All students are accepted to KIPP schools regardless of prior academic record, conduct, or socioeconomic background. The test results from the 2006-2007 school year clearly demonstrate the incredible progress students have achieved during their time at KIPP. When considered collectively, the five KIPP Bay Area middle schools outperformed their local school districts and the state averages in every grade and every subject on the California Standards Test. Because these students enter KIPP performing, on average, below grade level, this achievement is remarkable.

In addition to the California Standards Test, students take the Stanford Achievement Test, a nationally norm-referenced test that enables schools to track the performance of a common group of KIPP students over time, and allows a comparison of this progress with that of students nationally. The average KIPP Bay Area student started fifth grade in the bottom third of test-takers in the country in math and the bottom quarter of test-takers in the country in reading. After four years at KIPP, these same students outperform three out of four test-takers nationwide in math and three out of five test-takers nationwide in reading, as measured by the Stanford-10 Achievement Test. The average student will remain at the 50th percentile each year and will thus record zero, or normal growth.