About Us

Georgetown University is committed, through its Jesuit and Catholic traditions and values, to helping prepare men and women for lives of service to others. Our engagement in the District, as well as other communities, nationally and internationally, is motivated by this commitment, and this commitment has called us to be a leader in the conversation around college access and success locally and nationally.

Locally, the University engages via the Institute for College Preparation program, the longevity and success of which make it our flagship educational outreach program. The University has been a regular participant, and often a leader, in collaborative efforts with others focused on the K-12 crisis. Presently, Georgetown:

  • Actively participates in the College & Credential Completion Network administered by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education Washington DC;
  • Offers resource through panel discussions and public roundtables on policy and practice issues in areas of workforce development and college readiness

For over two decades, the ICP has provided intensive, comprehensive, pre-college academic enrichment to middle and high school students enrolled in targeted D.C. public schools. Students begin the program in the 7th grade as a cohort, and continue through their high school graduation. During the program, students are exposed to rigorous course work via a carefully developed curriculum offered to students in Saturday Academy classes and Summer Institute on Georgetown University’s campus. This academic enrichment curriculum is enhanced by academic tutoring and mentorship in coordination with the students’ schools; a summer enrichment program that includes, in successive years, a study abroad experience and a residential college experience; college tours, assistance with test preparation and the college application process; facilitation of connections to other needed resources; and other academic and personal counseling for students and their families to inspire a college-going culture.

ICP encourages an underrepresented demographic group to pursue careers and studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The Institute provides participants with rigorous college level work through Saturday Academy and Summer Institute programming that prepares students to excel in coursework and be good role models for peers and younger students.

Program Components

The Saturday Academy: Beginning in the 7th grade and continuing through the 12th grade, Institute for College Preparation scholars attend Saturday Academy classes from 9am to 1pm on Georgetown’s main campus during the fall and spring semesters. Students develop and strengthen critical thinking skills, thus improving their test-taking and study skills. The curriculum focuses on coursework in the core subjects of English, Math, and Spanish.

The Summer Institute: During the summer, students attend the ICP Summer Institute on Georgetown’s campus every weekday for 3 to 5 weeks. Coursework concentrates on Science, Math, Spanish, English, and an elective. In the 11th grade, students live on Georgetown University’s campus for the duration of the Summer Institute, allowing them to get a taste of the joys and challenges that come with life on a college campus.

Capstone Activities: Students are given the opportunity to combine their academic coursework with capstone experiences to help prepare them for college. Some of these capstones include the following:

  • College Tours
  • Summer Study Abroad (Costa Rica and Panama)
  • Trip to New York City to see a Broadway play; Ski Liberty Mountain Resort ski trip; Science camping trip; and Harper’s Ferry bike trip
  • Residential Summer Institute on Georgetown’s Campus

First Year of College: During students’ pre-college summer, Institute for College Preparation staff members facilitate communication between graduating students’ college admissions offices, financial aid offices, faculty advisors, and assistant deans, with whom students will interact during their first critical months on campus. In some cases, the Institute provides assistance in purchasing textbooks and supplies and providing transportation between Washington, D.C. and a student’s new university or college.

2018 Dashboard Data

Serving est. 90 students on average in Saturday Academy

Serving est. 115 students/faculty/staff each Spring through K2C

ICP College Matriculation: 99%

Breakdown by School Type: Public – 72%; Charter – 23%; Independent – 5%

Most Commonly Attended Schools

Middle Schools: Kelly Miller Middle School, John Phillip Sousa Middle School, Excel Academy Public School, John Hayden Johnson Middle School

High schools: HD Woodson High School, Eastern Senior High School, Woodrow Wilson High School, McKinley Technology High School, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Phelps A.C.E. High School