Rap mogul Kanye West wants to expand his reach beyond music, fashion, and presidential campaigns to add a private, K-12 prep school to his portfolio.
Donda Academy, named for his late mother, Dr. Donda West, launched an online application to accept students this week.
Kanye’s school said it intends to equip “students with an education that will last in the ever-changing world,” exploring the “intersection between faith and the innovation of the future.” The website touts a “rigorous core curriculum” engaging “creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving” to develop the “next generation of leaders.”
West’s mother was a longtime faculty member and English professor at Chicago State University before passing in 2007. Kanye titled his latest album, “Donda,” released in July, after his mother.
Several basketball prospects already committed to enrolling at the prep school. West hopes to rival the co-ed Sierra Canyon School in the Chattsworth area, ABC7 said.
“It’s just one of those things you can’t pass up,” Jalen Hooks told the Indianapolis Star. “It was more of a family decision, too. All of us just felt like it was a chance to reach my full potential and grow and get ready for the college level.”
Another player, Jahki Howard, revealed news of his school transfer in a now-deleted Instagram post, Billboard reported.
“I will be moving to California and I will be transferring to Donda academy,” Howard wrote. “I want to THANK YOU NORCROSS and the whole BLUE DEVIL FAMILY STILL WILL BE MY FAMILY. #donda”
Reports say the new academy will take over an empty, 4-acre parcel with a school building in an unincorporated area between Simi Valley and Moorpark, the Simi Valley Acorn reported. A Santa Clarita-based realtor listed the commercial property for lease.
While the website did not detail the cost of attendance for students, MTV News said in September the school would not charge tuition.
Last October, West posted a video about a forthcoming Yeezy Christian Academy. Unfortunately, the rap star never followed that tweet with any additional details.
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