KIPP Charter Schools Partners With North Campus

KIPP Public Schools—a national nonprofit with 270 charter schools across the United States—and Miami Dade College are partnering to assist underserved communities. 

The charter school program signed a 60-year lease to host classes on six acres of land at North Campus. 

KIPP Royalty will serve elementary students and KIPP Courage will enroll middle school kids. The school will eventually include a high school component as kids in the program reach that academic level. 

Classes started on Aug. 23, in 21 portables located in the parking lot behind building nine. 

“KIPP schools are a school of hope and a public charter, serving a population of students at an educational level that [MDC] doesn’t,” said North Campus President Fermin Vazquez. “Bringing it on campus provides that full circle educational experience and ability for us to continue serving people.”

Students in KIPP Miami Public Schools apply and are accepted through a random lottery process. Tuition is free and there is no application fee.

In the past, KIPPsters and their families have been provided mental health support, free eye exams and glasses, haircuts, one free uniform shirt per student and backpacks. Students also get free breakfast and lunch. 

KIPP Forward also helps place students in college, then supports them through their higher education years.

“We believe not only in servicing children’s academic needs but also their social-emotional needs,” said Kayla Johnson, who is the principal at KIPP Royalty. “Any needs that we can help them with, we’re going to try to find [a] way to get the resources to our families.”

KIPP Royalty has 110 students and KIPP Courage has 142. The small cohorts lend themselves for personalized attention.

The students are taught traditional subjects such as math, language arts and science courses but their curriculum is augmented with poetry, physical education and dance classes. They will also include music and art classes in the future.  

“We provide the full gamut,” Johnson said.

Although the schools are currently housed in portables, they will begin constructing three buildings behind Nathaniel Traz Powell Stadium in the first week of October. They hope to have the school fully built by June of 2022, Vazquez said. 

The facility will have designated classroom space for elementary, and middle school kids and eventually high schoolers. In addition, the structure will include a basketball court, cafeteria, gym, auditorium and green space. 

“We’ve seen the renderings and we’re excited,” said Luis Nobriga, who serves as the principal at KIPP Courage. 

KIPPsters in the middle and high school levels will be eligible for dual enrollment courses at Miami Dade College and students in the College’s School of Education will be able to intern at KIPP Royalty and KIPP Courage. 

“It’s fantastic to have the students,” Vazquez said. “The engagement and that relationship that we have as educators working together.” 

For more information or to enroll in any KIPP Miami Public School, visit their website.