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KIPP Atlanta Schools Launches 2030 Strategic Plan to Accelerate Student Achievement and Postsecondary Success

New roadmap sets ambitious goals to strengthen academics, invest in educators and prepare scholars for bright futures

 

ATLANTA – August 3, 2026 — KIPP Atlanta Schools, a network of nine tuition-free public charter schools and one partner school serving scholars in Atlanta and East Point, has unveiled its 2030 Strategic Plan, a four-year roadmap to advance academic excellence, expand college and career pathways, deepen community partnerships and prepare scholars for lifelong success.

Titled “Excellent Schools, Expansive Futures,” the plan outlines KIPP Atlanta’s vision to become a top-performing and top-choice public school network for families by 2030. Success will be measured by achieving two key goals: doubling the percentage of scholars proficient or distinguished in English language arts from 25% to 50%, and increasing the share of high school graduates who earn a college degree within six years from 32% to 64%.

“As the son of educators, I grew up believing that schools can change the trajectory of a child’s life,” said KIPP Atlanta Schools CEO Dr. Michael Cormack Jr. “In Atlanta, research shows that a child born into poverty has only about a 4 to 5 percent chance of reaching the top of the economic ladder as an adult. That is more than a statistic. It is a call to action, and this plan is our commitment to give every KIPP Atlanta scholar access to an excellent education and a future filled with possibility.”

The plan was developed following input from more than 6,000 KIPP Atlanta scholars, families, staff, board members and alumni through surveys, listening sessions, focus groups and meetings between August 2025 and April 2026. Those insights shaped a plan anchored in four commitments designed to elevate academic opportunity, develop and recruit top educators and leaders, build meaningful community partnerships and strengthen school operations.

The four strategic commitments include:

• A Transformative Scholar Experience – Ensure all scholars experience high-quality instruction, strong learning habits and supportive school cultures that prepare them for success throughout their K-16 journey and beyond. This commitment will be supported by KIPP Forward, KIPP Atlanta’s college and career success program that supports students from high school through postsecondary education and into their first careers.
• Exceptional Educators and Leaders – Recruit, develop and retain mission-driven, highly effective educators and leaders, while investing in leadership pipelines, professional growth and the conditions for educators and staff to thrive.
• Family, Alumni and Community Partnerships – Strengthen relationships by building meaningful family-school partnerships, fostering alumni engagement and cultivating community partnerships that expand opportunities for scholars and families.
• An Effective and Innovative Organization – Build a more effective, adaptive and innovative organization by strengthening core systems, improving operational efficiency, reducing chronic absenteeism and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

Rather than pursuing all priorities at once, KIPP Atlanta will spend the 2026-27 school year launching a targeted set of high-impact initiatives while preparing for broader expansion in the years ahead. Initial priorities include strengthening classroom instruction and early literacy, enhancing college and career readiness, improving scholar attendance and enrollment and investing in educator development. KIPP Atlanta will also streamline staffing, school operations and financial planning to support long-term success.

“Excellent Schools, Expansive Futures reflects our belief that every scholar deserves not only an outstanding education, but also the opportunity to thrive long after graduation,” Cormack said. “By 2030, we want KIPP Atlanta Schools to stand as proof of what is possible when a community believes in its children and refuses to accept the limits of circumstance. For our scholars, opportunity won’t be the exception. It will be the standard.”

Review the KIPP Atlanta Schools’ full 2030 Strategic Plan here.

 

About KIPP Atlanta Schools

KIPP Atlanta Schools is an open-enrollment network of 9 public charter schools serving more than 4,500 scholars in kindergarten through 12^th grade. Since its founding in 2003, KIPP Atlanta Schools has been dedicated to believing that every student deserves a joyful and excellent education and opportunities that will lead them toward a fulfilling life. The organization has educated thousands of students and supports over 2,000 alumni in college and career. For more information, visit www.kippatl.org.