Inside Kanye West’s mysterious Donda Academy college

Kanye West famously broke out as a backpacker rapper with three education-themed albums: 2004’s “The School Dropout,” 2005’s “Late Registration” and 2007’s “Commencement.”

And the 45-year-old hip-hop titan is now trying to college a younger technology of future stars, moguls and leaders at his mysterious new Donda Academy in Simi Valley, California. It’s a personal Christian prep college named after West’s late mom Donda, who was a professor. (She additionally impressed the titles of her son’s final two albums, 2021’s “Donda” and 2022’s “Donda 2.”)

Based on the varsity’s web site, the mission of Donda Academy, which opened in late August, is “to offer the youth with the fervour, goal and non secular foundations they should thrive in tomorrow’s world.”

The each day schedule for the scholars starting from pre-Ok to twelfth grade consists of full college worship; core courses of language arts, math and science; and enrichment programs together with language, visible artwork, movie, choir and parkour. In the meantime, the black uniforms consist totally of West’s designs for Yeezy and Hole. (Though Ye introduced yesterday that he was terminating the Hole deal.)

The $15,000-per-year college — with about half of the scholars getting monetary help or scholarships — boasts superstar visitors (Boston Celtics black star Jaylen Brown) in addition to college students (R&B singer Keyshia Cole’s son Daniel), smaller class sizes, and insider connections to West’s music (reminiscent of his Sunday Service choir) and trend worlds. And the Adidas-backed Donda Doves basketball crew has recruited a number of the nation’s prime high-school expertise, who’re housed in a luxurious condo constructing with chaperones. 

However there has additionally been thriller surrounding the varsity, beginning with its skimpy web site. Including to the secrecy, sources advised Rolling Stone that folks are required to signal nondisclosure agreements. On prime of that, the varsity — which has about 100 college students and 16 full-time academics — has not but been accredited, resulting in doubts about whether or not college students’ credit or diplomas might be accepted by faculties. 

Then there’s the truth that Donda Academy’s principal and govt director, 28-year-old Brianne Campbell, has by no means held a proper place as an educator, in line with Rolling Stone.

Nonetheless, West — a university dropout whose personal youngsters with Kim Kardashian don’t attend the varsity — is already planning to open different campuses throughout the nation in addition to a Donda College. 

“I wish to be emphatic that there’s by no means been a time that Kanye West didn’t wish to do that,” mentioned West collaborator Malik Yusef — who helped conceptualize the varsity — advised Rolling Stone. “I feel individuals don’t perceive the gravity of that. This man at all times wished to create a college in his mama’s title.”

And Yusef mentioned that the secrecy surrounding the varsity is one among its major points of interest. “Folks select to deliver their youngsters to Donda Academy for a way of privateness,” he mentioned. 

“Actually, we don’t care if individuals know in regards to the college,” added Donda advisor Tamar Andrews. “The those that wish to come to the varsity are in search of a very good Christian college in that space, they usually know that we’re there … There may be additionally a sure notoriety that comes with being affiliated with Donda. So, I don’t know that we now have to promote, which is a blessing and a curse.”