Since its opening in 2001, the KIPP DC: KEY (Knowledge Empowers You) Academy, a public charter school in Washington, D.C., has attracted a great deal of attention for its program and results. One of 38 KIPP schools around the country, the D.C. school enrolls about 240 students in grades 5 and 6 and stays open until 5:00 p.m. each day, and half a day on Saturday. KIPP DC: KEY Academy has been one of the highest-performing schools of any type in the trouble-plagued District of Columbia system. The Harvard Education Letter spoke to the school's director, Susan Schaeffler, about charter school status, the school's success, and what lessons it may hold for educators in all types of schools.