KIPP Texas Together: November Family Newsletter

A Message from the ceo

KIPP Texas Families,

As the calendar turns toward the holiday season, I wanted to connect and share some thoughts as we approach the Thanksgiving break. This is truly my favorite time of the year, as it invites us to pause, look back at the accomplishments of our students, and appreciate the strong community we build together.

It has been an eventful year, and we continue to be incredibly grateful for the dedication and partnership all of our KIPP Texas families demonstrate. We’ve navigated changes and embraced new challenges, and we have done it all while focusing on sparking joy in our classrooms and communities. The success of your student is built on the strong foundation of support you provide at home, combined with the hard work happening in our classrooms. Thank you for your continued commitment to our mission and for being essential partners in your child’s education. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.

Thanksgiving is, at its heart, a time to gather and appreciate the people we share our lives with. We encourage you to use this time to step away from the screen and truly connect with your children and loved ones. The energy and support they get from time with family fuels their success at school, reminding us of the strong community we build both within KIPP Texas and beyond.

Wishing you and your families a restful, peaceful, and joyful Thanksgiving holiday. We look forward to seeing our students return refreshed and ready to learn!

With gratitude,

Sehba Ali

CEO, KIPP Texas

Academics

🥇 KIPP Texas Schools Earn Top “Gold Ribbon” Honors for Excellence
Photo Caption: KIPP Houston High School Leader Geoffrey Roy and KIPP Shine Prep School Leader Antara Morris celebrate Gold Ribbon-status in the recently announced Children at Risk 2024-2025 Houston School Rankings.

KIPP Texas is celebrating major recognition in the Children at Risk 2024-2025 Houston School Rankings!

Two schools, KIPP Shine Prep and KIPP Houston High School, achieved the prestigious Gold Ribbon status. This sub-designation highlights high-performing schools where at least 75% of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

  • KIPP Shine Prep ranked #9 among Gold Ribbon elementary schools.
  • KIPP Houston High School ranked #4 among Gold Ribbon high schools.

“Together, we are building a future where every child has the skills and confidence to pursue college, careers, and beyond,” said Sehba Ali, CEO of KIPP Texas. 

The rankings demonstrate strong student achievement, growth, and college readiness, highlighting the dedication of students, families, and staff. This success has resulted in an impressive 11-point increase in the KIPP Texas district’s overall Texas Education Agency accountability score over the past two years!

View Full Story

A Look Ahead
  • Fall  Holiday: Monday, November 24 – Friday, November 28, 2025 
  • Professional Learning Day (No school for students): Friday, December 19, 2025
  • Winter Holiday: Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
2025-26 Academic Calendars

bring joy

Spread the Joy: Refer a Friend to KIPP Texas!

The best communities are built by friends, and we believe your family’s positive experience at KIPP Texas deserves to be shared. Has your child thrived thanks to dedicated teachers and a supportive environment? If so, we invite you to share that joy!

When you refer a friend to KIPP Texas, you’re not just recommending a school; you’re opening the door to a joyful and challenging learning journey.  Help us grow our vibrant KIPP Texas family—let’s bring the best students and families into our community!

Stay Connected, Engaged, and Informed

Want a real-time view of your KIPPster’s progress? The Skyward Parent Portal is your direct link to their academic world! We know families are eager to have timely, accurate information about their child’s progress, and that’s why we encourage every KIPP Texas family to utilize the Skyward Parent Portal. The Skyward Parent Portal is the best tool available to stay connected and proactively support your child’s success. It allows you to celebrate victories and quickly address concerns with teachers. Furthermore, the portal is essential for administrative tasks, allowing you to easily update your contact information and emergency contacts to ensure the school can reach you when necessary. Access the Skyward Parent Portal via the KIPP Texas website or app.

With just a few clicks, you can:

● View report cards, grades, and test scores.

● Check daily attendance and class schedules.

● Update your contact information and emergency contacts.

It’s the best way to stay informed and support your child’s success

In The news

KIPP Texas Family Resource Guide: Holiday Meals & Support

We know the holiday season can bring extra stress. As your KIPP Team and Family, we want to ensure every student is nourished. We’ve compiled a quick, comprehensive guide to free meal distribution events and essential family resource contacts across Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Click here to access immediate help and resources!

KIPP Austin Builds Computers with AMD at Austin FC!

Thirty-four KIPP Austin students recently got a unique, hands-on look at careers in STEM and technology! They partnered with AMD volunteers at the Austin FC stadium for an exciting event where they successfully built 16 new, AMD-powered computer systems. In addition to the valuable assembly experience, students received a private stadium tour and even met a few players. The most impactful result? The newly built computers will be deployed to support computer science classes at KIPP Austin Academy of Arts and Letters, directly equipping KIPPsters with cutting-edge tools for their education.

See It In Action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNkITQxcVdA