools are tuition-free, public schools open to all students, including English Language Learners and students with special education needs. 20 percent of KIPP students are designated ELL and 13 percent receive special education services.

There is no application required for enrollment.

Yes, we proudly educate all students! KIPP schools ensure full educational opportunity, services, and success for all students regardless of disability, limitation, or circumstance. We are committed to providing rigorous, thoughtful services and support so students with varying levels of ability can attend our schools.

All KIPP schools have their own calendars and bell schedules. Use our School Directory to access the website for your child’s school, or call a KIPP school near you to obtain that information.

When parent demand exceeds enrollment capacity at the school, students are admitted based upon on a lottery. Lotteries are typically held in the late winter or early spring.

If students apply after the date of the lottery, they will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, as spaces become available.

Use our School Directory to check with a KIPP school near you for specific dates and details.

KIPP schools provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environment with minimal distractions and more time for both academics and extracurriculars, so our students love school and maximize their learning.

To gain this extra time, KIPP schools feature a longer school day (typically from 7:30am until 4:00pm), as well as summer school.  This extra time allows KIPP schools to offer a strong academic program along with art, music and other extracurriculars as part of the school day.

KIPP schools employ mission-driven teachers from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and constantly help them improve their craft with supportive professional development programs and personal coaching.

KIPP schools comply with any applicable state and federal laws, and certification requirements for public charter school teachers vary by state. While many KIPP schools look for candidates with at least two years of prior teaching experience, several schools offer programs designed specifically for new teachers.

To apply to teach in a KIPP school, start here.

The application process for all jobs is handled locally by individual KIPP schools, regions, or by the KIPP Foundation, depending on the position. To learn more about what it’s like teaching at KIPP click here.

Visit the Apply Now section of our website and follow the instructions in the job posting. Or, use our School Directory to contact a KIPP school directly.

KIPP teachers are a diverse group, including experienced teachers , new teachers who are just beginning their careers, and career changers who are entering the classroom after succeeding in another profession.

Across our network, 71 percent of our teachers and 66 percent of our principals are Black or Latinx. KIPP principals have experience and backgrounds that are similar to our teachers, but they have typically spent a longer time in the classroom.

The primary requirement for teaching at a KIPP school is a simple one: that you’re committed to helping each student build the skills and confidence they need to pursue their highest aspirations.

Additionally, KIPP schools comply with any applicable state and federal laws, and certification requirements for charter school teachers vary by state. While many KIPP schools look for candidates with at least two years of prior teaching experience, several schools offer programs designed specifically for new teachers. Visit our Teachers page to learn more.

Each KIPP school is managed locally, and hiring decisions are made at the level of the individual school. For more information about the requirements to teach at a specific KIPP school, visit our School Directory to access an individual school’s website.

Please note: to be considered for a teaching position at a KIPP school, you must have legal authorization to work in the United States.

KIPP principal candidates must possess the unyielding belief in every child’s potential to succeed in top-quality high schools, colleges, and in the competitive world beyond.

Additionally, all candidates should have:

• Instructional expertise in a K-12 classroom
• At least two years of teaching and/or leadership experience in a low-income school with demonstrated exemplary student results (“low-income school” is a school in which over 50 percent of the student population qualifies for the federal free and reduced meals program)
• A record of success in leading adults
• The capacity to define a vision, build a team, and achieve results despite tremendous obstacles
• Broad experience as an instructional leader to teachers of all subjects

The KIPP Foundation recruits principals through fellowship programs. For more information, visit our Leadership Development page.

Many opportunities exist to join KIPP as part of a national, regional, or school-based support team. Here are just a few roles that KIPP team members play to support excellence in KIPP schools:

• National and regional experts in communications, technology, curriculum development, organizational management, and more
• Counselors and mentors for KIPP Forward
• School site social workers
• Bus drivers and food service managers
• Accountants, business managers, and human resources professionals

We look for candidates that have both professional expertise as well as a belief and commitment to KIPP’s mission of preparing students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose. Individual job opportunities and requirements vary by role and are specified in the job description.

View All Jobs

Please note that our application system will parse resumes in DOC, DOCX, RTF, ODT, TXT, and PDF file formats, to fill out your profile with details from your resume. We aren’t able to parse resumes that contain hyperlinks or resumes that are scanned.

If you have technical issues with your application, email supportfeedback@smartrecruiters.com.

Charter schools are public schools, by definition and in practice. We are publicly funded and state-governed schools, open to all students who live in a given community. Our schools are governed by the same laws as any other public school, and our students must meet the same set of standards, including state testing and graduation requirements.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools and enrollment is open to all students. They are independently operated schools that run with more flexibility than traditional public schools in exchange for increased accountability.

The “charter” that establishes each school is a contract detailing the school’s mission, program, performance goals, and methods of assessment. Every public charter school has an authorizer which, subject to state law, may be a district school board, university, Mayor’s office, or non-profit organization.  Authorizers are responsible for holding charter schools accountable for compliance with their operating agreements or “charters.”

Like all public schools, charter schools are:

• Tuition-free and part of the free public school system
• Held to state and federal academic standards
• Open to all students, including those with disabilities
• Funded primarily through a combination of federal, state, and local tax dollars
• Not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group

KIPP schools are part of a national network of schools that operate with support from the KIPP Foundation. Established in 2000, the non-profit KIPP Foundation was created to recruit and train outstanding principals to open and run KIPP schools; develop tools to support excellent teaching; and facilitate the exchange of ideas across the KIPP network. Today, the Foundation sets strategy, defines and shares best practices, and ensures alignment and accountability for KIPP regions across the United States.

The Foundation and each region/school have separate boards of directors that govern their respective organizations. Each regional/school board governs its local schools, and each region/school has its own executive director and/or superintendent who manages its schools. The Foundation is not the employer of local KIPP region/school staff members and does not control the terms and conditions of their employment.

Each KIPP regional organization is a separate non-profit that oversees their local KIPP schools and provides those schools with shared services in areas such as alumni support, teacher training, leadership development, advocacy, operations, and data analysis.

KIPP regions are embedded within their communities and they partner with neighboring schools and community-based organizations to best support their students. All KIPP regional organizations are governed by a local board of directors and led by an executive director or superintendent.

Find a KIPP Region

KIPP schools are public charter schools that are primarily funded by local and state dollars, along with some funding from the federal government.

Local and state per-pupil funding covers the vast majority of KIPP’s operational costs. To fund KIPP’s expansion and ensure the sustainability of KIPP schools, KIPP regions raise additional funding from local donors and foundations.

To learn more about KIPP’s funders or to make a contribution to KIPP, visit Support KIPP.

At this time, KIPP’s growth is focused on opening new elementary and high schools in communities we’re currently located to complete a Kindergarten through 12th grade continuum for KIPP students.

There are currently 278 locally-run KIPP schools across the country in 21 states and DC. Please check the School Directory for a current list of all KIPP school locations.

A high-quality curriculum plays a critical role in unlocking the potential of both students and teachers.

At a national level, The KIPP Foundation recommends the following college-prep curricula. Each KIPP school and region creates a unique learning environment to meet the needs of its students, so check with your local KIPP school for more specifics:

We follow evidence-based practices for effective literacy instruction in grades K-8. KIPP’s curriculum provides opportunities for close reading, writing, and speaking based on high-quality, diverse, and culturally relevant texts to students within a comprehensive, college-ready curriculum.

KIPP schools use one of three nationally-recognized options for math curriculum: Eureka Math, Imagine Learning: Illustrative Math, or Open-Up.

There are currently 278 locally run KIPP schools across the country. Because each KIPP school is managed locally, partnership decisions are made at the regional level. Reach out to the KIPP region near you to start the conversation.

We also have national partnerships with colleges and universities to support our alumni all the way through college graduation.

Learn more about KIPP Forward.

Charter schools are about more than just academics. Across the country, KIPP schools offer a wide range of extracurriculars including sports like football, volleyball, soccer, and cheerleading; performing arts programs like theater, dance, and music; visual arts classes; and clubs such as chess, debate, and robotics.

Yes. The U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program awards grants to Charter Management Organizations to replicate high-quality public charter schools.

With support from the CSP, KIPP Regions will open:

Proposed schools will implement the same operating principles and educational model that have driven the success of existing KIPP schools, including:

• Rigorous and challenging college and career prep education
• Data-driven instruction
• Community-centered approach
• Best-in-class college and career counseling
• High-quality services for students with disabilities and English learners

*Replication schools are new schools and receive four years of funding: 1-year of planning and 3-years of implementation funding.

*Expansion schools are existing schools that are either adding two or more grades or significantly increasing enrollment. Expansion schools receive 3-years of implementation funding.

Please find a copy of the grant abstract here.