Kanye West’s Donda Academy: The Wildest School Rules

Kanye West took a giant step away from the spotlight following his controversies in 2022, but just when you thought he was gone, the rapper has made it into a few headlines yet again. The newlywed, disgraced rapper is entangled in a lawsuit related to his private school, Donda Academy. 

In April, Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers—two former teachers at the school—filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination, discrimination, and unlawful withholding of wages. Hailey and Byers were both hired in January 2022 but were fired two months later after concerns about “unlawful and unsafe educational practices.”

They are not the first former employees to raise concerns about the school’s daily functions. Donda Academy launched in 2022 in Simi Valley, California, opening its doors to an estimated 100 students, ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. For the most part, Kanye, school staff, and families remained mum about the school’s inner workings. But outsiders quickly began to unmask what was happening, with many pointing out unusual aspects such as the dress code or curriculum. By October 2022, the school was abruptly closed and then reopened hours later following West’s antisemitic comments in interviews and social media. 

A lot has happened with Donda Academy during its two years of existence. Here is a list of the wildest restrictions and requirements as told by Hailey, Byers, and other sources close to the school.

Kanye West took a giant step away from the spotlight following his controversies in 2022, but just when you thought he was gone, the rapper has made it into a few headlines yet again. The newlywed, disgraced rapper is entangled in a lawsuit related to his private school, Donda Academy. 

In April, Cecilia Hailey and Chekarey Byers—two former teachers at the school—filed a lawsuit for wrongful termination, discrimination, and unlawful withholding of wages. Hailey and Byers were both hired in January 2022 but were fired two months later after concerns about “unlawful and unsafe educational practices.”

They are not the first former employees to raise concerns about the school’s daily functions. Donda Academy launched in 2022 in Simi Valley, California, opening its doors to an estimated 100 students, ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. For the most part, Kanye, school staff, and families remained mum about the school’s inner workings. But outsiders quickly began to unmask what was happening, with many pointing out unusual aspects such as the dress code or curriculum. By October 2022, the school was abruptly closed and then reopened hours later following West’s antisemitic comments in interviews and social media. 

A lot has happened with Donda Academy during its two years of existence. Here is a list of the wildest restrictions and requirements as told by Hailey, Byers, and other sources close to the school.