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202.986.4769 Shaw Campus • 421 P Street NW • Washington, DC 20001
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Grounded in the values of lead, learn, and love; KIPPsters at Lead Academy develop a love of learning and build the skills and mindsets necessary to set them up for success in middle school and beyond. Lead Academy fosters the whole child’s development, preparing them for a life filled with choice and opportunity. Upon completion of fourth grade, Lead Academy students move onto KIPP DC WILL Academy.

  • Established

    2012
  • Grades Served

    1-4
  • Enrollment

    408

"What makes Lead Academy great is our staff’s dedication to making sure the whole child is known, loved, and developed. We want your child to excel as a reader, writer, and mathematician, but also as an artist, athlete, activist, friend, human being and more."

Jesse Pertuz, Principal, KIPP DC Lead Academy

"The sense of community, no matter where you go, is special. I’ve had the opportunity to meet pretty much every 1st grade to 7th grade parent and it truly makes it feel like a family."

Patrick "Coach" Fears, P.E Educator, KIPP DC Lead Academy

"Every kid needs an excellent teacher. The work is hard, but really meaningful. The people at Lead Academy are driven and do what it takes for kids to get the best education possible."

Natalie Chapman, Teacher, KIPP DC Lead Academy

"My students have become excellent problem solvers, and I love how they challenge each other during discussions to think beyond the prompt and prove their ideas."

Heidy Pichardo, Teacher, KIPP DC Lead Academy

Values

  • Lead
  • Learn
  • Love

Academics 

Lead Academy fosters students’ social, emotional, and academic development, setting them up for a life filled with choice and opportunity.


Students receive comprehensive and rigorous instruction in literacy and math, but also benefit from dance, art, science, PE, and character education.


KIPPsters at Lead Academy develop a love for learning, and build the skills and mindsets necessary to set them up for success in middle school and beyond.

Extracurriculars

Lead Academy offers their elementary students a number of extracurricular ways to build teamwork and explore their passions. A few of the offerings include Pretty Brown Girls, Spanish Club, basketball, and soccer.

We partner with AlphaBest for before and aftercare.

Awards & Recognition

2020: Lead Academy Named a National Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Department of Education


2019: Lead Academy is ranked a Tier 1 school by DC Charter School Board.

Lead Academy is recognized as a Bold Performance School by EmpowerK12


2018:  Lead Academy is ranked a Tier 1 school by the DC Public Charter School Board.

Lead Academy is awarded a Bold Performance Winner by EmpowerK12.

Lead Academy Physical Education teacher Mrs. Fears recognized as KIPP DC’s monthly staff spotlight. 


2017: Lead Academy 4th grade teacher Ms. Chapman recognized as KIPP DC’s monthly staff spotlight.

Lead Academy is awarded a Bold Performance Winner by EmpowerK12.