KIPP LA RECEIVES TOP API SCORES

Kudos to KIPP LA Prep (featured in Waiting for Superman) and KIPP Raices elementary school!

 

The state of California announced today that KIPP Los Angeles College Preparatory School and KIPP Raíces Academy have scored over 900 on the Academic Performance Index (API). KIPP LA Prep received a 917 on the API, making it the highest performing middle school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and KIPP Raíces Academy scored a 963, the fourth highest elementary school in the district.

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KIPP LA RECEIVES TOP API SCORES
KIPP LA Prep is the highest performing LAUSD middle school.
KIPP Raíces Academy ranks fourth highest in the District.

 

 

LOS ANGELES (August 31, 2011) - The state of California announced today that KIPP Los Angeles College Preparatory School and KIPP Raíces Academy have scored over 900 on the Academic Performance Index (API). KIPP LA Prep received a 917 on the API, making it the highest performing middle school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), and KIPP Raíces Academy scored a 963, the fourth highest elementary school in the district.

"These scores prove what is possible in public education. I am immensely proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and staff," said KIPP LA Executive Director Marcia Aaron. "These scores prove that the KIPP model – our longer school day and year, partnership with families and teachers that puts learning first, and strong culture of achievement – is working for kids in Los Angeles."

Opened in 2003, KIPP LA Prep is a high-performing public charter middle school in Boyle Heights serving approximately 360 students in grades five through eight. The school was recently named a 2011 California Distinguished School, an award granted to the state's "most exemplary and inspiring public schools." During the 2010-2011 academic year 95 percent of KIPP LA Prep students qualified for the federal free and reduced lunch program.

"We are very excited to see the results of our hard work at KIPP LA Prep this year," said Angella Martinez, KIPP LA Prep School Leader. "These API scores help prove that all children can learn and achieve at high levels. Since our inception, KIPP LA Prep has been committed to helping our kids climb the mountain to and through college, and today we are one step closer to reaching that ultimate goal."

KIPP Raíces, located in unincorporated East Los Angeles, opened in 2008 and serves students in kindergarten through third grade. During the 2010-2011 academic year, 90 percent of KIPP Raíces students qualified for the federal free and reduced lunch program. Only one of the three schools that scored higher than Raíces had a federal free and reduced lunch program rate of over 18%. This is KIPP Raíces' first API score.

"This is an important milestone not only for the KIPP Raíces team and families, but for our young KIPPsters who are just beginning their academic careers," said Amber Young Medina, KIPP Raíces School Leader. "Our students are learning that with an excellent education, good choices, and hard work, they can achieve their goals."

About KIPP LA Schools
KIPP LA's mission is to teach the academic skills, foster the intellectual habits, and cultivate the character traits needed for its students to thrive in high school, college, and life. KIPP LA was founded in 2003, with the opening of KIPP LA Prep and KIPP Academy of Opportunity middle schools. KIPP LA also operates three elementary schools: KIPP Raíces, KIPP Comienza, and KIPP Empower. Together, these schools serve a student population that is 66 percent Latino, 32 percent African American and 90 percent low-income. To learn more, visit www.kippla.org