Downtown College Prep
An Effective Practice
Description
Downtown College Prep (DCP) prepares underachieving students who will be the first in their families to go to college to thrive at four-year universities.
The program opened in September 2000 as the first college prep school that explicitly targets underperforming students. DCP’s academic program helps students who have fallen behind to not only “catch up,” but to excel.
The school integrates their curriculum with a school culture that takes college aspirations seriously and specifically reaches out to students who will be the first in their families to go to college. The curriculum is a combination of: standards-based curriculum and assessment; rigorous college-prep work and time for practice, review and reflection.
In every classroom, students tackle complex problems, develop effective work habits and study skills and learn to read and write at the college level.
The program opened in September 2000 as the first college prep school that explicitly targets underperforming students. DCP’s academic program helps students who have fallen behind to not only “catch up,” but to excel.
The school integrates their curriculum with a school culture that takes college aspirations seriously and specifically reaches out to students who will be the first in their families to go to college. The curriculum is a combination of: standards-based curriculum and assessment; rigorous college-prep work and time for practice, review and reflection.
In every classroom, students tackle complex problems, develop effective work habits and study skills and learn to read and write at the college level.
Goal / Mission
Downtown Colled Prep's mission is to prepare underachieving students—who will be the first in their families to go to college—to thrive at four-year universities.
Results / Accomplishments
Downtown Prep College served 1000 students since September 2000. The Class of 2010 has been accepted to over 40 four-year colleges and universities in California and nationally.
100% of DCP graduates complete the California A-G requirements for admission to the UC or CSU systems.
74% of alumni have graduated from a four-year university or are on track to earn a college degree.
100% of DCP graduates complete the California A-G requirements for admission to the UC or CSU systems.
74% of alumni have graduated from a four-year university or are on track to earn a college degree.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Downtown College Prep
Primary Contact
Rita Castellanos
1460 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 271-1730
rcastellanos@dcp.org
http://www.downtowncollegeprep.org/content/contact...
1460 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 271-1730
rcastellanos@dcp.org
http://www.downtowncollegeprep.org/content/contact...
Topics
Education / Educational Attainment
Education / Student Performance K-12
Education / School Environment
Education / Student Performance K-12
Education / School Environment
Organization(s)
Downtown College Prep
Date of publication
2010
Date of implementation
Sep 2000
Location
San Jose, CA
For more details
Target Audience
Teens