“In st. louis, for st. louis” class act
WashU’s “In St. Louis, For St. Louis” Initiative in the Office of the Chancellor is thrilled to share an inspiring example of the university’s commitment to educational access and community engagement through our recent collaboration with Girls Inc. St. Louis. This partnership epitomizes our dedication to fostering enriching educational experiences and supporting youth development.
In this collaboration during summer 2025, we had the privilege of connecting the incredible girls of Girls Inc. with various local community partners, leading to a series of dynamic and educational activities. Highlights of our collaboration included:
- A hands-on demonstration from Gwen Taylor and Chris Washington, showcasing the Flip That House Board Game.
- An interactive chat with Naomi Blair from Eye See Me Book Store, promoting the importance of diverse literature.
- An insightful tour and discussion at Delmar DivINe, guided by Maxine Clark.
Moreover, the girls were given the opportunity to explore the beautiful WashU campus, visit the renowned Kemper Art Museum, and enjoy the serene Arboretum Walking Tour.
This partnership is just one example of how WashU actively engages with community organizations to provide valuable educational experiences. We are committed to creating opportunities for students, educators, and community members to connect with our resources and programs.
We invite you to explore how you can engage with WashU for the benefit of your students, yourself, or your staff. Find out how to engage with us on our website.
Yours in partnership,
Debbi Goldstein, PhD
Assistant Director, K-12 Engagement
“In St. Louis, For St. Louis” Initiative
Office of the Chancellor
Ten College Prep Program grads secure spots at WashU with $820,000 in aid
Ten of the 36 graduating high school seniors in WashU’s College Prep Program will attend WashU this fall, receiving a total of $820,000 in financial aid from Washington University in St. Louis. Other students have received offers from the University of Pennsylvania, Louisiana State University, Saint Louis University and some 60 state and private universities, community colleges and historically Black colleges and universities.
The College Prep Program (CPP) is an immersive four-year experience that prepares talented first-generation, limited-income high school students from the St. Louis region to succeed in college. CPP scholars take college courses, prepare for the ACT, learn about the financial aid process, visit nearby universities and cultural institutions and, during their final summer, live on campus. CPP staff also supports scholars during their college transition, serving as a resource no matter where they continue their educations.
Read more in this story from WashU.
WashU Rural Scholars Academy grows, builds on success
WashU’s Rural Scholars Academy welcomed its third cohort of 36 incoming high school juniors to campus this month for college classes, admissions workshops and field trips to St. Louis attractions. New this year — the opportunity to meet the first graduates of the academy who will attend WashU.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions launched the free Rural Scholars Academy for high-achieving high school juniors in 2023 as part of WashU’s broader effort to better recruit and support rural students, many of whom do not have access to college counselors and Advanced Placement classes. The academy is supported by alumna and honorary emerita trustee Joyce Buchheit and her husband, Chauncy Buchheit, of rural Missouri.
Read more in this story from WashU.
Resources for Educators and Students
Admissions
St. Louis students among those admitted to WashU through QuestBridge College Match and Early Decision I round
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions brought 2024 to an exciting close—in early December, we welcomed approximately 900 students to the Class of 2029 as part of both the QuestBridge National College Match and our Early Decision I round.
Nearly 120 of those students were applicants from 58 public, private, and charter high schools in the surrounding communities—St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and the Metro East area of Illinois. And here are a few facts we’d like to share with you about this talented group:
- 84 of these students attend public or charter schools
- Three students are QuestBridge National College Match Scholars
- 20% identify as first generation to college students
- 22% of these students received the WashU Pledge
- The top major declared among this group was Biology
We were fortunate enough to surprise Yareli M., a WashU College Prep Program alum, from Saint Joseph’s Academy on December 12. Friends, family, school administrators, and even the WashU Bear showed up for a celebration at her school. Yareli is one of four CPP alums admitted in the Early Decision I round. She joins Selma H. from Bayless High School, Jessie S. from Mehlville High School, and Vivian L. from Lindbergh High School. We look forward to celebrating with all our admitted students in the coming weeks, as we send messages of congratulations, important information, and lots of WashU SWAG!
Our commitment to local students includes unique programming and campus collaborations
As we continue to build and strengthen our relationships with schools and students across the St. Louis region, we’ve had the opportunity to both create unique programming and work closely with students, faculty, and the community.
WashU Reach
Working in partnership with the Black Student Association (BSA), we welcomed students from four local schools—Soldan International Studies High School, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley High, and Hazelwood East High School. During the visit, approximately 30 students learned about campus resources and heard from our community during a student panel. To complete the visit, we introduced students to The Hamsini Living Learning Community—a student led-initiative designed to enhance the college experience for students who are part of or interested in exploring matters related to the African Diaspora and being Black at WashU. 2024 marks our second year offering WashU Reach and we look forward to working with BSA to host future events.
Middle School Day
It’s never too early to think about college; just ask the students who visited during our Middle School Day in May 2024. The event was full of fun interactive experiences, including a scavenger hunt and an opportunity to learn more about WashU’s College Prep Program. We are busy planning our next middle school event, with a goal of bringing 150 students to campus.
Zinash: Bridge the Gap
A long-standing collaboration with the African Students Association (ASA) and Senior Assistant Dean Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo, Zinash: Bridge the Gap is a dynamic on-campus experience for first- and second-generation African high school students in grades 9-12.
Admissions & Aid staff members are always eager to share their knowledge and experience through a variety of ways. From hosting the SLPS Counselor Professional Development Day to presenting about the college application process during Saint Louis County’s Outstanding Student Leadership Program, we’re here to help. Please reach out to Justin Wilson at justinw@wustl.edu if you would like to discuss how our team can support your students.
Meet our college prep program scholars!
Our College Prep Program team is busy reading applications, and later this spring we’ll welcome Cohort 12. With year-round programming in full swing, we’re excited to introduce you to two of our current scholars—Elijah and Adaleta!
The WashU CPP experience was able to bring me out of a shell. When I started, I was extremely shy and introverted. I had only spoken to people who I was familiar with, and I honestly had no intentions of changing that. Fortunately, this program was able to get me to change my mindset. I have developed many solid friendships throughout these years through projects, community building, living in the same spaces, and more. Being able to make friends will greatly contribute to my college life, and for that I am grateful.
Elijah, Cohort 9 (attends McKinley Classical Leadership Academy)
CPP made it a mission to get us as comfortable as possible with the college search/college application process. Through discussions with admissions officers at WashU and other schools, along with help from the Writing Center, I feel very prepared to tackle college applications. I believe that my participation in this program will be part of the reason I excel in college. I have expanded my knowledge, strengthened my leadership skills, found a community that I love, and so much more. I feel prepared to take on the world.
Adaleta, Cohort 9 (attends Metro Academic and Classical High School)
Do you have students who would be a great match for the College Prep Program? Visit our site to learn more and complete an inquiry form. We’d love to get you on our mailing list!
Institute for School Partnership
Free K-12 STEM Learning Resources Available on ISP Website
Teachers, coaches, parents, and anyone looking for free K-12 science learning resources can choose from a wide array of lessons and activities featured on a website recently redesigned by WashU’s Institute for School Partnership (ISP).
“Keeping learners of all ages engaged and curious about the science that happens all around us is something that we can pursue in the classroom, at home, and in any spaces where we have the opportunity to help one another make meaningful connections to the natural world,” says ISP Executive Director Victoria May. “Making some of the high-quality resources our team has developed in collaboration with seasoned educators and WashU’s research faculty easily accessible is just one way we can invite everyone in our region and beyond to consider the value that scientific inquiry brings to our progress.”
Organized into three categories: elementary, middle school, and high school, the resources include everything from lesson plans designed for classrooms to activities that anyone can try. The elementary lessons include step-by-step instructions and are available for download. The resources aimed at middle and high school learners are standards-aligned.
Each year, more than 5,000 educators across the St. Louis region participate in one or more of the ISP’s innovative programs. To learn more, visit the ISP website.
To learn more about ISP programs, please contact schoolpartnership@wustl.edu.
Free Digital Navigation Program for St. Louis Area Teachers Launches
Teachers in Grades 3-8 from across the St. Louis region can build their digital fluency and enhance core classroom learning by participating in the AT&T Digital Navigation Program. Administered by WashU’s Institute for School Partnership (ISP), this free professional learning opportunity is made possible with generous support from AT&T Connected Learning. The program includes two workshop tiers, mentorship, and a capstone project. Registration for Tier One is open now.
Learn more about this program on the ISP website.
Download the Digital Navigation Program flyer.
Kemper Art Museum
The Kemper Art Museum, part of the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at WashU, is one of the nation’s leading university art museums, serving as a center of cultural and intellectual life on campus and in the St. Louis community. Its mission is to collect significant modern and contemporary art and preserve its collection for current and future generations; provide excellence in art historical research, exhibition, and object-based learning; and engage the campus population, visitors and alumni, the St. Louis region, and the global art community.
The Museum’s Learning and Engagement team creates gallery experiences for all audiences. Guided tours at the Kemper Art Museum incorporate careful looking, conversations, and creative response activities that support different learning styles. All guided tours are led by trained WashU student educators and the education staff. Tour participants are invited to be curious, discover connections to personal experiences, and learn through their observations.
K–12 tours are aligned with Missouri Learning Standards and are designed to support arts integration across the curriculum. All tours can be customized to meet the goals of the group. In addition to incorporating world class artworks into learning experiences, school visits to the Museum also expose students to campus life and college and career opportunities. Museum tours are free of charge and can be paired with other hands-on or WashU opportunities (with advanced notice). Schedule a tour today!
The Kemper Art Museum hosts monthly events that celebrate partnerships across WashU and throughout the St. Louis region. Check out the Museum’s event listings to learn more.
Stay in touch! Subscribe to the Museum’s PreK–12 eNews to receive information about exhibitions, events, and resources for teachers and students.
WashU Libraries
Educators and school groups are welcome to reach out to Olin Library to request a tour or arrange a field trip to get insider information about our library spaces, learn more about conducting academic research, or see the current exhibitions on display.
Visit the WashU Libraries website to learn more about opportunities to visit and request information.
Performing Arts Department
The WashU Performing Arts Department (PAD) offers group rates for schools interested in bringing students on campus for a tour or educational activities. Contact the PAD for details at 314-935-5858 or pad@wustl.edu. (Please use the subject line “Group Rates.”)
Additionally, the PAD offers discounted tickets for students.
View a list of upcoming events on the PAD website.
Music Department
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