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High-Performing Charter School To Be Featured On Oprah

POSTED: 7:23 pm MDT April 11, 2006
UPDATED: 9:53 pm MDT April 11, 2006

Oprah on Tuesday focused on the issue of public education and the problem of high school dropouts. On Wednesday, she'll look at solutions -- success stories -- such as the high-performing KIPP Schools, including the one in Denver.

At Denver's KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy, learning is fun. Sunshine Peak is a Denver charter middle school that has students so excited about education they're already dreaming of college.

KIPP stands for Knowledge In Power Program and Denver's is one of 45 KIPP schools in 15 states.

"We typically get students who are three to five grades levels behind in fifth grade coming in and improving their test scores up to and above grade level," said school director Richard Barrett.

So how are their results Colorado Student Assessment Program?

"We were rated in Colorado as reported in the Rocky Mountain News as one of three schools in the state with a rating of high -- serving the population of student we serve -- which is 90 percent free and reduced lunch," said Barrett.

KIPP's secret is hard work, discipline, and time.

"We go to school from 7:25 to 5 -- Monday through Thursday -- four o'clock on Thursday. Twice a month during the normal school year we do two Saturdays a month," Barrett said.

It may surprise many but the kids eat it up.

"Every experience in the classroom is fun," said one student named Destiny.

"They don't give up on kids like normal schools would," said another student named Camon.

"Since I came from really poor neighborhoods, I didn't know my multiplication tables. But since I came here, I've been really good at it now," said Nanci.

Nanci said she used to pretend to be sick to avoid her old school. Now she's planning for college and she's only in eighth grade.

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