KIPP Heartwood Academy

KIPP Heartwood Academy is a charter middle school… that is hardcore. These students don’t mess around. It’s part of the KIPP network of schools, which basically means that you won’t coast through school without working hard and doing tons of schoolwork. The school campus isn’t stellar, which is understandable when people break into the rooms to steal computers or tag the playgrounds; the school also happens to share the campus with LUCHA Elementary, though the administration is different. The principal is Mrs. Jackson, a no-​nonsense woman who keeps the kids in line. The teachers are great and passionate.
The focus is on teaching the students study skills and test-​taking skills to get the students to college. There are great programs, like summer programs in which they are mentored by students from prestigious colleges. They also get to visit an east-​coast university at the end of every school year! (Never got that when I was in middle school… or high school… or ever!)
It’s great because the students don’t pay to go here, and they work hard because they want to go to college and succeed. They get to school at 7 a.m. and leave around 5 p.m. to do homework. They are so disciplined… The environment is good here.