On a warm, sun-filled September morning, with late-summer bees buzzing nearby, parents, educators and community leaders gathered in Detroit’s Gardenview neighborhood for a milestone event: the groundbreaking of KIPP Detroit Imani Academy’s new 116,000-square-foot, 16-acre campus.
KIPP Detroit Imani Academy is a tuition-free public charter school open to all children. Since opening in 2022 with a single kindergarten class, the school has been steadily expanding grade by grade and now serves K–3 students. Enrollment is open to families who want their children to benefit from rigorous academics and a nurturing, supportive school community.
The celebration began with a welcome from Melia Howard, Detroit’s deputy mayor, followed by a heartfelt student performance of “Diamonds.” Their voices set the tone for a morning full of hope and pride in Detroit’s children.
The new K–8 building is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2027 when KIPP Detroit will serve students from kindergarten through middle school. Construction will then continue on a separate high school facility, giving families a full K–12 pathway within the same campus.
“Demography should not define destiny”
KIPP Detroit Imani Academy is part of KIPP Public Schools, a tuition-free charter network that emphasizes early literacy as the foundation of lifelong success.
Candace Rogers, CEO of KIPP Detroit, spoke with emotion about the deeper meaning of the new school.
“While our students deserve the very best, my team knows that we don’t need a building to believe in our kids. Our children already experience excellence today,” Rogers said, pointing to the school’s 91% kindergarten reading success rate compared to 67% nationally.
KIPP stands for Knowledge is Power Program — a name that reflects the network’s mission. At KIPP Detroit, that knowledge begins with a strong early foundation in reading, ensuring every child leaves kindergarten on the path to lifelong learning.
She told the story of a first grader who entered KIPP with major skill gaps. With tutoring and small group instruction, he became one of the strongest readers in his class.
“We know and believe that literacy is liberation,” Rogers said. “Families trust us to help change the trajectory of their future generations.”
Looking ahead, Rogers said her vision is clear: “I want my kids to live choice-filled lives — real choices, not choices limited by being undereducated. That means a strong education that opens every door.”
A parent’s perspective: “KIPP is a village”
For Lanay Gilbert-Williams, a founding parent and president of Detroit People’s Food Co-op, KIPP has been more than a school.
“When I think about KIPP Detroit, I think about village. It’s something our city needs, our country needs and something our babies deserve to see,” she said at the ceremony.
Gilbert-Williams recalls the day she saw Candace Rogers sitting on the floor helping a student. “That image stayed with me because it shows the love, the dedication, the honor that KIPP has for our children and families,” she said.
She also shares how her daughter, now a third grader, has blossomed. “She doesn’t just know how to read — she loves reading. She’s even created YouTube channels, teaching herself tech because she can read quickly and confidently. That’s already opening doors for her future.”
From national leaders to Detroit roots, belief in every child shines through
Shavar Jeffries, CEO of the KIPP Foundation and a civil rights attorney, reminded the crowd why investing in the new campus matters. “We’re building a world-class facility that reflects the best of what’s available,” he said. “There’s nothing these kids cannot do.”
Rosalind Brewer, interim president of Spelman College, Cass Tech alumna and one of corporate America’s most prominent Black female executives, told the crowd why the new school is personal for her. “When you look at the faces of these children, you will fight for properties like this. It sends a clear message to the community how important their education is.”
A cornerstone for Detroit’s future
Currently, KIPP Detroit Imani Academy operates out of a temporary facility known as the “heart of the community” in the St. Suzanne/Cody Rouge Resource Center. Just a mile away, KIPP Detroit’s new campus is part of the Gardenview revitalization project, which will also include a Boys & Girls Club, Covenant Community Care health center, Trinity Early Childhood Center, new housing and a park.
For parents, that means more than just a school — it means a hub for community, health and opportunity.
KIPP Detroit belongs to a national network of 279 KIPP schools educating nearly 125,000 students across the country. Its mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose — college, career and beyond.
As Rogers put it, “KIPP is more than an acronym. KIPP is a mindset. We believe every child has unlimited potential. And we believe Detroit’s children deserve nothing less than the very best.”
This article is sponsored by The Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University. Learn more about KIPP Detroit Imani Academy.
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