College Arts Access Program

The College Arts Access Program (CAAP) is a three-year bridge program for Chicago Public Schools students who are dedicated to studying arts and design. In a recent longitudinal study completed by Michigan State University, CAAP students were found to be as competitive in college admission as more socioeconomically advantaged peers. Now in its eighth year, CAAP has an initial cohort of 15 high school sophomores and has influenced similar programs nationwide.

Philanthropy has been a key factor in the growth of CAAP and its success. Since its founding, CAAP has grown its cohort size by 50 percent. With a recent $750,000 gift from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, a key supporter whose visionary partnership with the School established the program in 2014, CAAP is poised for expansion in 2022–23.