Detroit Area Pre College Engineering Program

For more than 40 years, Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) has provided high-quality, standards-aligned science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming to PreK – 12th grade youth throughout Southeastern Michigan. As an educational 501(c)3 organization, our mission is to increase the number of historically underrepresented students who possess the talent, intelligence, and academic capacity to pursue and excel in STEM careers.

 According to National Science Foundation reporting (2017), only 17 percent of scientists and engineers employed full time are minority. We work to ensure students from various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds receive the training and preparation required to develop their skills and build confidence. Many of these students lack access to quality supplemental out-of-school time educational opportunities. With access to high-quality academic experiences at an early age, these students will grow into STEM leaders and help ensure that the future workplace is diverse and reflects the unique strengths of people from an array of backgrounds.  We’ve seen how this formula yields success through our 68,000 esteemed alumni.

 DAPCEP maintains a near 100% graduation rate, serving approximately 11,000 students per year with a 50:50 male-female ratio. On Saturdays during the school year and in camp format during the summer, we expose students to a wide range of STEM subjects including disciplines in the sciences and engineering, robotics, computer coding, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and drone certification. Our core programming models include: Explorers (PreK - 3rd grade) Saturday Series; Pathfinders (4-12th grade) Saturday Series; Summer Channel; DAPCEP In-School Curriculum (DISC); Pop-Up STEM Program; and Multi-Year Engagement Programs.  DAPCEP students work in labs on college campuses in the Metro Detroit area, meet minority engineers, college students and other role models. Visits to the Black Engineer of the Year Awards and college tours round out the DAPCEP student experience.