The new KIPP Delta Collegiate High School on Missouri St. in downtown Helena welcomed 115 students Monday, spreading much needed opportunities to young people the Arkansas Delta, a region where such opportunities that the Knowledge Is Power Program offers are sparse. Luke VanDeWalle, principal of the new high school, stated that the first day of school went smoothly and the students adjusted well to the new campus.
VanDeWalle is not a new face to Helena. He has taught mathematics at KIPP Delta College Preparatory School since 2004. As the leader of KIPP Delta Collegiate, VanDeWalle says that the new opportunities for the attending junior students include advance placement classes allowing students to earn college credits at Phillips Community College University of Arkansas.
“We’ll have students going to PCC for the first time,” he stated and explained KIPP. KIPP schools share a core set of operating principles known as the “Five Pillars” and include high expectations, choice and commitment, more time, power to lead, and focus on results. The students attend school longer than their peers, attend Saturday classes and spend three weeks of the summer working the program.
“We give the kids a mountain to climb and better prepare them for college,” said the headmaster. Students are not the only ones held to high expectations as parents, teachers and staff at the school all agree to make preparing for college a top priority.
The majority of the students attending the new high school are returning but 20 new faces and their parents have dedicated themselves to KIPP learning in the KIPP atmosphere.
The new facility has 12 classrooms and students take courses appropriate to their current level.
The school’s commitment to excellence agreement between the students, teachers and parents seems to be paying off as KIPP posted excellent Benchmark exam scores with some above local and state levels. Results for tests taken by the students are posted online and can be found at http://www.deltacollegeprep.org/results.htm.
The foundation for the gymnasium currently has the look of a metal skeleton and is a project that should be completed in January, just in time for basketball season. The school has its first game scheduled but because of their size KIPP will not compete against any local schools.
The high school offers various electives such as journalism, business, music and art and as the school grows, more will be offered.
“Next year we’ll have our first graduating class,” said VanDeWalle.
In 2002, the 25 juniors waiting to take the graduation march started the fifth grade at KIPP and Scott Shirey, former principal of KIPP and the newly installed executive director, promised the students a high school.
“The kids that have been here since the fifth grade have really worked hard,” said VanDeWalle.
KIPP Collegiate joins two other new KIPP high schools located at San Jose, Calif. and Austin, Texas, bringing KIPP high school totals to seven across the country.
The sight of KIPP students on Cherry St. in their “No Shortcuts” uniforms has become an identifiable image.
“Our students have stepped it up with the uniforms,” said VanDeWalle, detailing the new look for KIPP Collegiate students. Most have been fitted for blazers and dress shirts with neckties to be added to the wardrobe soon.
“It’s just to help them prepare for the professional world and create a professional atmosphere. The feedback has been great and the parents are always excited to see their kids dressed up,” he commented.
Students are nearing testing dates and will prepare to take College Board ACT exam.
Area families are anticipating KIPP’s plans for further expansion of a K-4th grade program for the 2009-2010 school year.