For parents navigating Detroit’s crowded school landscape, the pitch from KIPP Detroit Imani Academy is simple: a high-quality education that costs nothing.
“Put plainly, love and excellence,” said Candace Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of KIPP Detroit Public Schools, describing the school’s mission. “Excellence means academics, transformational education through academics. And love means we want you to want to come to school.”
The school, which serves students in the city, is preparing to expand into a new K-8 facility that Rogers says will be more than a classroom building. “It’s more than a building, it’s a promise,” she said.
That promise carries statistical weight. According to Rogers, 55% of KIPPsters graduate with a bachelor’s degree — compared to 13% of Detroiters overall. “Attending a KIPP school quadruples your chances of getting a college degree, which we think transforms life outcomes,” she said.
The new campus will also house a preschool program and partner with Covenant Community Care, a health clinic where KIPP families can receive priority services. The school offers transportation, including door-to-door pickup for families who cannot reach a designated hub.
Rogers pushed back against common misconceptions about charter schools, namely that they charge tuition or selectively admit students. “It’s free,” she said. “Most people feel like there is a selection process and it’s not. If we have a seat and you apply, you get a seat.”
She also addressed concerns about teacher qualifications, noting that all staff are certified or actively enrolled in a certification program.
The broader goal, Rogers said, is cultural disruption. “A part of what we are trying to do is disrupt the relationship between high-quality education and money,” she said.
Rogers, who said she was drawn to the role by a sense of purpose, reflected on what fuels her. “I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing,” she said, adding that she was doing it alongside educators equally committed to the work. When she visited the school during summer camp, students ran toward her for a group hug. “I went to the school during the summer and all the kids were in a summer camp. And I got out the car and they all ran towards me,” she said. “I miss them.”
Enrollment information is available at kippdetroit.org.