It’s College Decision Day, where we celebrate the Class of 2026 and all the dreams, decisions, and possibilities ahead. ✨🎓
At KIPP SoCal, being college-ready from day one means more than just getting into college — it’s about having the support, guidance, and confidence to get there and thrive.
Carol’s journey from East LA to @stanford is a powerful example of what’s possible when KIPPsters are supported every step of the way.
Through @kippforward_la + @kippforward_sd , our students receive personalized guidance on high school placement, college applications, financial aid, and career exploration — so they’re never navigating it alone.
Here’s to our KIPPsters chasing big dreams and building bright futures. 💫
In celebration of World Art Day, we’re proud to announce that Charity Neal—a @kipp_opportunity alum and professional artist—will be honored as this year’s Artful Impact Award recipient at the Museum of KIPP Art (MOKA). 🎨✨
Now in its second year, KIPP SoCal’s Artful Impact Award celebrates those whose creativity builds lasting connections through shared stories, fresh perspectives, and a deeper sense of community.
Charity’s journey is a full-circle moment. Her recent wallscape installation, “What It’s Like to Be a KIPPster,”—currently on display in South Los Angeles—draws from both her own story and the broader KIPP student experience, encouraging young people to see their imagination as powerful, their voice as meaningful, and their future as self-defined.
For 20 years, MOKA has been a space where student artists share who they are and who they’re becoming. Charity is a reflection of that impact — what starts in the classroom can grow into something far beyond it.
Join us on Friday, May 29, as we celebrate artists like Charity and the next generation following in her footsteps.
🎟️ Tickets available now at kippsocal.org/moka (link in bio)
We’re proud to share that 10 KIPP SoCal schools have been named among California’s Best by U.S. News & World Report for 2026!
This recognition is awarded to schools that rank in the top 40% of their state’s assessment data — a testament to the strong academic outcomes and support happening across our classrooms every day. 💙
👏🏽 Congratulations to our recognized Elementary Schools:
@kippcomienza_ls • @kipp_empower_academy • @kippiluminar • @kipp_promesa • @kippraicesacademy
👏🏽 Congratulations to our recognized Middle Schools:
@kipp_innovation • @kippcomienza_us • @kippcorazonus • @kipplaprep • @kippsol
This National Charter Schools Week, we’re celebrating the educators who don’t just teach in charter schools — they were transformed by them. ❤️
For Thiany Armijo, becoming a Spanish language teacher at KIPP wasn’t just a career path. It was personal. Charter schools gave her opportunities, support, and a community that helped shape who she is today — and now she’s paying that forward for the next generation of students.
Public charter schools give families more public school choices, empower passionate educators, and create spaces where students can feel seen, challenged, and inspired.
Because when students have access to schools that believe in their brilliance, lives change. ✨
#NationalCharterSchoolsWeek #CharterSchools @laceps1
Every piece at MOKA starts with a moment that matters. For Isabella from @kipp_promesa that moment became a painting filled with memory, connection, and the way she sees the world.
At #MOKA20, students aren’t just showcasing artwork—they’re sharing their stories, perspectives, and experiences through art.
Join us in less than 2 weeks on May 29 at Magic Box @ The Reef in DTLA to celebrate 20 years of student creativity, storytelling, and voice. 💙
🎟️ kippsocal.org/moka
Last month KIPP Forward joined @kippcorazonus for their first ever College Night 🎓✨
It was an evening dedicated to demystifying the path to higher education with the help of @kippsocal alumni from @kipplaprep , @kipp_opportunity and @kippsol . At the event panelists shared their journey to and through college, tips for a successful high school career, and more.
Highlights from the evening include:
⭐️ The interactive “On The Road To College” Banner created by our South East LA KF counselor Ms. Medina
⭐️ The EOP presentation by Corazon’s Community School Manager Ms. Gomez
⭐️ The Q&A section with students and families.
⭐️ The student raffle for plushies provided by Ms. Gomez!
Thank you to all staff who supported the event and all community members who joined! ♥️🎓✨
#kippforward #kippforwardla
South L.A. valedictorian and @kippscholaracademy alum, Lamont Newell is making major moves! The straight-A student from Verbum Dei Jesuit High School was accepted into 65 colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UCLA, and USC, before deciding to attend Columbia University on a full ride 🎓👏🏾
Congratulations to Lamont on this amazing achievemen 🎓✨ we're so proud of you and can't wait to see what's in store for you next!
This spring, 25 KIPP SoCal families and alumni took their advocacy all the way to Washington, D.C. 🇺🇸🏛️
As part of Spring Advocacy Week, our community met with lawmakers — including Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Ted Lieu, Linda Sánchez, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Jimmy Gomez — to speak up for student mental health, education funding, and equity.
Representing schools across KIPP SoCal — including KIPP Compton, Opportunity, Iluminar, Sol, Endeavor, LA Prep, Promesa, Scholar, Innovation, Comienza, and Raíces — these advocates showed the power of family voice and what’s possible when our community comes together. 🙌🏽
This is what advocacy looks like. 💫
Since 2016, the @kippschools Heart & SOL Award has recognized School Operations Leaders who go far beyond the scope of their role — leading with excellence, heart, and an unwavering commitment to students and school communities. ❤️✨
This year’s winners represent schools with low chronic absenteeism and/or significant year-over-year improvement, a reflection of the transformative impact strong operations leadership has on student success.
We’re so proud to celebrate our two incredible KIPPster winners:
🎉 Heidi Albi @kippempoweracademy
🎉 Eyvett Arias @kipplaprep
Thank you both for the countless ways you pour love, care, and operational excellence into your KIPPsters and school communities every single day. Your leadership makes all the difference, and this recognition is so well deserved. Congratulations on this incredible achievement! 💙🧡
Strong leadership is everything — especially in schools. 🍎✨
That’s why KIPP SoCal’s Teacher Leader Cohort is designed to help educator-leaders strengthen both the hard and soft skills needed to create meaningful instructional change for students and teams.
This week, Mariely shares what they’re taking away from the professional development experience and how they’re all growing as a leaders.
If this feels like your kinda place, check us out at kippsocal.org/careers
Big news! 🎉 The San Diego Unified School District Board has approved charter renewal through 2031 for KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy!
We are incredibly grateful to all of our families, students, team members and community members who showed up, spoke out, and shared their stories. Their voices were a powerful reminder that our KIPP San Diego school is an impactful and loving community built around students, families, and big dreams for the future. Onward! 💛 #ChooseKIPP
This year, KIPP SoCal had the honor of hosting five candidates for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction across our schools. 🏫✨
From @kipp_empower_academy to @kipp_promesa to @kippcomienza_ls , our students, teachers, and staff showed what we know happens every day at our schools: our schools are places of excellence, joy, and genuine community — and the candidates took notice:
💬 "An oasis of learning."
💬 "Structured and disciplined, well-balanced with warmth and joy."
💬 "A strong example of what charter schools can bring to the state."
This is exactly why we intentionally bring decision-makers into our schools — because when people see KIPP SoCal up close, they leave as advocates.
Thank you to every team member who made these visits possible. 💙
