Editor’s note: To read profiles of all 2015-2016 Blackboard Awards honorees, click HERE!
KIPP NYC College Prep High School
Principal: Natalie Byrne
9-12
201 East 144th Street, Bronx
Award: Outstanding School
Describe your school’s core educational philosophy.
Founded in 2009, KIPP NYC College Prep High School is designed to provide a rich and rigorous academic and co-curricular experience for all high school students. Like all KIPP NYC schools, KNYCCP serves the full range of students of varied academic profiles and provides a level of differentiated instruction that supports students in gaining a rigorous College Prep Diploma. Inside and outside the classroom, students gain the academic knowledge, real-world skills, and character needed to succeed in college and beyond. In addition, we provide students with college counseling and placement, in addition to an extended school day and school year.
Tell us about a few of the school’s achievements or distinguishing programs.
With three graduating classes so far, we are incredibly proud that over 95 percent of our students have graduated from high school with a Regents Diploma and 60 percent have earned an Advanced Regents Diploma. Over 85 percent have matriculated to college, earning over $12 million dollars in scholarships over the past three years. We offer 25 Honors and Advanced Placement classes as well as a variety of 15 to 1, SETSS, and other supportive classes to ensure that all of our students’ academic needs are met. With nearly 20 percent of our students having IEPs, we work hard to ensure that they receive the support and encouragement needed to excel and head to college and other post-secondary opportunities after high school.
What’s new?
We are so proud to see that over 80 percent of our alumni are persisting in college, and we look forward to celebrating our first graduates in 2017. Our kids are matriculating to many of the wonderful CUNY and SUNY schools in New York State as well as places like Yale, Bucknell, UPenn, Syracuse, Georgetown, Barnard, Brown, and more.
What do you love about your school?
I have spent the last 10 years working with KIPP NYC to develop an outstanding high school for our students. I love that our team has been able to work together to build an amazing school where the ideas of our students and staff can come to life… I would say my biggest challenge is making sure that I learn about each of our students, families, and staff members, which is so vital to this work.
