CDI SCHOLARS PROGRAM 
SELECTION CRITERIA

Educators may nominate candidates from one of our six MCPS partner high schools during the first semester of a student's Junior year.  All applications must be submitted by the designated deadline with a current transcript, a recent graded writing assignment, and the most recent household tax return.

Our partner high schools are:

• Albert Einstein High School (Kensington, MD)
• John F. Kennedy High School (Silver Spring, MD)
• Paint Branch High School (Burtonsville, MD)
• Springbrook High School (Silver Spring, MD)
• Walter Johnson High School (Bethesda, MD)
• Wheaton High School (Silver Spring, MD)

1. Candidates should have an unweighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in core academic courses.
    
2. Candidates should be enrolled in a challenging high school curriculum, including Honors and AP courses.
    
3. Candidates should have at least three years of high-school level, non-ESOL
   (English for Speakers of Other Languages) English classes.
    
4. Candidates must be eligible for federal financial aid (i.e., US citizens or green card
   holders).
    
5. Candidates must be eligible for “low-income” consideration.  Also, students are eligible if the family meets income guidelines set by the Montgomery County Public Schools for Free and Reduced Meals Subsidies.
    
6. Candidates should have a strong interest in applying to and attending four-year, selective, liberal arts colleges and universities. 
    
7. Candidates must be self-driven and highly committed to learning and personal
   development. CDI Scholars demonstrate an ability to work hard, meet deadlines,
   honor commitments, and stay on course despite obstacles. Scholars will receive
   coaching and mentoring from CDI and will serve as role models for their peers.