The mission of KIPP Philadelphia Schools is to develop the character, knowledge, and skills of our students so they will succeed in college, giving them the freedom to shape their futures and positively affect their communities.

How We Do It

The Commitment to Excellence

KIPP is a partnership among parents, students, and teachers that puts learning first.  Once a child is enrolled in a KIPP Philadelphia School, we do a “home visit” with each family where a staff member from KIPP talks about the school with a parent or guardian, and the new KIPP student.  At the end of the meeting, all three parties sign a learning pledge called the “Commitment to Excellence,” which ensures that each will do whatever it takes to help the student learn. To read the Commitment to Excellence, click here

The Five Pillars

KIPP schools share a core set of operating principles known as the “Five Pillars”: High Expectations, Choice & Commitment, More Time, Power to Lead, and Focus on Results.

One of the “Five Pillars” is more time. KIPP Philadelphia’s students are in school learning 60 percent more than average public school students, from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, every other Saturday, and for three weeks during the summer. Rigorous college-preparatory instruction is balanced with extracurricular activities, experiential field lessons, and character development. In spite of the long hours, average daily attendance at KIPP Philadelphia Schools is consistently over 95 percent.  To learn more about KIPP’s Five Pillars, click here