Frequently Asked Questions
What is KAL?
KIPP Academy Lynn (KAL) is an open-enrollment public charter school located in Lynn MA, serving grades 5th–8th.
What is a charter school?
Charter schools are public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. The "charter" establishing each school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success.
Massachusetts charter schools report to the MA Department of Education and are required to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept of charter schools is that they allow increased autonomy in return for this accountability.
Massachusetts charter schools report to the MA Department of Education and are required to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept of charter schools is that they allow increased autonomy in return for this accountability.
What grades do you serve?
KAL serves 352 students in grades 5 – 8 (around 90 students per grade). We are building a new campus (link here to new building page) that will allow us to serve more than 750 students in grades 5 – 12.
What area do you serve?
KAL students come from all over the city of Lynn. KAL provides school bus service to ensure that all students are able to attend regardless of their parent's ability to drive them.
What is KIPP?
KIPP, which stands for the "Knowledge Is Power Program," is a network of free open-enrollment college-prep public schools in under-resourced communities throughout the United States. It is a national non-profit organization that selects, trains, and supports outstanding educators to open and run high-performing schools. There are currently 82 KIPP schools in 19 states and Washington, D.C., serving more than 22,000 students. KIPP is a nationally recognized program with outstanding results (see www.kipp.org/presscenter.cfm).
How are students selected for admission?
KAL students, like all charter school students in MA, are selected by lottery. KAL does not select or deny admissions on the basis of prior academic or behavioral record, race, creed, class, handicap, or any other factor. As a result, the demographics and academic preparedness of KAL students closely reflect those of neighborhood schools. KAL student body is 80% African American and Latino. Over 87% of KAL students qualify for free and reduced meals. On average, KAL students enter the school two years below grade level in math and two-three years below grade level in reading on average.
How do KAL students perform compared to other students in Lynn, and to the entire state of MA?
KAL students significantly outperformed MA students on all three sections of the sixth, seventh and eighth grade MCAS state tests. For more on KALs results click here.
How is KAL funded?
KAL receives funding from three resources: State funds, Federal funds, and Private funds. The amount of funding received through state and local grants is the same amount the public school system receives. It is based on a per pupil allocation established by the state government. Because KAL offers so much more than the public school, KAL must raise money for funding through private donations.
Does KAL take money from the Lynn Public School system?
Charter schools are public schools. All mainstream public schools receive state and federal funding based on a per-student calculation. When a child leaves for a charter school the money follows that child. Charter schools do not take money from public schools; they provide new educational alternatives within the public school system using public dollars.
How can I apply to KAL for my child?
Parents and students may apply at any time of the year. Student names are held on the waitlist until a predetermined lottery cutoff date in mid-March. At that time, students are selected at random for admission. There are currently over 300 students on the waitlist for KAL Charter School. To enter your child into the lottery, please contact Esther Vargas at (781) 598-1609 or evargas@kipplynn.org.
How can I get involved?
For more information, to make a donation, or to learn about volunteering, please contact Jennifer Parkos, Development Director, at 781-592-1937 or jparkos@kipplynn.org or Whitney Grace, Development Associate, at 781-913-6766 or wgrace@kipplynn.org.
