Who We Are

Downtown College Prep (DCP) reflects the spirit of innovation and competition that drives Silicon Valley. DCP opened in September 2000 with the goal to prepare students who will be the first in their family to graduate from college to thrive at four-year universities. DCP was the first charter high school and remains the only college-prep school to explicitly target underperforming students. 

Ten years later, DCP operates two campuses in San Jose and serves over 1000 students and alumni. DCP's six-year college completion rate is 4x the national average for low-income students. DCP's comprehensive 6-16 program for first-generation college students is nationally recognized.

DCP's nearly 500 alumni are pursuing their careers and college degrees at schools across California and the United States. DCP's college graduates have earned degrees in mathematics, liberal studies, English, community studies, and engineering. Today our graduates are emerging in their careers as bankers, teachers, scientists, and non-profit community leaders.