Our Company

KIPP began in Houston, Texas, in 1994 with a powerful idea: create a classroom that helps children develop the knowledge, skills, character, and habits necessary to succeed in college and build a better tomorrow for their communities. Founders Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin began by redefining what was possible for a classroom of public school students in Houston. In 1995, they opened two KIPP middle schools, one in Houston and one in New York City. By 1999, the original KIPP charter schools were among the highest-performing schools in their respective communities. In 2000, KIPP formed a partnership with Doris and Don Fisher (founders of The Gap) to recruit, train, and support founding KIPP school leaders through the KIPP Fisher Fellowship Program. There are currently 162 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serving 58,000 students. KIPP also has more than 60 partnerships with colleges and universities across the country.