Blog and News

ATLANTA (February 2023) – KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools (KMAS) is proud to announce a new partnership with Morehouse College to increase the number of KIPP Metro Atlanta scholars attending Morehouse College and benefitting from comprehensive supports along their paths to college and career, starting as early as kindergarten. The partnership will more than double the number of KMAS alumni attending Morehouse College in its first year of implementation and provide early exposure to Morehouse College and the college admissions process for elementary, middle and high school scholars.

“We are honored and excited about our innovative partnership with Morehouse College. Going beyond college access alone, our work together will include meaningful mentorship programming beginning as early as kindergarten! Our KIPPsters stand on the shoulders of giants. It is beautiful and necessary that our scholars have access to attend colleges and universities in their own backyard as they pursue new legacies. I am incredibly proud of our partnership and for our future Maroon Tigers,” said KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools Chief Executive Officer, Mini’imah Shaheed.  

 “We are excited to partner with KIPP, the nation’s largest network of college preparatory charter schools in America to increase the college going rate of black men in Metro Atlanta and expose students to the HBCU experience,” said Executive Director of Admission and Recruitment and Strategic Partnerships, Descatur Potier. “This partnership not only supports prospective high school students in their journey towards obtaining a college degree but allows Morehouse College to reach out to middle, elementary and kindergarten students – with a focus on college access, pre-collegiate summer opportunities, exposure to the Atlanta University Center and mentorship of KIPPsters through our student leaders and alumni association.”

Currently, there are 14 KMAS alumni enrolled at Morehouse College, 8 KMAS alum who graduated from Morehouse College, and 5 KMAS and Morehouse College alum who are currently working with KIPP Forward, KMAS’ college and career program, or at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School.   

 The main objectives of this partnership are:  

• To enroll more KMAS scholars in Morehouse College, where they will have the opportunity to excel. 
• Support KMAS alumni to achieve an 80% 6-year graduation rate for KIPP alumni. 
• Provide opportunities for the leadership staff of both KMAS and Morehouse College to meet and create new strategies to address the challenges of college faced by students from low-income families who are also often first-generation college students, including on campus workshops featuring financial aid, peer-to-peer mentoring and persistence strategies.

Early College and Career Exploration 

Morehouse College and KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools will collaborate to develop an early college and career curriculum that will expose young scholars through tours, events, small group academic mentorship and early financial literacy programming that offers practical activities and discussions on financial topics such as saving, setting financial goals, and prioritizing spending decisions.  

Morehouse College and KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools will also collaborate in family engagement events to encourage and increase parental involvement, promote college enrollment, increase financial awareness and nurture a college-going culture through building solid foundational connections.  

Admissions Process and College Completion 

Morehouse College and KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools will work together to expose scholars to the rigor and expectations of the college experience, such as, the college application/admissions process (e.g., SAT/ACT, financial aid, and essay writing workshops, etc.). Students will have one point of contact that will assist them through their financial aid journey.  

Morehouse College will invite junior and senior KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools scholars to summer programing to introduce them to the college campus. Morehouse College alum will mobilize their students to become mentors throughout this experience.

Morehouse College will also provide on-campus residential experiences and opportunities to explore the surrounding community through volunteerism and service learning.