Northeast News

June 17, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – After eight years of renting, KIPP Academy Endeavor has completed a $2.3 million agreement with the City of Kansas City, Missouri to purchase it’s facility at 2700 E. 18th Street.

The school hosted a ‘Sale-abration’ party on Friday, June 17 to commemorate the acquisition of the property, providing music and ice cream for students, parents, and stakeholders alike. KIPP had been paying some $400,000 per year in rent for the 95,000 square foot building. The charter emerged as the preferred bidder on the property after the city sent out a Request for Proposal (RFP) earlier this year.

“Luckily they considered the use of the space, and I think we can obviously put this whole building to an incredible use,” said KIPP Director of Development Haley Bowman. “We can serve around 800 kids here, and give them a high-quality college prep education.”

KIPP Academy Endeavor currently serves grades 5-8, but it is adding one class in each grade level from kindergarten through fourth grade for the 2016-2017 school year. The purchase of the building will allow the school to fully invest in the expanded programming, as well as in structural improvements to the site.

“Right now, there’s a ‘for sale’ sign outside where there should be a KIPP sign. You could drive right by and not even know that there’s a school right now,” said Bowman. “Now we’re able to give the kids the school they deserve.”