St. Louis, Mo :  KIPP St. Louis, a public charter school network in the City of St. Louis, recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary.  Founded in 2009, KIPP began with a single class of 72 fifth graders and has grown to six schools with more than 2,300 K-11 students.

“When we opened our first KIPP School, we offered families an opportunity unlike any other in the city:  a high-

Pictured from left to right is Founding Board Chair Greg Wendt and KIPP supporter Walter Metcalfe greeting a KIPP Wisdom Academy STEP Team member.

quality education that helps students on their climb to and through college,” said KIPP St. Louis Executive Director Kelly Garrett.  “Our ability to open new schools and accomplish so much in a short period of time is thanks to the local and national support of individuals, corporations and foundations.”

Garrett added that “our enrollment numbers prove families throughout the City of St. Louis care deeply about the quality of their children’s education, and we look forward to continuing our journey for many years to come.”

Since its inception, KIPP St. Louis has grown to a network of five schools—two elementary, two middle, and a high school that opened in 2017 and will graduate its first senior class in 2021.  With the addition of KIPP Wonder Academy elementary school that opened in Aug. of 2019, the organization is on track to provide a college preparatory education to 3,300 students by 2023.  This number represents 15% of the public school enrollment in the City of St. Louis.