Philosophy & Goals






				Our School Philosophy & Goals Our school philosophy can be explained through KIPP’s Five Pillars: 1. High Expectations. KIPP WAYS Academy has explicitly defined and observable high expectations for academic achievement and conduct that make no excuses based upon 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. 2. Choice & Commitment. Students, parents and the faculty of KIPP WAYS Academy make a choice to be at the school. No one is assigned or forced to attend the school. Everyone makes and upholds a commitment to KIPP WAYS Academy and to each other to put in the time and effort required to achieve success. 3. More Time. KIPP WAYS Academy knows that there are no shortcuts when it comes to helping educationally disadvantaged students succeed academically. A longer school day, a longer school year, and summer school mean more time for students at KIPP WAYS Academy to acquire the academic knowledge and skills, as well as broad extracurricular experiences that will prepare them for competitive high schools and colleges. 4. Power to Lead. The Principal of KIPP WAYS Academy is an effective academic and organizational leader who understands that there are no great schools without great principals. The Principal has control over the school budget and personnel, allowing him/her to move dollars swiftly or to make staffing changes necessary to be more effective in helping students learn. 5. Focus on Results. KIPP WAYS Academy focuses unrelentingly on results. Student achievement on tests and other objective measures substantially outperform district averages, does not make excuses based on demographics, and enables students to compete at the nation’s best high schools and colleges. At KIPP, we believe that there are no shortcuts to academic success. Outstanding educators, more time in school, a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, and a strong culture of achievement and support help our students make significant academic gains so that they may continue to excel in high school and college. School Values The students and staff of the KIPP WAYS Academy shall uphold the following values or “ways to success”: Scholarship - The methods, discipline, and attainments of scholars who are engaged in the pursuits of learning Teamwork - Cooperative effort by the members of a group or team to achieve a common goal Integrity - Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code Perseverance – The act of going on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition; never giving up Fun – Finding pleasure in all learning opportunities and enjoying the simple things in life Students will understand that these “ways to success” are essential qualities that they must value if they are to obtain success in reaching their goals. When students and staff both practice these “ways to success”, the following school climate will develop: All students and staff will be putting forth their best effort on all tasks (perseverance); helping their teammates along the way (teamwork); achieving significant academic gains (scholarship); while enjoying themselves (fun) and operating with the utmost respect and honesty (integrity). With such a school climate, KIPP WAYS Academy shall make great strides toward its mission of ultimately preparing students for competitive high schools and colleges. When students have internalized these “ways to success” and practice them on a regular basis, they will be equipped with both the academic and life skills to excel in any rigorous academic environment. KIPP WAYS Academy has short-term, intermediate, and long-term goals. The short-term goal is to provide an enjoyable and rigorous educational experience. KIPP WAYS Academy will impress upon students the level to which they can enhance their self-esteem by learning and making great personal and academic strides during a single year of dedicated hard work. The intermediate goal is to help students carry this sense of commitment and accomplishment through middle school and into high school. The long-term goal is to instill in our students the belief that they will all be able to attend college. Together, these goals will prepare our students for top quality high schools, colleges, and the competitive world beyond by instilling in each student a commitment to scholarship, teamwork, integrity, and other “WAYS to success.” Through their commitment to KIPP’s Five Pillars and by dedicating approximately 60% more time to mastering subject area competencies, students will be empowered to achieve the following: Student Goals 1. KIPP WAYS Academy scholars will acquire the necessary reading skills to effectively understand and analyze various types of literature. 2. KIPP WAYS Academy scholars will become proficient writers and confident speakers of the English language. 3. KIPP WAYS Academy scholars will demonstrate competency in the understanding and application of mathematical computation and problem solving as it relates to real world situations. 4. KIPP WAYS Academy scholars will demonstrate competency in the understanding and application of scientific knowledge and reasoning. 5. KIPP WAYS Academy scholars will demonstrate competency in the understanding and application of history, geography, civics, economics, and other core social studies skills. 6. KIPP WAYS Academy students will be engaged scholars who attend school regularly and complete required assignments. Non-Academic Outcome Goals KIPP WAYS Academy also believes that for its students to become successful and contributing members of society they must achieve non-academic goals. During their tenure at KIPP WAYS Academy, all students will develop specific social skills necessary to succeed in society, including but not limited to: * Making and maintaining eye contact * Shaking hands in a proper manner * Addressing adults and peers appropriately and respectfully * Understanding where and when responses are appropriate All students will learn to approach their required work with attitudes and skills necessary to be successful in life, including but not limited to: * Perseverance * Attention to detail * Completeness * Accuracy * Neatness All students will develop academic skills needed to be successful in subsequent schools, including but not limited to: * Research techniques * Reading for a variety of reasons * Note-taking skills * Organization skills * Effective written and oral communication * Critical thinking skills All students will develop the character traits and skills that will allow and encourage them to become concerned and active citizens of their communities, nation, and the world beyond. KIPP WAYS Academy’s core values include but are not limited to: * Scholarship * Teamwork * Integrity * Perseverance * Fun