KIPP SoCal Public Schools reviews

I worked at KIPP So Cal for 5 years and saw a lot during my time there. School administrators were inexperienced and incapable to appropriately handling student/teacher situations. There was a very high staff and administrator turnover rate every year, with staff resigning or being fired mid-year. Staff did not feel supported by their administrators and were consistently criticized for “low performance”. However, consistent lesson plan feedback and observations were rarely given because administrators were stretched so thin. Schools were understaffed so teachers often had to forgo lunch and help monitor recess or lunch. Curriculum centered around teaching to the state test so that we could have high test scores. That left little room for creative expression from students. Students with IEPs were poorly supported because of inexperienced and inconsistent SPED staff. Teachers struggled to support their SPED and struggling students because classes had 30+ students in them. Behavior concerns were rampant because there were inconsistent/unrealistic expectations. KIPP So Cal continues to expand despite supporting their current schools. KIPP expects to get 200% out of you while gaslighting you the entire time, making you feel like an awful teacher because you’re not earning 4s on your evaluations and your students aren’t getting perfect scores on their state tests. I’m very thankful to leave that job.

staff care about student outcomes and equity