Student and Parent Handbook
KIPP RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY AND STUDENT HANDBOOK
WELCOME LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL LEADERS
Dear Families,
We are KIPP Renaissance.
- The highest growing school in the state of Louisiana
- The first open enrollment school in the RSD to earn an “A” school rating
- A school where our four graduating classes have earned over $17,000,000 in scholarships
- A school where we sent 7 POSSE scholars to schools like Tulane, Grinnell, Case Western, and Notre Dame on full scholarships
- A school with district champion basketball, track and baseball teams
We are building KIPP Renaissance Early College Academy.
- The first degree granting high school in Louisiana
A school where students have the opportunity to earn up to 60 college credits and an associate's degree alongside a diploma - A school where students engage with computer science to prepare them for high wage roles of the future
- A school where every student where graduates with a passport in hand and access to the whole world
At KIPP Renaissance High School and Early College Academy, we value:
Self-identity: See your true self.
We embed instruction about New Orleans history and heritage to counter the negative narratives our students encounter daily. We cultivate knowledge of self and love of the community in all students.
Excellence: See your best self.
We provide students with the chance to succeed at the highest level with the opportunity to attain an advanced diploma or an Associate's Degree. We work hard to ensure that every student leaves college ready by all definitions.
Global perspective: See the world beyond yourself.
We believe that students deserve to experience the world beyond their neighborhood, city, state and country. Every student graduates with a passport and opportunities to travel as far as their dreams will take them.
We aim to provide students with an education that goes well beyond academics. If you have questions as you look ahead to the coming school year, we will be happy to assist you. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Towana Pierre-Floyd
Principal, KRHS
[email protected]
Rob Corvo
Assistant Principal, KRHS
[email protected]
WHO TO CONTACT AT KIPP RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL & EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY
FRONT OFFICE: Contact with general questions about the school, how to enroll, daily schedule, attendance and/or afterschool activities.
- Mrs. Provost, Office Manager
- Ms. Carter, Office Specialist
- 504-373-6255
SCHOOL OPERATIONS: Contact with questions about school operations, food service or transportation.
- Mr. Reddy, Director of School Operations
SCHOOL CULTURE: Contact with questions about school culture and discipline.
- Mr. Jones, Assistant Principal (9th-10th)
- Mr. Lang, Dean of Students (11th-12)
BULLYING POINT OF CONTACT: Contact with questions or concerns about incidents of bullying.
- Mr. Jones, Assistant Principal (9th- 10th)
- Mr. Lang, Dean of Students (11th-12)
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE: Contact with questions about services for students with disabilities including IEPs and evaluations.
- Ms. Carthon, SPED Coordinator
NURSE: Contact for information about health services or with specific questions about dietary requirements, allergies and/or medication.
- Nurse Magee, School Nurse
SOCIAL WORKER / COUNSELOR: Contact with questions about counseling and support services.
- Mrs. Reed, Social Worker (9th-10th)
- Mrs. Eakin, Social Worker (11th-12th)
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- Mrs. Pierre-Floyd, School Leader (9th-10th)
- Mr. Corvo, School Leader (11th-12th)
KIPP RENAISSANCE SCHOOL POLICIES
MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
I. Our Mission
KIPP New Orleans Schools is building a high quality, sustainable network of tuition free, open enrollment, college preparatory public charter schools that empowers students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in school and life
II. Our Vision
At KIPP Renaissance High School and Early College Academy, we believe that every student deserves a collegiate- level education grounded in knowledge of history and heritage, rich in character and designed to ensure each student thrives in the four-year college or university of his or her choice. Our students graduate with a passion to explore the world, a passport in one hand and 60 college credits in the other. They leave with goals for their individual and collective futures, a plan to accomplish those goals, a strong sense of self and love of community. We aim to prepare students for the world beyond New Orleans and inspire them to come back to serve.
III. Our Values
Self-identity: See your true self.
We embed instruction about New Orleans history and heritage to counter the negative narratives our students encounter daily. We cultivate knowledge of self and love of the community in all students.
Excellence: See your best self.
We provide students with the chance to succeed at the highest level with the opportunity to attain an advanced diploma or an Associate's Degree. We work hard to ensure that every student leaves college ready by all definitions.
Global perspective: See the world beyond yourself.
We believe that students deserve to experience the world beyond their neighborhood, city, state and country. Every student graduates with a passport and opportunities to travel as far as their dreams will take them.
OUR PROGRAM
KIPP Renaissance Early College Academy, in partnership with Bard Early College New Orleans (BECNO), aims to open the state of Louisiana’s first degree-granting early college in the 2017-2018 academic year. This immersive, supportive, liberal arts early college will build on the models of early college that Bard College is currently operating in New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Cleveland, Ohio, and Baltimore, Maryland and to allow students the option of earning an Associate Degree while in high school.
Independent matched research by Metis Associates confirms that students who attended one of the BHSECs (Bard High School Early Colleges) in New York City are more likely to complete high school and earn a baccalaureate degree (in less time) than students who attended either traditional high schools or New York City’s most selective high schools. The study found significant improvement in four-year degree graduation rates for black male students who attended early college: at traditional high schools in New York City, 29% of black male students who attend college complete the degree, whereas 69% of black male graduates of Bard High School Early Colleges earn the BA degree in four years. In the Class of 2010 as a whole, 34.1% completed that BA in three years. As of June 2015, more than 2,200 young people will have earned both a high school diploma and a Bard College Associates in Arts degree at one of the Bard High School Early Colleges (BHSEC). With these programs in partnership, we are hoping that by June 2019, high school students from across the city of New Orleans will join that number.
Students at KIPP Renaissance High School and Early College Academy have choices. In addition to our humanities rich offerings from Bard; we invest in high quality Computer Science instruction designed to substantially increase our students’ post-secondary career options. Last year, there were more than 600,000 high-paying tech jobs across the United States that were unfilled, and by 2018, 51% of all STEM jobs are projected to be in computer science related fields. Computer science and data science are not only important for the technology field, but for industries lie transportation, healthcare, education, and financial services. Access to these courses vary wildly. For instance, in 2015, only 22% of students taking the AP Computer Science exam were girls, and only 13% were African-American or Latino. In 2015, only 22% of students taking the AP Computer Science exam were girls and only 13% were students of color. These statistics echo the demographics of America’s largest tech companies which often feature staff with less than one third of its technical employees identifying as women and less that 3% identifying as African American.
COLLEGE READINESS BY JUNIOR YEAR
We don’t just prepare our students for college; our students have the opportunity to be college students in their junior year.
Students can major in STEM with an emphasis on Computer Science through our Capstone Academy or major in Humanities with an intense focus on reading and writing through our Early College Academy.
FOR CLASS OF 2020 AND BEYOND
Capstone Academy
Early College Academy
Choice
Students choosing this pathway are “majoring” in STEM. They are offered a series of advanced placement courses in math and science and an opportunity to earn certification in Computer Science.
Students choosing this pathway and “majoring” in Humanities. They are offered a series of advanced placement courses in literacy and history and the opportunity to earn an Associate Degree from Bard.
Critical Thinking
Students push critical thinking through AP courses including the new Capstone additions, AP Seminar and AP Research. These classes hone the following skills.
Analyze topics through different lenses for greater meaning or understanding
Plan and conduct a study/investigation
Propose solutions to real world problems
Collaborate to solve a problem
Plan and produce communication
Integrate, synthesize and make cross-cultural connections
Through the Bard Writing and Thinking Framework, students hone the following skills.
Define the essay and how its purpose shifts given content
Pose key questions for research and reading
Use credible sources to support arguments
Analyze how writers operate within their genre
Emphasize ways to pull together fragments of good writing and information into a coherent whole
College Readiness
To get the AP Capstone Diploma, students must take AP Seminar, AP Research and four AP classes of the students’ choice. Receiving a 3 or higher on:
- AP Research, AP Seminar and the four AP courses chosen = AP Capstone Diploma.
- AP Research and AP Seminar alone = AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Students have the opportunity to earn a FREE Associate Degree in high school.
- Courses are all lead by full time or adjunct college professors
- Students can earn up 60 college credits
- Students are taught by full time and adjunct college professors, experts in their fields.
Graduating with AP, certifications and Early College credits means that our students can enter their freshman year with enough credits to be a junior. It means our students know what to expect from college and feel well prepared to excel.