Are KIPP schools more expensive to operate than regular public schools?
The costs of running KIPP schools and the level of per-pupil funding that KIPP schools receive varies greatly across the country, due to widely divergent funding allocations at the state and local level. The majority of KIPP schools are public charter schools, and as such they typically receive less funding than district public schools. In most states and districts, KIPP and other public charter schools only receive 60 to 90 percent of the operational revenue and none of the capital expenditure revenue of district schools. As a result, KIPP schools have to use operating funds to pay for non-core education costs such as facilities and busing, which are typically covered for district schools. This funding structure means that KIPP schools start out with lower revenues, and they also spend more per pupil than other public schools. It costs about $1,100 to $1,500 per KIPP student to fund KIPP’s extended school day and calendar, higher staff salaries (KIPP teachers typically a higher salary
The costs of running KIPP schools and the level of per-pupil funding that KIPP schools receive varies greatly across the country, due to widely divergent funding allocations at the state and local level. On average, it costs about $1,100 to $1,500 per student to fund KIPP’s extended school calendar, higher staff salaries and other KIPP extras, such as field trips and enrichment classes. The majority of KIPP schools are public charter schools, and as such they typically only receive 60 to 90 percent of the operational revenue and none of the capital expenditure revenue of district schools. As a result, KIPP schools have to use operating funds to pay for non-core education costs such as facilities and busing. Schools then raise independent funds to cover the rest of their expenses. However, even with this structure, KIPP schools generally spend less per student than many large school districts, due to their low overhead and administrative costs. For example, the KIPP schools in New York
