History

Committed to the philosophy that there are no shortcuts to success and happiness in life, the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) was founded as a pilot school in 1994 in Houston, Texas by Teach for America alumni David Levin and Michael Feinberg. In 1995, Levin moved to New York and founded KIPP Academy in the South Bronx. KIPP Academy, with its staff of three teachers, opened its doors to fifty fifth-graders from the surrounding neighborhood that September. By the 1998-1999 school year, KIPP Academy had grown to serve 200 fifth through eighth graders, and in 2000 KIPP Academy became a New York City Department of Education Charter School serving fifth through eighth grades.