KIPP NYC is bringing two new schools to CB7. Photos courtesy of KIPP NYC
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BY JASON COHEN
KIPP, the largest network
of public charter schools in
the country, is expanding its
footprint in the Bronx with
two new schools coming to
Community Board 7.
KIPP Elements Primary
School and KIPP All Middle
School at 730 Concourse
Village W., will be relocated
to 1504 Macombs Rd. and a
new K-8 school is planned
for 2720 Jerome Ave., both of
which will open in 2021-22 at
temporary sites.
Mariela Meza, associate
director of advocacy at KIPP
and Jane Martinez Dowling,
KIPP chief external affairs
offi cer, spoke to the CB7 Education
Youth and Libraries
Committee on Nov. 4 about
this expansion. KIPP, which
has been in the Bronx for 26
years, has schools that are
99 percent people of color.
Additionally, 65 percent of
its staff are people of color
and its alumni graduate at
four times the national rate
of low-income students.
“Not only am I a Bronx native,
but I went to KIPP when
it only had one school in the
south Bronx,” Meza said.
Meza told the attendees
how KIPP changed her life.
She had just moved here
from Mexico and struggled
in her fi rst school. However,
when she enrolled at KIPP,
Meza felt welcome and at
home.
“When I landed at KIPP,
my parents were looking for
something different for me,”
she recalled.
Martinez Dowling explained
that KIPP is not the
typical school experience.
The middle and high schools
offer numerous advanced
placement classes, robotics,
theater, visual arts, graphic
design, athletics and stress
college readiness.
Also, science is introduced
in elementary school,
instead of middle school.
In 2019, KIPP NYC surveyed
families and found
that 94.6 percent felt a sense
of belonging in their school
community, 89 percent felt
like they had strong relationships
with their teachers, 92
percent felt proud that their
child attended KIPP and 91
percent would recommend
KIPP to other families.
Both buildings are in
the construction phase and
should be complete by 2023.
Demolition will begin at Macombs
Road in December
and in the spring for Jerome
Avenue.
Last year, there were 2,600
applicants for 500 spots at
KIPP Freedom at 2244-2264
Jerome Ave., which Martinez
Dowling said was a key
factor in the expansion.
“We plan to replicate
what has worked well for
us,” Meza said.
KIPP brings new
Bronx charters
One site will be at Macombs Road,
the other at Jerome Avenue