Gates Foundation Creates New Scholarship Program for High School Students in the Predominantly Black Neighborhoods of the Nation’s Capital

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has created the D.C. Achievers college scholarship program for public school students in the nation’s capital. The public schools in the district are almost entirely black.

The program, funded by a grant of $122 million, will be allocated for individual college scholarships of up to $10,000 per year for five years for as many as 2,250 students over the next 15 years. About 175 students who are currently juniors in high school will be accepted into the program this year. The students will participate in a college preparatory program this summer and be paired with a mentor who will help guide them through the college admissions process. Once the students complete high school and enroll in college, they will receive the D.C. Achievers scholarship.

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