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About Us

Founded in 2003, KIPP Ascend Charter School is a Chicago Public School (CPS) and part of a nationwide network of 57 KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) schools. KIPP Ascend is a “choice school,” offering a free, public education to any child who wishes to enroll. (If the number of interested students exceeds enrollment capacity, students are chosen through a lottery.)

Our Mission
The team at KIPP Ascend is guided by a simple, yet powerful mission: to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and character traits required to succeed in top-quality high schools, universities, and the competitive world beyond.

At KIPP Ascend Charter School, we "climb the mountain" to college!

The History of KIPP Ascend
KIPP Ascend Charter School was founded by Jim O’Connor, an accomplished educator and Teach for America alum. Armed with the talent and desire to see children reach their full potential – regardless of their socioeconomic background – Jim undertook a year-long fellowship with the KIPP School Leadership Program in 2002. Upon completing his training with KIPP, Jim opened KIPP Ascend Charter School in July 2003.

KIPP Ascend currently serves 320 5th through 8th grade students from the Austin, West Garfield, and North Lawndale neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side.

Knowledge is Power
KIPP Ascend is modeled after the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), which was founded in 1994 by Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin. Upon completing their commitment with Teach for America, Feinberg and Levin launched KIPP as a 5th grade program at Garcia Elementary School on the north side of Houston, Texas. Their students' academic success and interest in learning inspired Feinberg and Levin to expand the program beyond one classroom. The following year, KIPP Academy opened in Houston and Levin founded KIPP Academy in the South Bronx, New York. Today, both are recognized nationally as outstanding schools. Thanks to the support of Doris & Don Fisher (co-founders of the GAP clothing stores), the Walton Family Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other education reform advocates, KIPP is on target to reach its goal of 100 network schools by 2010.

The 5 Pillars
Five basic principles form the “pillars” that are responsible for the success of students at KIPP Schools. They are:

  • Choice + Commitment: The students, parents, and faculty of KIPP Ascend have made a choice to be a part of the school. All parties sign a Commitment to Excellence agreement at the start of the school year, and are required to put in the time and effort that is necessary to achieve success.
  • High Expectations: KIPP Ascend has clearly-defined and measurable high expectations for academic achievement and conduct. When it comes to effort and behavior, there are no excuses. Students, parents, faculty, and staff create and reinforce a culture of excellence through a range of formal and informal rewards and consequences. Students are expected to realize a level of academic performance that will enable them to succeed at the nation's best high schools and colleges.
  • More Time: Students at KIPP Ascend are in school from 7:25 AM to 5:00 PM , Mondays-Thursdays, 7:25 AM to 3:30 PM on Fridays, and every other Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. In addition to this extra time, students also attend four weeks of Summer School. All told, KIPPsters spend nearly 70% more time in class than their traditional public school counterparts. More time for students at KIPP Ascend enables them to acquire superior academic skills as well as broaden their horizons with extra-curricular experiences.
  • Focus on Results: Test data is used regularly to guide individual student instruction with a focus on results. At KIPP schools nationwide, student performance on tests and other objective measures consistently outpace district averages.  Nearly 80% of KIPP alumni across the nation are in college.
  • Power to Lead: The administrative team at KIPP Ascend has the power to lead an effective organization, retaining control over all school budget and personnel decisions.  This freedom allows for maximum flexibility and effectiveness in improving student achievement. The staff at KIPP Ascend understands what it takes to build and sustain a high performing school, and has the desire, discipline, and dedication to see its mission put into action.