KWPP will open in August 2009. Please check back in the spring for more information about enrolling your child!

Getting to Know KWPP: Who are we?

KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School (KWPP) is a new school that will open in August 2008. As part of a national network of high performing schools, KWPP is a free, open-enrollment public charter school that will start with 95 fifth graders. The school will expand one grade every year until it reaches full capacity with 350 students in grades 5 through 8. We will open in West Philadelphia, an area in need of excellent educational options for its families and their children.

For more information about the national movement, please check out www.kipp.org.

Our Mission: Climbing the Mountain to College

The scholars who attend KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School will be equipped with the academic skills, intellectual habits, character traits, and leadership ability necessary to navigate life challenges, ensure success in college, and be proactive leaders in improving their communities and the greater society.

KWPP is an academically intensive program that aims to provide a college preparatory education to every child regardless of background or previous academic record.

KWPP is modeled after its sister school - KIPP Philadelphia Charter School (KPCS), a high performing 5-8 middle school in North Philadelphia. Open since 2003, KPCS serves 327 fifth through eighth graders, 13% of whom are Hispanic, 86% African-American, and 1% Caucasian.

Lamont Browne (in picture at top of page) is the Founder and School Leader of KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School. He taught 8th grade Algebra at KPCS last year, and 91% of the students he taught passed the PSSA both math and reading.

School Vision: Why join our Team and Family?

The objective of all KIPP Philadelphia schools is to prepare every child to climb the mountain to and through college.

The students and alumni of KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School will foster a global mindset that children of all colors regardless of background or class are capable and deserving of a first class education and with this education – through their minds and their actions – will positively affect the people they meet and the communities in which they live.

KPCS and KWPP share one mission – to prepare all of our students to go to college. Our students are held to high academic and character expectations. Many of our students come to us 2 - 3 grade levels behind, often times through no fault of their own. The fifth grade curriculum at all KIPP Philadelphia schools is specifically structured so that students who are academically behind can receive the help they need to reach and ascend beyond grade level. Students who are functioning on grade level or above are pushed to even greater heights.

One of our main strategies is to give children more time on task in school. KIPP students come to school at 7:15 every day, and leave at 5:00 Monday-Thursday, 3:30 on Friday. They also attend Saturday School twice a month, and a 3-week summer session in August. These longer hours allow us more time for reading and math, without having to sacrifice important extracurricular activities including Sports Education.

At KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School, we believe that quality learning takes place inside and outside the classroom. To develop good character and well-rounded individuals, our students participate in many activities including field trips that are tied to academic content. For example, last June, the 5th graders at KPCS spent a week in Washington, DC learning about the history of the United States. KWPP students will have similar experiences throughout their career at KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School.

KWPP: An Extraordinary School

There are many things that will make KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School an extraordinary school. The most important is the will and determination of every teacher and the school leader to provide a great education and a loving atmosphere that pushes every student to reach their highest potential.

If you are interested in being a part of this amazing school, please contact School Leader Mr. Lamont Browne at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 215.221.4718.

To apply to teach at KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School, please e-mail a cover letter and resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it To learn more about working for KIPP Philadelphia Schools, click here.