FAQs

FAQs

Thank you for your interest in Katherine Anne Porter School. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. If you’d like more information or have specific questions not answered here, you may call 512-847-6867 or email the Administrative Assistant, Kelly Marler, at kmarler@kapschool.org .

Q What is the Katherine Anne Porter School?

A We are a public, open-enrollment charter school serving grades 9-12. Basically, that means that we do not discriminate for any reason (gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, academic, artistic, or athletic ability or the district the student would otherwise attend). We have students from Blanco, Canyon Lake, San Marcos, Austin, and Dripping Springs school districts.

Q Can my 7th grader skip 8th grade and start at KAPS as a 9th grader?

A We have stopped admitting students early (in the past some have skipped the 8th grade) because 8th graders are now required to pass the TAKS test before they can be promoted to the ninth grade.

Q How much does it cost to attend KAPS?

A There are no entrance exams and no fees. KAPS is largely run on donations and profits from fundraiser events like Java Jive and Dragon 5K.

Q How is KAPS funded?

A We do receive state and local funding (based on enrollment and attendance numbers), but it is considerably less per student than other non-charter schools. Therefore we do a great deal of fundraising and always accept donations from our generous supporters. There are no fees or tuition costs to attend KAPS.

Q What will my kid learn in a KAPS class?

A We follow the state's recommended high school curriculum, use state-adopted textbooks, and all of our teachers are highly qualified. We do offer quite a mix of classes and advanced courses, especially for such a small school.

Q Can students with special education needs attend KAPS?

A We have a special education department and content mastery center to assist students and provide necessary accommodations.

Q What is different about KAPS? What attracts students to attend there?

A What attracts many of our students is that we are less sports-centered than neighboring districts. We have PE, yoga, and karate classes, but no organized athletics teams. Rather, many of our students are interested in music, art, writing, and careers in technology. Others are drawn because of our small class sizes and the community feel of our day-to-day atmosphere.

Q Do KAPS graduates go to college?

A Many of our students further their education after graduation. In recent years, our students have received considerable scholarships to George Washington University, Berea College, Berklee School of Music, and College of Wooster. We have graduates enrolled at Texas A&M, UT, Austin Community College, Texas State University, and St. Edward’s University, among others. We award community scholarships as well as approximately $9000 of KAPS scholarships to our seniors each year. Our counselor assists students in applying for scholarships awarded by other organizations and the universities themselves.