Simple mission, unique approach, deserving students. Since 1993, Capital Partners for Education has improved the lives of motivated, low-income youth by helping them get a quality education, graduate from a college preparatory high school, and go on to college.

Although other youth organizations have similar goals, CPE is the only one in the Washington metropolitan area that provides students with a combination of benefits in its four-year program:

• An adult mentor for each student
• Academic support and enrichment programming
• Scholarships to private high schools or college*

Learn more about the CPE Program

Our History: CPE’s founders, Henry D. Owen and Theodore A. Schwab, sought to help low income youth in the Washington area gain better access to the high-quality education that would make a real difference in their lives.

In its first year, six CPE students received partial scholarships to private high schools. Since then, CPE has evolved into a dynamic college preparatory scholarship and mentoring program that is a strong presence in Washington’s educational community.

Since 1993, CPE has provided nearly 400 students with viable alternatives to low-performing public schools. Seventy-six percent of CPE students graduate from high school in four years and enroll in college — compared to 29 percent of Washington’s public school students. Of CPE graduates, 99 percent have enrolled in college. Most are the first in their families to attend college. A recent study of the educational outcomes of CPE alumni found that 73% ofCPE students graduate college within six years.

In the 2011-2012 school year, CPE serves 113 students in 21 partner high schools.

*Students attending partner charter schools receive an annual college scholarship in lieu of private high school tuition assistance.