Why we’re different
In July 2006, the Denver Scholarship Foundation commissioned a study to determine the key barriers that prevent Denver Public School (DPS) students from attending and completing college. We found that lack of financial resources and information about the college application process topped the list.
Our comprehensive solution – enthusiastically endorsed by then-Mayor John Hickenlooper and Senator Michael Bennet – improves college enrollment through three effective strategies:
Future Centers
A Future Center is a physical space within 16 DPS high schools that serves as a hub for all college-related programming. Each Future Center is staffed with a College and Financial Aid Advisor who helps students and their families with every part of the college application process, from filling out enrollment and scholarship applications to completing college essays and complex financial aid forms. We also have a “roaming” advisor who provides the same valuable assistance to all other DPS high schools.
Scholarships
The Denver Scholarship Foundation provides need-based scholarships to eligible DPS graduates who enroll in one of Colorado’s 39 participating technical, community or four-year colleges/universities. To be eligible for a DSF scholarship, a student is required to apply for three additional scholarships and grants. Our awards can be as much as $3,400 per year for up to five years, depending on the type of college attended, level of financial need and whether the student enrolls full-time or part-time.
College Retention
Our ultimate goal is for all the students we serve to complete college. We have formal partnerships at 14 colleges to make sure that every student we help get into college has the resources to graduate as well. We also provide transition to college workshops for all new scholars to outline all of the support services available at each of Colorado’s 39 participating postsecondary institutions.