A Closer Look: KIPP WAYS Academy

In my 2011 Middle School Rankings, KIPP's WAYS Academy received an 8 out of 10 for academics, ranking 5th among middle schools in the APS system and 59th in the whole Metro Atlanta area.

In the fall, KIPP Metro Atlanta will launch its first elementary school.   Until that school expands through 4th grade, all of the students entering KIPP's middle schools will start the KIPP program in 5th grade.  By that point, several of the students are already behind.  However, KIPP has done a great job of meeting students where they are and moving them forward.  The progress each year is pretty impressive.  I have included below the statewide percentile rank for KIPP students in grades 6 through 8. 

• 6th Grade: 52nd Percentile
• 7th Grade: 73rd Percentile
• 8th Grade: 78th Percentile 

Students appear to be not only advancing a grade level each year, but advancing at a rate higher than the state average which is why older students rank higher.  This achievement is occurring despite the fact that 79% of the school's students are classified as economically disadvantaged (ED).

I have attached the average percent of ED students exceeding grade level for KIPP WAYS Academy and four other schools in the APS system.  These figures are limited to economically disadvantaged students and do not consider all students.  Some schools like Inman have very high performance among non ED students, but I want to focus this analysis specifically on the success schools are having with ED students.

By the time KIPP's students get to the 8th grade, they are performing very impressively.  As KIPP develops its feeder system for the K-4 grades over the coming years, I expect that the schools will see even higher achievement throughout all its grades.

For more Atlanta education analysis, visit my website Grading Atlanta.