KIPP Detroit Public Schools
KIPP Detroit Public Schools operates KIPP Detroit Imani Academy, a tuition-free public charter school serving grades K-4 on Detroit's west side, with plans to expand to a full K-12 campus by August 2027 as part of the national KIPP network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KIPP Detroit Public Schools does
KIPP Detroit Public Schools is a nonprofit public charter school operating KIPP Detroit Imani Academy (KDIA), a tuition-free, open-enrollment elementary school serving grades K-4 on Detroit's west side in the Cody Rouge community. The school is part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network of 270 schools across 20+ states, with KDIA authorized by Central Michigan University and operated under the KIPP Michigan Educational Management Organization, where KIPP Whole Child Center serves as employer of record for all staff. The core educational product combines standards-based academics with the Whole Child Initiative, which integrates the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence's RULER social-emotional learning framework, arts programming, identity-affirming curriculum, food security support (via Forgotten Harvest), and MAP assessment-based progress tracking.
The school is funded primarily through Michigan per-pupil state and federal allocations, supplemented by philanthropic donations, and distributes its services free of charge to families. Class sizes are kept small at 26-28 students per classroom, and the school operates a 'say yes once' guarantee of enrollment through 12th grade, with KIPP Forward providing one-on-one college and career advising, financial aid counseling, and alumni support in partnership with named colleges including Vanderbilt, Spelman, Franklin and Marshall, and Colby. Day-to-day operations include free breakfast and lunch, free first uniforms, and a lottery-based enrollment process managed via online application and community outreach channels (Harambee tours, block parties, family referrals).
Leadership is led by founder and CEO/Superintendent Candace Rogers, a Detroit native and University of Michigan/University of Virginia alumna who spent a decade as Director of Successor Leader Programs at the KIPP Foundation before returning to launch the school. A five-member board (Kirk Mayes as President & Treasurer, Jamel Goodloe as Vice President, Cheryl Daniel as Secretary, Danielle Cole as Director, and Michael Beasley) provides governance. The school is currently scaling from a temporary St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center site to a permanent campus at 17630 Tireman Ave in August 2027, expanding capacity beyond 1,200 students and extending the grade band to K-12.
KIPP Detroit Public Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KIPP Detroit Public Schools
- Legal name
- KIPP Detroit Public Schools
- Website
- https://kippdetroit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- KIPP Detroit Public Schools operates KIPP Detroit Imani Academy, a tuition-free public charter school serving grades K-4 on Detroit's west side, with plans to expand to a full K-12 campus by August 2027 as part of the national KIPP network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KIPP Detroit Public Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Public Charter School Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public K–12 Combined Schools (EDAJAAAE)
Keywords
Where KIPP Detroit Public Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
KIPP Detroit Public Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Per-Pupil State and Federal Funding: As a public charter school, KIPP Detroit is funded primarily through a combination of federal and state tax dollars based on per-pupil allocation. This is the standard funding mechanism for charter schools in Michigan.
- Philanthropic Donations: Individual and corporate donations support school activities and expansion goals. Donations fund programs beyond standard public education funding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free Public Education - No tuition or fees required |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
KIPP Detroit Public Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KIPP Detroit Public Schools operates KIPP Detroit Imani Academy (KDIA), a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school currently serving grades K-4 in Detroit's Cody Rouge community on the city's west side. The school is part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network and provides standards-based, college-preparatory elementary education with comprehensive student support via the Whole Child Initiative and KIPP Forward alumni programming. It is expanding to a full K-12 campus opening in August 2027 with planned capacity for more than 1,200 students.
Product overview
KIPP Detroit Public Schools operates a single tuition-free public charter school (KIPP Detroit Imani Academy) serving grades K-4 currently, with plans to expand to a full K-12 campus by 2027. The school offers elementary education as its core product, supplemented by KIPP Forward (college and career readiness support) and the Whole Child Initiative (comprehensive student development). As a KIPP network school, it participates in national college partnerships and alumni support programs. The organization is authorized by Central Michigan University under the Educational Management Organization KIPP Michigan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KIPP Detroit Imani Academy (KDIA) A tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school serving grades K-4 (currently) on Detroit's west side in the Cody Rouge community. Part of the national KIPP network, it provides standards-based elementary education with a focus on college preparation and comprehensive student support.
- KIPP Forward A college and career readiness program that supports students from K-12 through college graduation. Provides one-on-one student meetings, financial aid counseling, academic advising, life skills training, mentoring, and college guidance services to help alumni succeed in higher education and careers.
- Whole Child Initiative (WCI) A comprehensive student development program ensuring each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Includes family partnerships, inclusive curriculum, arts programs, social-emotional learning (RULER framework from Yale), identity development, food security support, and teacher wellbeing initiatives.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% high school graduation rate for KIPP students
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KIPP Detroit Public Schools
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KIPP Detroit Public Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
KIPP Detroit Public Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource CentercoreKIPP Detroit operates within the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center facility. This is a foundational community partnership providing space and community connections for the school on Detroit's west side.
- Forgotten HarvestminorFood rescue and redistribution partnership to support food security for students and families.
- Central Michigan UniversitycoreAuthorizer of KIPP Detroit's charter. Authorized by Central Michigan University under the primary Educational Management Organization of KIPP Michigan.
- KIPP FoundationcoreNational KIPP network provides educational best practices, professional development, brand affiliation, and access to the KIPP Share network. KIPP Detroit is a member of the national network of 270+ schools.
- Vanderbilt UniversityminorKIPP college partner providing resources and support for KIPP alumni attending the university to ensure college degree completion.
- Spelman CollegeminorKIPP college partner committed to admitting KIPP students and providing critical on-campus resources for college degree completion.
- Franklin and Marshall CollegeminorKIPP college partner providing support and resources for KIPP alumni pursuing higher education.
- Colby CollegeminorKIPP college partner committed to college access and success for KIPP alumni.
- Yale Center for Emotional IntelligencecoreProvider of the RULER social-emotional learning framework and toolkit integrated throughout KIPP Detroit's Whole Child Initiative for emotional development.
- KIPP Whole Child CentercoreEducational Management Organization (EMO) that is the employer of record for all KIPP Detroit staff, providing operational and HR support.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KIPP Detroit Public Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cornerstone Schools (Detroit): Detroit nonprofit K-12 school operator serving west-side and surrounding neighborhoods with a college-prep focus; competes head-to-head with KDIA for the same Cody Rouge-adjacent families and uses a similar community-anchored enrollment model.
- KIPP Columbus: KIPP network operator in Ohio running tuition-free K-12 charter schools with Whole Child and KIPP Forward programs; near-identical operating model to KDIA at a similar stage of network expansion.
- KIPP NYC: Another regional KIPP network member running tuition-free public charter schools in an urban market; shares the KIPP operating model, brand, Whole Child approach, KIPP Forward college support, and per-pupil public funding model — the most direct functional and structural analog to KDIA.
- University Prep Schools (Detroit): Detroit-based charter school network operating multiple K-12 campuses with a college-preparatory mission; competes for the same Detroit families and shares tuition-free, lottery-enrollment, college-readiness positioning.
- KIPP LA: KIPP network operator of public charter schools in Los Angeles with similar K-12 college-prep mission, Whole Child Initiative, MAP assessment usage, and per-pupil public funding — operates under the same national KIPP playbook as KDIA.
Broad incumbents
- Success Academy Charter Schools: Large national charter network known for rigorous college-prep academics and outcome-driven culture; comparable as a peer on charter operating model, K-12 college-prep positioning, and MAP-style assessment usage, though geographically distant.
- National Heritage Academies: Operates one of the largest networks of public charter schools in Michigan, including multiple campuses in metro Detroit. Same charter-based, per-pupil-funded K-8 model as KDIA, with overlapping enrollment geography.
- Detroit Public Schools Community District: Detroit's traditional public school district and the default K-12 option for Detroit families. Competes directly with KDIA for west-side students, draws on the same per-pupil funding base, and operates many of the same elementary grade bands KDIA targets.
Peers
- Detroit Charter Schools (various operators): Consortium representing the broader set of Detroit charter school operators; the relevant competitive set for KDIA at the local level, addressing lottery and enrollment against the same Detroit families.
Others
- Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence: Provider of the RULER SEL framework that KDIA uses as a program differentiator; an enabling technology/content partner rather than a competitor, but a useful peer for understanding the SEL curriculum KDIA's Whole Child Initiative is built on.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KIPP Detroit Public Schools social profiles
Digital presenceKIPP Detroit Public Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KIPP Detroit Public Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
KIPP Detroit Public Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KIPP Detroit Public Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KIPP Detroit Public Schools
What does KIPP Detroit Public Schools do?
KIPP Detroit Public Schools operates KIPP Detroit Imani Academy (KDIA), a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school currently serving grades K-4 in Detroit's Cody Rouge community on the city's west side. The school is part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network and provides standards-based, college-preparatory elementary education with comprehensive student support via the Whole Child Initiative and KIPP Forward alumni programming. It is expanding to a full K-12 campus opening in August 2027 with planned capacity for more than 1,200 students.
Is KIPP Detroit Public Schools a public or private company?
KIPP Detroit Public Schools is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KIPP Detroit Public Schools founded?
KIPP Detroit Public Schools was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is KIPP Detroit Public Schools based?
KIPP Detroit Public Schools is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
How does KIPP Detroit Public Schools make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Per-Pupil State and Federal Funding is the primary driver. The others are philanthropic Donations.
Who are KIPP Detroit Public Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cornerstone Schools (Detroit), KIPP Columbus, KIPP NYC, University Prep Schools (Detroit) and KIPP LA. Broad incumbents are Success Academy Charter Schools, National Heritage Academies and Detroit Public Schools Community District. Detroit Charter Schools (various operators) is listed as a peer. Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence is listed as an others.
Does KIPP Detroit Public Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for KIPP Detroit Public Schools.
What industry is KIPP Detroit Public Schools in?
KIPP Detroit Public Schools's product category is K-12 Public Charter School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAE, Public K–12 Combined Schools. Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.