Red-carpet anniversary event on November 20 honors a decade and a half of growth, achievement and community partnership | JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — October 30, 2025 — KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, a non-profit network of college-preparatory public charter schools educating elementary, middle and high school students, proudly announced today the marking of its 15th anniversary with a red-carpet celebration, Lights, Camera, KIPP!, and documentary premiere on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre & Museum. This milestone event celebrates 15 years of growth, impact and innovation in Jacksonville’s North and Westside communities, highlighting the students, families and educators who have made KIPP Jacksonville a cornerstone of educational excellence.
The evening will feature the premiere of The First Class – 15 Years of KIPP Jacksonville, a documentary produced by Kennetic Productions that traces the school network’s journey from its bold beginnings to the inspiring futures of the first graduates of KIPP Bold City High School. Guests will also enjoy live music by The Katz Downstairz, curated food stations by Savor, private museum tours led by KIPP Jacksonville students and remarks from KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools Executive Director Dr. Melissa L. Fullmore, alongside KIPP Foundation CEO Shavar Jeffries.
Since opening its doors in 2010 with just 90 fifth-graders, KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools has expanded to serve over 3,000 students across four campuses, becoming one of the leading public charter school networks in the region. Part of the national KIPP Public Schools network, the largest charter network in the country, KIPP Jacksonville operates on the belief that every child possesses limitless potential — and that a student’s zip code should never determine their future. Its core values of high expectations, a growth mindset, commitment to team, trust, joy and sustainability continue to guide its mission every day.
“Fifteen years ago, we set out to prove that all children, regardless of background or circumstance, deserve access to a world-class education right here in Jacksonville,” said Dr. Melissa L. Fullmore, Executive Director of KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools. “Today, we celebrate not only how far we’ve come, but the community that has believed in our vision and stood beside us every step of the way. Our students’ success is proof of what is possible when we invest deeply in talent, equity and joy.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit KIPP Jacksonville’s Talent Innovation Fund, a philanthropic initiative that fuels the recruitment, development and retention of transformational educators across the city. The fund sustains the school’s innovative staffing model, which elevates teaching excellence through real-time instructional coaching, expanded certification pathways, leadership development and performance-based compensation. By investing in educator growth and support, KIPP Jacksonville is strengthening long-term instructional quality — and ensuring that students, particularly those in Jacksonville’s highest-poverty ZIP codes, are taught by well-trained, well-supported, and well-compensated teachers.
Lights, Camera, KIPP! is an invitation to celebrate the transformative impact of education and the future KIPP Jacksonville continues to build with its families, students and community partners. For more information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bdhjbigc/event/kippjax15/.
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ABOUT KIPP JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools are tuition-free, public charter schools united around one goal: preparing students in underserved Jacksonville communities to make an impact in the world. Our newly constructed, beautifully maintained campuses are located on the north and west side of Jacksonville, and we serve over 3,100 students in grades kindergarten through 12. Every day, our dedicated educators and staff create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose — college, career, and beyond.