Whole Child Development
We believe that our students need a strong academic foundation, well-affirmed character and identity strengths, and a socio-emotional learning skill set to succeed in college and the world beyond.
Enroll With Us
Our elementary & middle schools are joyful, academically excellent charter public schools—tuition-free and open to all. Now enrolling grades TK-8!
Highly Effective Teachers & Leaders
We empower educators to lead school teams, and invest in training to help them grow as professionals.
Safe, Structured and Nurturing Environments
Our schools provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environment so that our students thrive and maximize their learning.
KIPP Forward
(Formerly KIPP Through College) Counselors support students as they prepare for college and career, and navigate social, academic, and financial challenges while in college.
High Expectations
We build trusting relationships within a culture of support and achievement, to personalize learning based on student’s needs.
Focus on Character and Identity
We provide our students with a strong academic foundation and well-affirmed character and identity strengths to succeed in college and beyond.
Highly Effective Teachers & Leaders
We empower educators to lead school teams, and invest in training to help them grow as professionals.
Safe, Structured and Nurturing Environments
Our schools provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environment so that our students thrive and maximize their learning.
KIPP Forward
(Formerly KIPP Through College) Counselors support students as they prepare for college and career, and navigate social, academic, and financial challenges while in college.
High Expectations
We build trusting relationships within a culture of support and achievement, to personalize learning based on student’s needs.
Focus on Character and Identity
We provide our students with a strong academic foundation and well-affirmed character and identity strengths to succeed in college and beyond.
Highly Effective Teachers & Leaders
We empower educators to lead school teams, and invest in training to help them grow as professionals.
Whole-Child Development
We believe that our students need a strong academic foundation, well-affirmed character and identity strengths, and a socio-emotional learning skill-set to succeed in college, career, and beyond.
Joyful & Academically Excellent
KIPP SoCal schools provide a safe and positive learning environment, where culture and diversity are respected and celebrated and where empowered communities are an integral part of our success.
- Whole Child Development
- Academics, Character & Extracurricular
- Independent Thinking
- It Takes a Village
- Neighborhood Schools
- Whole Child Development
- Academics, Character & High School Prep
- Independent Thinking
- It Takes a Village
- Neighborhood Schools
Whole Child Development
We believe that our students need a strong academic foundation, well-affirmed character and identity strengths, and a socio-emotional learning skill set to succeed in college and the world beyond.
- Middle School Support
- High School Support
- College Support
Middle School Support
KIPP Forward Counselors provide students and families with support along their journey to and through college. In Middle School, KIPP Forward counselors introduce KIPP families to a variety of high school options, providing support throughout the high school placement process and transition into high school. Learn more about KIPP Forward.
- Equitable Learning Environment
- Programming
- Special Education Services
Equitable Learning Environment
With 14% of our Student population receiving Special Education services, our Special Education teachers consistently contribute to planning and executing high-impact instruction. Learn more about our Special Education Program.
- Mental Health
- Social-Emotional Supports
- Key Support Initiatives
- Wellness Wednesday
Mental Health
We ‘heal the heart so the brain can learn.’ Our multidisciplinary team of licensed and certified school counselors, psychologists and behaviorists provide personalized support at each school that responds to the needs of each student. Learn more about our Mental Health & Support Services Department.
Our Schools
KIPP Vida
Preparatory Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Raíces
Academy
East Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Academy of
Innovation
East Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Academy of
Opportunity
South Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Adelante
Preparatory Academy
San Diego
Grades 5-8
KIPP LA
Prep
Boyle Heights
Grades 5-8
KIPP Philosophers
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Scholar
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Sol
Academy
East Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Comienza Community Prep
Huntington Park
Grades TK-8
KIPP Compton
Community School
Compton
Grades TK-7*
KIPP Corazón
Academy
South Gate
Grades TK-8
KIPP Empower
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Endeavor
College Prep
Boyle Heights
Grades TK-8
KIPP Ignite
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Iluminar
Academy
East Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Promesa
Prep
Boyle Heights
Grades TK-4
KIPP Vida
Preparatory Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Raíces
Academy
East Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Academy of
Innovation
East Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Academy of
Opportunity
South Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Adelante
Preparatory Academy
San Diego
Grades 5-8
KIPP LA
Prep
Boyle Heights
Grades 5-8
KIPP Philosophers
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Scholar
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Sol
Academy
East Los Angeles
Grades 5-8
KIPP Comienza Community Prep
Huntington Park
Grades TK-8
KIPP Compton
Community School
Compton
Grades TK-7*
KIPP Corazón
Academy
South Gate
Grades TK-8
KIPP Empower
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Endeavor
College Prep
Boyle Heights
Grades TK-8
KIPP Ignite
Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Iluminar
Academy
East Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
KIPP Promesa
Prep
Boyle Heights
Grades TK-4
KIPP Vida
Preparatory Academy
South Los Angeles
Grades TK-4
What It’s Like To Be A KIPPster
“We come to school everyday because we are loved and we matter.” We look forward to keeping our learning communities connected by building welcoming and inclusive environments that attend thoughtfully to our students’ social and emotional needs, so that each student can be set up best to learn.
Stages to Enrollment
Application
A simple online application is required each year for students to attend a KIPP SoCal school. Applications for the 2025-26 School Year can be submitted anytime between October 3, 2024 and September 30th, 2025; however, to have the best chance of being accepted and to be eligible for the lottery, you must have submitted your application prior to February 7, 2025 at 4pm.
Lottery
If the number of applications received is greater than seats available, a public lottery is held. The lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will take place around late February 2025. Names were drawn through a random, automated lottery process, and families were notified of their admission status soon afterward.
Enrollment
Upon acceptance into a KIPP SoCal Public School, accepted families will then need to register their child(ren) for that school. To register, a family will complete an simple online form and submit a student birth certificate, parent/guardian photo ID, proof of address, and immunization records.
Orientation
Each summer, our schools host orientation events to ensure that our families and students are set-up for success to start the school year strong. These meetings will help families learn important information and receive resources for your child’s first day at a KIPP SoCal school!
First Day
For accepted families, be sure to attend school on the first day! For our waitlisted families, don’t lose hope! We often accept many waitlisted students within the first 3 weeks of school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, our schools are tuition-free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools.
No, there are no academic or behavioral requirements for enrollment, pre-K-12. All students are welcome to apply.
Yes! In fact, if you are somewhat flexible in geography, we recommend that you apply to multiple KIPP schools to maximize your chances of being accepted in a public lottery if needed. You can view this map to see what schools are in the immediate vicinity of your home address.
We don’t provide busing for students. However, we do work with families on an individual basis to help them solve transportation needs. If you are interested in a school but would need support with transportation, contact our enrollment team at 323-647-8898 or enrollment@kippsocal.org so we can work directly with you on your specific needs.
Although options vary by school, KIPP SoCal schools offer a wide variety of arts and athletics. Please contact a KIPP school near you for more information.
- You can apply to our schools through a variety of methods:
- Online: You can fill out the online application here or through SchoolMint for any KIPP SoCal public school
- In-Person: You can also apply at any of our schools, as shown on this map.
- Phone: Call our enrollment line (323-647-8898)
- Email: Email us at enrollment@kippsocal.org.
For applicants to KIPP Comienza, KIPP Empower, KIPP Promesa, & KIPP Ignite:
- Waitlists are dynamic! If a student is called off any of our waitlists and accepts the space, and if that student has a sibling on the waitlist, the sibling is moved to the top of the waitlist with other siblings in the order of their general lottery number. This puts siblings ahead of any non-sibling waitlist students.
- What should I expect? School Mint keeps track of where your student is on the waitlist. To see the status of your child, log into your account here. Be aware that your student’s position on the waitlist may be affected by other students who accept a position and also have siblings on the waitlist. As explained above, waitlist siblings of accepted students are moved ahead of non-sibling waitlist students.
- What if I applied after the application deadline? Applications received after February 7, 2025, will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.
For applicants to all other KIPP Schools:
- Waitlists are never reordered. Therefore, the only way your number will change is if the students above you are accepted, in which case your number will be lowered. (Ex. If your student is #10 on the waitlist after the lottery, but then 3 students are accepted, your waitlist # should move to #7.)
- What should I expect? School Mint keeps track of where your student is on the waitlist. To see the status of your child, log into your account here.
- What if I applied after the application deadline? Applications received after February 7, 2025 will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.
Contact us!
- Please fill out a Quick Application instead at kippsocal.org/apply
- Enrollment Line: 323-647-8898 or enrollment@kippsocal.org
Any students - current KIPP students - are welcome to apply to all of our schools. Therefore, if you would like to move to a different KIPP school in future, you would follow the same application and enrollment process as stated above for the school of your choice. Due to the lottery, however, we cannot guarantee admission in a different KIPP school. We also encourage you to first talk to your current School Leader to discuss options, as they may be able to further support you through the transition to a new school.
- In Los Angeles, we have grades transitional kindergarten through 8th grade. Our schools are structured so that we either have a TK-8 school or an elementary school (grades TK-4) is paired with a nearby middle school (grades 5-8) in each neighborhood we’re a part of.
- In Compton, we have grades transitional kindergarten through seventh grade for school year 2025-26, but will add a grade each year until we reach 8th grade.
- In San Diego, we have grades fifth through eighth grade.
*Students are eligible for Kindergarten if they are turning 5 by September 1st of the year in which they are enrolling. Students are eligible for Transitional Kinder if they turn 5 between September 2nd & February 2nd of their first year enrolled.
All applications received by February 7, 2025 will be placed in a lottery. If the number of children interested in a specific grade exceeds the number of seats available for that grade, names will be drawn through lotteries in late February 2025. Applications that are not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list for that school year. If spaces become available, they will be filled from the applications on the waiting list. Applications received after the deadline of February 7, 2025 will be either accepted immediately or added to the waitlist in order of submission date depending on each school’s capacity.
- Through our collective hard work and commitment, KIPP students complete college at a rate that is comparable to the national average for all students and four times higher for students from low-income households. Our success is driven by:
- High Expectations: KIPP has clearly defined high expectations for academic achievement and conduct that create and reinforce a culture of accomplishment and support.
- Strength of Character: Success in life depends on more than academic learning. We help students foster character strengths that are essential for their own success. We empower our students to express their voice with power and to improve the world around them.
- Highly Skilled Teachers and Leaders: Great schools require great teachers and school leaders. We empower our school teams and invest in leadership and training.
- Safe & Structured Environments: Physical and emotional safety is necessary for students to feel comfortable taking risks and learning from their successes and their mistakes. Our schools provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environments with minimal distractions so our students love school and maximize their learning.
- KIPP Forward: Our counselors and advisors support students as they prepare for and select the right college for their needs and interests. After high school, we help KIPP alumni navigate the social, academic, and financial challenges they might encounter while in college and life.
Applications for School Year 2025-26 can be submitted anytime between October 3, 2024 at 8am, and September 30th, 2025; however, to have the best chance of being accepted and to be eligible for the lottery, you must submit your application prior to February 7, 2025 at 4 pm.
We will email & text families immediately after the lottery to notify them of their status (accepted or waitlisted). We will also mail all families a letter sharing the results of the lottery within one week of the lottery. Families are not required to attend the lottery.
Contact us!
- Enrollment Line: 323-647-8898 or enrollment@kippsocal.org
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