About KIPP Texas
KIPP Texas Public Schools is an open-enrollment, free public charter school network of 54 schools with more than 31,000 Pre-K – 12 students across the state and an impact of 30 years in Texas. Together with our families and communities, we prepare our students for college, career, and beyond!
Graduation Rate When
Compared to Peers
Regions in Austin,
San Antonio,
Houston, Dallas
are Accepted to College
kipp TEXAS is hiring!
There’s a Place for You at KIPP Texas! KIPP Texas is hiring for a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Together, with heart, we build schools where adults love to work and children love to learn. Join our Team & Family today!
a right to Education
Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose — college, career, and beyond — so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
We are committed to equity in education with an instructional program in which students will be given the opportunity to master the fundamental skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking, spelling, and mathematics. Other fundamental learning in the arts, literature, foreign language, natural sciences, social sciences, physical education, and college and career readiness skills is provided for all students. Recognition is given and provisions are made for the individual capabilities, creative talents, needs, and interests of each student.
KIPP TEXAS
core values
As a Team and Family, we:
KIPP Texas Public Schools relentlessly pursues preparing all students for success in college, leadership, and life. We acknowledge we may not always get it right and we have opportunities to grow and improve. With this, we have examined our practices which has led us to formally establish an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes KIPP Texas different?
At KIPP, teachers, students, and families are all united around the same goal—college graduation. Through our collective hard work and commitment, KIPP students complete college at a rate that is comparable to the national average for all students and four times higher for students from low-income households. Our success is driven by:
High Expectations: KIPP has clearly defined high expectations for academic achievement and conduct that create and reinforce a culture of accomplishment and support.
Strength of Character: Success in life depends on more than academic learning. We help students foster character strengths that are essential for their own success. We empower our students to express their voice with power and to improve the world around them.
Highly Skilled Teachers and Leaders: Great schools require great teachers and school leaders. We empower our school teams and invest in leadership and training.
Safe & Structured Environments: Physical and emotional safety is necessary for students to feel comfortable taking risks and learning from their successes and their mistakes. Our schools provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environments with minimal distractions so our students love school and maximize their learning.
KIPP Forward: KIPP schools ensure each student has the skills and confidence to pursue any path that leads to their highest aspirations. Our counselors support students to choose and prepare for a right-fit college or education path and a meaningful career.
Are KIPP Texas schools public schools?
Yes, our schools are free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools.
Does KIPP Texas use social-emotional learning?
Yes, KIPP Texas incorporates the four key cognitive, affective and behavioral competencies of social-emotional learning: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
What is KIPP Forward?
KIPP Forward is a program designed to help our KIPPsters go to and through college and lead a choice-filled life. KIPP Texas counselors work with students starting in middle school to select the right classes, fill out the FAFSA and other college scholarship forms, prepare to take the ACT, and support them as they prepare for and select the right college and career based on their interests and passions. After high school, KIPP Texas advisors help alumni navigate the academic, social, and financial challenges they might encounter while in college or pursuing a career. Learn more about KIPP Forward College.
How do I apply for my student to attend KIPP Texas?
Fill out the online application on SchoolMint or by contacting your regional Student Recruitment Team.
Austin
Email: applyaustin@kipptexas.org
Phone: (512) 953-7107
Dallas-Forth Worth
Email: apply@kippdfw.org
Phone: (214) 448-5866
Houston
Email: applyhouston@kipptexas.org
Phone: (218) 879-3051
San Antonio
Email: applySA@kipptexas.org
Phone: (210) 880-8080
What is SchoolMint?
SchoolMint is our online enrollment system. We use this tool to manage and track your application throughout the student enrollment process. You’ll use your account to:
- Manage school applications for all of your children.
- If offered a seat, accept the offer and complete all documents required for registration.
- If waitlisted, check the waitlist position for all of your children.
- Once enrolled at KIPP Texas, SchoolMint is also the account where you will complete the annual re-enrollment process each year.
I am having trouble submitting an application on SchoolMint. What do I do?
Contact us!
Austin – enrollment@kippaustin.org or (512) 953-7107
Dallas-Fort Worth – enrollment@kippdfw.org or (214) 448-5866
Houston – applyhouston@kipptexas.org (281) 879-3051
San Antonio – applySA@kipptexas.org or (210) 880-8080
Or try to resolve it yourself.
Try logging in from a different browser:
Option 1 – Try logging in through a different internet browser: Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari. A new browser will not have the old cookies stored.
Option 2 – Try logging in from an incognito window
If you don’t want to change browsers, open an incognito window and try logging in. File > New Incognito Window
Option 3 – Clear your cache
On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click More.
Click More tools > Clear browsing data.
At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
Next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” check the boxes.
Click Clear data.
Is there a monetary charge to send my child to a KIPP Texas school?
KIPP Texas is part of the free public school system in Texas. There are no admission fees or tuition, with the exception of Pre-K. Fees for Pre-K are based on income and other factors. Please visit our Pre-K page for details.
Are entrance exams required to attend a KIPP Texas Public School?
KIPP Texas students enter by lottery, with no test for admission and no screening. Click here to learn more about KIPP Texas and the lottery.
Are there admission requirements at KIPP Texas schools?
No, there are no academic or behavioral requirements for enrollment in Pre-K – 12.
When is the deadline to apply for the 2025-26 school year?
Applications must be received by January 27, 2025 to be included in the lottery. Applications received after January 27, 2025 will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.
When will I find out if my student's application was selected in the lottery?
After the lottery occurs on February 3, 2025, families will be notified via phone, mail, and/or email of their application status. There is no lottery event that parents must attend. From there, families can log into SchoolMint to see their status and take further actions if given an offer.
What happens after I submit an application?
All applications received by January 27, 2025 will be placed in a lottery on February 3, 2025.
Applications that are not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waitlist for that school year. If spaces become available, they will be filled from the applications on the waitlist. You will receive continuous email updates through the lottery, until the start of the new school year.
How does the waitlist work?
If the number of children interested in a specific grade at a KIPP Texas school exceeds the number of seats available for that grade, names are drawn through a random, automated lottery process. If there are not enough open seats available, children will be placed on a waitlist. If and when seats become available at each KIPP school, we will notify families in the order of the waitlist.
Waitlists are dynamic! If a student is called off any of our waitlists and accepts, and if that student has a sibling on the waitlist, the sibling is moved up the waitlist with other new to KIPP siblings. This puts siblings ahead of any non-sibling waitlist students.
What should I expect? SchoolMint keeps track of where your student is on the waitlist. To see the status of your child, log into your account here. Be aware that your student’s position on the waitlist may be affected by other students who accept a position and also have siblings on the waitlist. As explained above, waitlist siblings of accepted students are moved ahead of non-sibling waitlist students.
What if I applied after the application deadline? Applications received after January 27, 2025 will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.
How can I prepare to complete the re-enrollment documents once my child becomes a KIPPster?
CURRENT FAMILIES: Is your child going into Kindergarten or 7th grade next year? If so, you will be required to upload an updated vaccine record that includes the appropriate age-level immunizations. If you do not have this, we recommend that you reach out to your child’s doctor or check your child’s online medical file (e.g. MyChart, if you use Texas Children’s). You will not be able to continue to the next step of the re-enrollment process without this record. If vaccinations are still needed and you are looking for a provider, please contact your school’s health team for more information.
Did you move during this school year? If you moved, please contact your child’s school to provide them with your updated address. You will need to also upload a current utility bill, mortgage statement, or lease.
Is your parent/guardian ID expired? We require a photo of a current parent or guardian ID. Please make sure your ID, drivers license, or visa is not expired.
Are you planning to not return next year? If you select that your child is not returning to KIPP next year, you will receive an email from us to help us learn what led you to this decision and how could better support you and your child. Please keep in mind that if you select that you are not returning, your child’s spot may be released to a new KIPPster via the lottery process.
What if I’m moving to another city outside of Texas? Great news! KIPP spans across 31 different regions in the United States. We would love to support you and your family in the transfer application process, if a KIPP school is located in your new hometown. For additional information and to find other KIPP regions, visit www.kipp.org or contact us at Enroll.Help@kipptexas.org {add subject: Moving to another city outside of Texas to the link}.
What if I’m moving to another city within Texas (in or near Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)? You will be able to apply for a transfer starting January 09, 2025. All families applying for transfers must fill out the re-enrollment documents. You will need to select that your child is returning AND complete re-enrollment. If your transfer is granted we will move your registration over to the new school before the 2025-2026 school year begins. If you select that you are not returning, you risk your child’s seat being filled by a new KIPPster via the lottery process.
Bus Transportation: The re-enrollment documents include all of the yellow bus stops available for your school, and allow you to select a bus stop for your child. It is our goal to offer the best transportation services to our students! If a bus stop is not available in your area please submit a “Bus Stop Request Form” to your school’s front office, which will be reviewed by our transportation department.
What grades are available for the 2025-26 school year?
KIPP Texas – Austin will offer Pre-K to 12th grade in 10 schools. See the school map.
KIPP Texas – Dallas Fort Worth will offer Pre-K4 to 12th grade in 7 schools located in East and South Dallas. See the school map.
KIPP Texas – Houston will offer Pre-K3 to 12th grade in 33 schools located throughout the city. See the school map.
KIPP Texas – San Antonio will offer Pre-K4 to 12th grade in 7 schools located in West and Central San Antonio. See the school map. (Pre-K4 is only available at KIPP Somos Primary starting in the 2023-24 school year.)
Are there extracurricular activities, clubs and sports at KIPP Texas schools?
Yes! KIPP Texas believes in a well-rounded student, and each school offers a variety of activities, clubs, and sports. Programs can vary by campus and grade level. Please contact a KIPP school near you for more information.
Will transportation be offered?
Transportation options vary by school. For more details and to identify the best bus stop for your family please go to https://kipptexas.org/transportation/.
Do you have Pre-K programs at all KIPP Texas schools?
We currently offer Pre-K programming in all four regions:
KIPP Texas – Austin offers half-day Pre-K3 (AM / PM) and Full-Day Pre-K4.
KIPP Texas – Dallas-Fort Worth offers a full-day Pre-K4 program.
KIPP Texas – Houston offers half-day Pre-K3 (AM / PM) and Full-Day Pre-K4.
KIPP Texas – San Antonio offers a full-day Pre-K4 program. (Pre-K4 is only available at KIPP Somos Primary starting in the 2023-24 school year)
Is there after school care at KIPP Texas schools?
KIPP Texas does provide after school care at our primary school campuses. Many times the programs are offered by a third-party organization authorized by the school. Please contact the school directly for more details.
Who is eligible for free Pre-K at KIPP Texas Public Schools?
To be eligible for enrollment in a free Pre-Kindergarten class, a child must be at least three years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year (if a 3-year old program is available) or four years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year (if only a 4-year old program is available) and meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Is unable to speak and comprehend the English language; or
- Is educationally disadvantaged (which means a student eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program); or
- Is homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 1143a, regardless of the residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the child’s guardian or other person having lawful control of the child; or
- Is the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority; or
- Is the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty; or
- Is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (foster care) following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or
- Is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as: a peace officer under Section 3106.002, Government Code; a firefighter under Section 3106.003, Government Code; or an emergency medical first responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code.
For more information on our Pre-K programs, please visit kipptexas.org/pre-k/.