Guide to Enrolling in KIPP Texas—San Antonio Schools for 2024–25

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KIPP Un Mundo Primary student Texas San Antonio

KIPP Texas—San Antonio is part of a pioneering network of charter schools that continue to show that students from all backgrounds are capable of achieving at high levels. KIPP Texas Public Schools is still accepting applications for enrollment for the 2023–24 school year and is holding open enrollment for the 2023–24 school year from October 1, 2023 to February 26, 2024. We have put together a guide to help you learn more about KIPP Texas—San Antonio and take steps to enroll your child for the next school year.

About KIPP Texas Public Schools in San Antonio

Since its founding in Houston in 1994, KIPP Texas public schools have grown into one of the largest and most influential charter school networks in the United States. Along the way, KIPP culture and practices have evolved and improved. For example, the time horizon has extended: Back when KIPP offered only middle schools, the goal was to get kids into good high schools; now, with KIPP Forward, the goal is to not only get KIPPsters enrolled in college, but to see that they graduate from college and enter their careers. Nevertheless, the core values have remained: Every kid deserves to go to a high quality school regardless of what zip code they live in, and they deserve academic excellence and an environment that supports character education.

The KIPP network now covers 30 regions, including 280 schools, serving over 120,000 students across the country. Together, KIPP continually raises the bar for teaching and learning, then ensures success in one classroom travels across their network to hundreds more. And while each of their schools reflects the community to which it belongs, they are united around a shared commitment: a future without limits.

KIPP Texas encompasses four regions and includes 57 schools and nearly 35,000 students. KIPP Texas—San Antonio was founded in 2003 with the opening of KIPP Aspire, a middle school. Currently Guadalupe Diaz is the Regional Superintendent for KIPP Texas—San Antonio.

KIPP Texas—San Antonio has seven schools and just opened a new campus, located at 8915 Callaghan Road, which is home to KIPP Somos Primary (grades PK4–2) and KIPP Somos Collegiate (grades 6–12).

KIPP Somos campus Callaghan San Antonio Texas

KIPP Texas defines its core values in these terms: 

  • Champion equity: The belief that ALL students will learn. The adults must be aware of equity at all times.
  • Chase excellence: Make excellence a habit and “Prove the Possible.”
  • Persist with purpose. Find a way or make a way. Be tenacious in the face of obstacles.
  • Bring joy. Show appreciation. Generously give praise, recognition, and rewards.
  • Rise together. Team is more important than individual. Give help, and ask for help. Engage in healthy debate and conflict.

KIPPsters talk about “Team and Family.” For teachers, students, families, and leaders, both in the workplace and in their personal lives, there is a culture of stepping up and helping each other no matter what. In fact, in October 2020, KIPP Texas—San Antonio was ranked among the best mid-size employers in San Antonio.

KIPP Texas is a leader in creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments. The organization is committed to building a more just world. KIPP Texas embraces, honors and celebrates differences and similarities across race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, nationality.

Across Texas, 88 percent of the student population is from communities that are largely under-resourced and 37 percent are English language learners. In the San Antonio region, leaders have made choices that demonstrate cultural competence, such as offering Mexican American Studies courses and advocating for students who are immigrants.

KIPP Texas—San Antonio is one of the few charter school networks in the San Antonio area that offers free transportation. It’s costly for the schools, but free transportation increases access to high-quality education for students who don’t live close enough to walk to school or have a family member who can drive them to school.

KIPP Texas San Antonio Public Schools bus transportation

KIPP Forward, formerly known as KIPP Through College, is a program that supports KIPP alumni as they progress towards completing their college degrees or career preparation programs. Students who may be the first in their families to complete high school or enroll in college benefit from extra support and guidance. Current students meet with college counselors as they research programs and file applications.

Getting ready for the paths that are chosen, whether it is college, career, or beyond, is a cause for celebration. In May 2023, the Team and Family gathered for a joyful Commitment Ceremony, when graduating seniors announced their post-high school plans. The support continues while KIPP alumni are enrolled in college and facing the challenges of being first-generation college students.

The college completion rate for KIPP alumni is four times higher than their peers from similar backgrounds. They are sharing this knowledge: staff at KIPP Forward have partnered with San Antonio ISD and other traditional public school districts to build college counseling teams. 

To read more about KIPP Texas public schools San Antonio in the news, we recommend that you click on the articles linked at the bottom of this post. Also, we invite you to join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook and ask questions; the group includes current KIPP families who can comment based on their own experiences.

KIPP Texas San Antonio Public Schools parent student

Campuses in San Antonio

In 2024–25, KIPP Texas—San Antonio will have seven schools in central San Antonio. On the statewide district’s most recent school report card, they earned a B rating; the list below includes links to each campus’s school report cards. The network and the region also report their results. 

Download the free San Antonio Charter Schools app for an interactive map that includes these campuses and many more. You can also find campus information about KIPP (and many other schools of choice) in our Guide to Charter Schools in San Antonio.

KIPP Texas San Antonio Public Schools teacher student classroom

How to Enroll

Families can apply online to enroll their children at KIPP Texas Public Schools in San Antonio. Open enrollment for the upcoming 2024–25 school year began on October 1, 2023 and will continue through February 26, 2024. On March 4, 2024, they will hold a random lottery. Starting on March 6, 2024, KIPP Texas will begin notifying families of students who are selected; the remaining students will be placed on waiting lists, and will be notified when a spot becomes available. If you have questions about how to apply, contact applySA@kipptexas.org, call 210-880-8080, or text “ApplySATX24-25” to 210-840-1793.

During application season, there will be school tours, information sessions, and other events for families to learn more about KIPP Texas—San Antonio. Join the KIPP Texas interest list to receive email updates about these events. 

We also recommend following these KIPP social media accounts:

In addition, please join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook to post questions and search previous discussions about KIPP Texas—San Antonio.

KIPP Texas San Antonio Public Schools student violin

Facts About KIPP Texas Public Schools

KIPP is committed to providing an inclusive environment for students. KIPP partnered with the Special Olympics to create more socially inclusive schools. This year, KIPP implemented the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (UCS) program to promote social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities through inclusive activities with a school-wide approach. With sports as the foundation, the UCS program offers a unique combination of activities and games that equip students with tools and training to create sports, classrooms and school climates of acceptance.

On a 2019 tour of what is now KIPP Somos Collegiate, we collected some stories that show the distinctive culture of KIPP Texas—San Antonio. The student ambassadors spoke about their morning advisory period, a time when students can talk about what is bothering them and get support from their fellow students. Perhaps a student had witnessed a traumatic event outside of school, and came to school feeling preoccupied; by talking it out in a circle with their peers, they can feel safe and soak up the love and concern from other students. These restorative practices help students be more aware of their emotions and get into a state where they are ready to learn.

The middle school students showed us their classrooms, including a space for Mexican American Studies courses. They also took us to the music room, the gym, and the soccer fields, where students participate in extracurricular activities and sports. For a school culture that is so dedicated to academic excellence, the KIPPsters are also well-rounded students who find creative ways to express their joy.

Innovation is also part of KIPP culture. In May 2019, KIPP Texas—San Antonio partnered with Tech Bloc, to host a conversation with Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix and a KIPP Foundation board member. Hastings spoke about how small changes that may not even have been noticed at the time—such as releasing an entire season of a TV show at once—can turn out to be major innovations that disrupt industries and create new behaviors, like binge watching. Hastings has chosen to dedicate resources to charter schools because he wants to support their innovative practices and disrupt how education works; he is also politically savvy and wants to see charter schools collaborate with traditional public schools.

The downtown campus that is home to three schools—KIPP Esperanza Primary, KIPP Aspire Academy, and KIPP University Prep—came about with the help of the Turner-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund. This social impact venture is a partnership between Bobby Turner and tennis legend Andre Agassi, who was forced to drop out of school as a teenager to pursue professional tennis, and in midlife became dedicated to giving back to education.

KIPP University Prep High School is an International Baccalaureate campus. This is unique in the KIPP network, and there are currently only a handful of IB high schools in San Antonio. At KIPP University Prep, the IB program is universal—all 11th and 12th graders participate.

KIPP Texas—San Antonio is a partner with Choose to Succeed, a nonprofit organization working to attract the nation’s best public charter schools to San Antonio.

As KIPP Texas—San Antonio continues to reinvent itself, we are confident that the big KIPPsters will hold on to their core values of providing an excellent education to all students, especially those in underserved areas, and being mindful of equity. As they have for so many years, the KIPP Team and Family will continue to lead in educational excellence and innovation. We encourage you apply for enrollment now. You are also welcome to join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group to learn more and interact with current KIPP Texas Public Schools families.

Charter Moms Chats

Watch a Guadalupe Diaz, Regional Superintendent for KIPP Texas—San Antonio, speak with Inga Cotton on Charter Moms Chats on October 19, 2023 at 4:00 PM Central live on Facebook and YouTube.

Guadalupe Diaz is the Regional Superintendent for KIPP Texas—San Antonio. Guadalupe started her journey as a bilingual teacher educating students on the West Side of San Antonio. After teaching, she became a campus instructional coordinator and coached and managed PK–8th grade teachers. She then became an assistant principal, coached teachers, and managed all school operations. Soon, Guadalupe was promoted to principal of IDEA Carver Academy. In three years, she and her team were able to move the entire body of K–5 readers from 26 percent to 77 percent reading on and above grade level. She has also led the region’s lowest-performing school to become top-rated, receiving an “A” rated state distinction and the campus of the year. She then accepted the position of Vice President of Schools, achieving great success with the nine schools she managed.

Read More About KIPP Texas Public Schools in San Antonio

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