Ten years ago, M-DCPS Superintendent and iPrep’s Principal, Alberto M. Carvalho, challenged educators to create a learning environment that closes the cultural and digital divide. Today, iPrep Academy is a Nationally Certified Magnet School that stands as a symbol for education innovation, fostering collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and economic standing, and where every child has access to technology. This brightly colored school without doors or bells is purposely designed to promote respect and responsibility among the students and staff while our educators embrace innovative “out of the box” teaching. At iPrep, students learn in a relaxed setting that is more reminiscent of a café or their own homes, rather than a school. On any given day, students can be seen working on their school-issued device or engaged in analytical discussions with educators while sitting on a beanbag or sofa. The Lower Academy students (grades K-5) partake in the Extended Foreign Language program, where a Spanish Language Arts curriculum is implemented. Upper Academy students (grades 6-12) are enrolled in advanced, honors, Advanced Placement, or Dual Enrollment courses. Additionally, they participate in the Executive Internship Program during their junior and senior years, which provides them a glimpse into their future and helps to prepare them for the expectations of the “real world.” Thanks to the combination of highly skilled professional educators, access to the latest technology, and career exploration opportunities in a setting designed to fit the teens of today, iPrep Academy has gained national and international recognition as the model of innovative education for the future.

ALBERTO M. CARVALHO, Principal