STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Kanye West’s Donda Academy Requires Families To Sign NDAs, And Isn’t Accredited

A scathing investigative report unearthed red flags surrounding the $15,000 a year private ‘school’.

Kanye West’s Donda Academy has a requirement for students’ parents that’s making many scratch their heads. The California private school is making families sign confidentiality agreements.

According to Rolling Stone, the campus named in honor of the rapper’s late mother upholds a level of secrecy that is cemented with a signature from those who choose to attend.

“People choose to bring their kids to Donda Academy for a sense of privacy,”  says Malik Yusef, a producer and longtime collaborator of West who reportedly helped come up with the school’s concept. “A sense of care, a sense of concern, a sense of love, an environment of health, and an environment of wealth, an environment of learning, and putting God as a focus.”

RELATED: Donda Academy: Kanye West Opening Prep School in Simi Valley, California

Tamar Andrews, a consultant for the christian based school shared with Rolling Stone that parents asked to sign an “informal agreement.”

“Honestly, we don’t care if people know about the school,” she says. “The people that want to come to the school are looking for a good Christian school in that area and they know that we’re there … there is also a certain notoriety that comes with being affiliated with Donda. So, I don’t know that we have to advertise, which is a blessing and a curse.”

The outlet notes that two sources with close relationships to current Donda Academy students claimed individuals who were associated with the school were asked to sign NDA or Non Disclosure Agreements. A third source alleges they were not allowed to discuss the school.

While Donda Academy is not yet accredited, although it has recently applied for accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the leading accreditation agency for all academic institutions in California, current enrollment is under 100 students with 16 full-time teachers.

Tuition for the school is $15,000 per school year. Applications for the 2023-2024 school are available.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.