When Josh Zoia came to Lynn about six years ago with the idea of opening a KIPP School, nearly every door that he had to get through was closed in order for him to achieve his dream come true.
Six years later, Zoia has announced that the KIPP Academy, which has enjoyed local success, will be building a $25 million facility on the site of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 507 site in the Highlands.
Kipp Academy has purchased the VFW for $1.35 million – and with it comes approximately 5.5 acres next to High Rock Tower.
According to Zoia, the VFW building will be razed and a new 68,000 square foot facility will be built on the site.
“I am very, very excited. This is an important step for us and for the school children of this city. The Highlands is a vibrant community. It’s a community whre many of our students come from,” he said.
KIPP will be financing the school with a combination of private capital and federal incentives.
“Everything should be in place by the fall for the start of construction,” he said.
The new school will open in 2012.
It will include a gymnasium, an athletic filed, and rooms for art and music instruction.
The school will ultimately have 750 students.
KIPP School specialize in longer school days and more intense instruction.
KIPP students tend to do better in academics than many of their counterparts in public school.