Great new for KIPP Philadelphia – and kudos to Andre Agassi!

Tennis great Andre Agassi and officials of a California real estate company created an unusual joint venture last year to help successful charter schools find affordable and sustainable buildings.

On Tuesday, they will celebrate their first charter-school investment: KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy at 2409 W. Westmoreland St. in North Philadelphia's Tioga section.

"KIPP is the gold standard when it comes to operating charter schools and educating these kids," Agassi said in an interview Monday. "And Philly is a place that blends well with what we are trying to accomplish."

Agassi and other representatives from the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund are scheduled to join Mayor Nutter and KIPP officials at a 1 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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