KIPP Affirm Middle School

A message from the KIPP Affirm Faculty and Staff:

KIPP Affirm is a charter middle school located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx. It is located in a newly built facility that it shares with three other KIPP schools. The founding principal, Dominique Mejia, is the first KIPP alum to found a KIPP school. Dominique has over a decade of experience as an educator in KIPP schools, from teaching ELA and coaching sports and music groups, to being a dean, instructional coach, and DEI coordinator.

At KIPP Affirm, our students, staff, families, and community members work collaboratively to create a learning environment in which students’ identities, cultures, and community are explored, celebrated, and affirmed. Through consistency, authenticity, and always with love, we uplift our students by providing the knowledge and tools needed to develop strength, power, and pride in themselves and in their education. With this, our students have the freedom to live choice-filled and fulfilling lives, becoming changemakers and leaders of their community.

We believe in uplifting each and every voice and story in our school and community to ensure input and collaboration among all stakeholders, and to foster humanity, grounding, and connectedness. We believe students learn best through a balance of rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, and ample choice opportunities for development and exploration of new interests and skills in and out of the classroom. We believe students’ identities, cultures, and community should be explored, celebrated and affirmed—consistently, authentically, and always with love.

Our academic programming is based on 25+ years of proven results in KIPP NYC middle schools, and includes: 

• Science: Hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum empowering students to analyze and approach problems like scientists and engineers 

• English Language Arts: Reading, analyzing, and writing based on high-quality diverse text

• Math: Rigorous, college preparatory math curriculum, including Algebra I Regents offered in 8th grade

• Social Studies: Exploration of students’ own identities, communities, and cultures, as well as discourse, writing, and debate on topics like US history and current events

• Guided Reading: Small group reading instruction at each student’s instructional reading level

• Special Education: Differentiated instruction in the least restrictive environment by certified learning specialists, including ICT, SETSS and all mandated services as indicated on a student’s IEP.

• KIPP Block: differentiated small group intervention and stretch opportunities across multiple contents

• Explore Block: an electives block occurring four times per week during the school day and can include courses like music, dance, and STEM (e.g., robotics). 

Students have dedicated time to engage in powerful individual, relationship-building, and community-building experiences, which emphasize self-reflection, identity development, and character growth. This takes place in:

• Affirmation Circles: several times per week, students gather in groups to collectively reflect on those experiences

• Whole School Meeting: each week, we gather as a whole school to explore, affirm, and celebrate our highs, lows and everything in between including birthday celebrations, current events, upcoming school events, school goals and priorities, and more.

• Whole Grade Celebration: each week, students and staff at each grade level come together to bond and celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of our students.