KIPP DC…a growing network of college preparatory charter schools... is investing millions of dollars in a Southeast public school Chancellor Michelle Rhee closed this year.

Jessica Forres attended the ribbon cutting ceremony…

LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 NEWS

________________________________________________________

[NAT: MY EIGHTH GRADERS.. WHAT YEAR DO YOU GO TO COLLEGE

CROWD: 2013]

Founder of KIPP DC Susan Schaeffler screams out to the crowd of middle school students in the gymnasium of the former Douglass Junior High School.

EVER SINCE KIPP HAS EXISTED IN THE DISTRICT I’VE BEEN EYEING THIS BUILDING AND IT’S BEEN UNDERENROLLED BY HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE THAT IT WAS ON THE LIST TO BE CLOSED AND REASSIGNED TO SOMETHING THAT COULD MAKE BETTER USE OF IT.

The network of KIPP Schools serves nearly a thousand disadvantaged students in the District... the new building gives them enough space to to start a high school.

WE WILL BE INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS SO THAT IT CAN ACCOMMODATE THE 1500 STUDENTS WE PLAN TO SERVE.

Schaeffler says most of the students enter KIPP two to three grade levels behind and after four years are often outperforming their peers nationwide.

IT’S GOING TO BE GREAT TO FINALLY SEE PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE TO SOUTHEAST FOR THE HIGHEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 NEWS