Mission
Through tutoring and mentorship, Bright Paths DC equips underserved Washington, D.C. high school students to achieve success in school, transition effectively into college or careers, and thrive in their postsecondary paths.
Our Commitment
Bright Paths DC believes that zip code should never determine a student’s future, and that every young person deserves access to high-quality educational support and pathways to success. We design our programs by drawing on research and many years of lived experience. Bright Paths DC collaborates with educators and students to ensure our services are relevant, effective, and sustainable. By addressing both academic and non-academic barriers, we work to close opportunity gaps and create successful outcomes for our students.
Just 9% of D.C.'s 9th-grade complete a college degree within five years of high school graduation
Who Is Most Affected?
Achievement gaps are not evenly distributed. In D.C.'s Wards 7 and 8, where Bright Paths DC primarily operates, they are most severe. In Ward 8, 1 in 10 high school students meets grade-level math expectations and 2 in 10 meet English expectations, compared to 6 in 10 and 7 in 10 respectively in Ward 3. The 50-percentage-point math proficiency gap between these two wards, within the same city, is not a marginal difference. It is a structural inequity.
