KIPP Academy of Opportunity: About Us

KIPP Academy of Opportunity ensures that students develop the academic skills, character, and intellectual habits necessary to succeed in competitive high schools, colleges, and the world beyond. The KIPP Academy of Opportunity six guiding principles are: respect, hard work, results, constant learning, determination, and teamwork.

about KAO

KIPP Academy of Opportunity is a free public middle school of choice, which opened in the Summer of 2003 in South Los Angeles. This new charter school accepts 90 fifth graders each year, and serves approximately 360 students in grades 5 through 8.

KIPP Academy of Opportunity enables students to become self-motivated, competent, and life-long learners. Armed with these skills and achievements, the students of KIPP Academy of Opportunity recognize that an outstanding education is the instrument to achieving personal success and that success means having infinite opportunities. While the mission is not easily accomplished, the students of KIPP Academy of Opportunity will soon learn that there are no shortcuts to realizing these goals.

KIPP Academy of Opportunity knows that there are no shortcuts when it comes to helping educationally underserved students succeed academically. A longer school day, a longer school week, and a longer school year mean more time for students at KIPP Academy of Opportunity to acquire the academic knowledge and skills, as well as broad extracurricular experiences that will prepare them for competitive high schools and colleges.

extended school day- More time on task is central to the success of KIPP Academy of Opportunity students.
Students attend school Monday through Thursday from 7:25 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
extended school week- Students attend school every other Saturday for four hours.
extended school year- Students attend school for two additional weeks every summer.
extended time on task- All students receive extended instruction in reading, writing, and math.

school schedule

sample school schedule

(Mon., Wed., Thurs. and Fri.)

7:00 – 7:30 thinking skills

7:30 – 8:30 science

8:30 – 9:30 social studies

9:30 – 10:00 D.E.A.R. Time

10:00 – 11:00 elective #1

11:00 – 11:30 recess

11:30 – 12:00 lunch

12:00 – 2:00 math

2:00 – 4:00 English language arts

4:00 – 5:00 elective #2

5:00 dismissal

elective classes include:

technology

Spanish

PE

Trumpet

Chess

Business 101

High School Prep

Media

Study Hall

Saturday school

In addition to the students’ weekday academic responsibilities, KIPP Academy of Opportunity students also attend Saturday School every other Saturday.

Saturday school mission

To give students the opportunity to select enrichment classes that develop the academic skills, character, and intellectual habits necessary to succeed in competitive high schools, colleges, and the world beyond.

sample Saturday school schedule

activity

8:45 – 9:00 drop off

9:00 – 10:30 community service

10:30 – 12:00 jump rope club

12:00 – 12:30 life skills

12:30 – 1:00 lunch

1:00 pick up

other classes offered in the past:

football

basketball

drama

community building

community service

math and language arts tutoring

French

chess

poetry slam

hip-hop lyrical analysis 101

jump rope club 101

PSAT prep

the chemistry of food

KAO chronicle

book club

creative writing and comics

Spanish for Spanish speakers

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five pillars

high expectations

KIPP Academy of Opportunity has explicitly defined and observable high expectations for academic achievement and conduct that make no excuses based on the background of students. Students, parents, teachers, and staff create and reinforce a culture of achievement and support through a range of formal and informal rewards and consequences for academic performance and behavior.

choice & commitment

Students, their parents, and the faculty of KIPP Academy of Opportunity have made a choice to be at the school. No one is assigned or forced to attend the school. Everyone must make and uphold a commitment to the school and to each other to put in the time and effort required to achieve success.

more time

KIPP Academy of Opportunity knows that there are no shortcuts when it comes to helping educationally disadvantaged students succeed academically. A longer school day, a longer school week, and a longer school year mean more time for students at KIPP Academy of Opportunity to acquire the academic knowledge and skills, as well as broad extracurricular experiences that will prepare them for competitive high schools and colleges.

power to lead

The School Director of KIPP Academy of Opportunity will be an effective academic and organizational leader who understands that there are no great schools without great School Directors. The School Director has control over the school budget and personnel, allowing them to swiftly move dollars or make staffing changes to be more effective in helping students learn.

focus on results

KIPP Academy of Opportunity focuses unrelentingly on results. Student achievement on tests and other objective measures substantially outperform district averages, we do not make excuses based on demographics, and are enabling students to compete at the nation’s best high schools and colleges.

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commitment to excellence

Teachers, parents and students sign the commitment to excellence, dedicating their time and energy to the KAO school mission.

download the KIPP commitment to excellence contract here

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test results

download a copy of the KAO results page here from 2006 - 2007.

download a copy of the KAO results page here from 2005 - 2006.

Based on the time spent in school, KIPPsters spend 62% more learning time in each year of middle school than they would in a traditional setting.

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7019 S. Van Ness Ave.

Los Angeles, CA

90047

(323) 778-0125 p (323) 778-0162 f