KIPP Facilities Guide

About

Within the U.S. public school system, fewer than 1 in 5 low-income students attend college nationally. Since its conception in 1994, the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) challenges the status quo through a growing national network of over 75 charter schools.

KIPP has historically developed middle schools, but the physical layout of such schools are ill suited to KIPP’s increasing stock of elementary schools. This publication was developed by Public Architecture in partnership with KIPP and Cannon Design to fill the resource need for guidance in this area. Included in the guide are high-level strategies for developing and improving elementary facilities such as using design to advance programmatic goals, understanding space considerations, and engaging in issues of sustainability. By simply and strongly linking spatial concepts to educational opportunities, the guide is intended to empower teachers, school leaders, and KIPP administrators. The overall goal was to increase KIPP’s capacity to provide high performing educational environments.

A project of Public Architecture