Iovine & Young
Iovine and Young Centers for Innovation at DPS: Reimagining the Future of Learning
The Denver Public Schools Foundation is proud to announce a transformative new initiative to support the launch of the Iovine and Young Centers for Innovation (IYC) within Denver Public Schools. By joining forces with music and business icons Jimmy Iovine and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, community support will help to position DPS as a national leader in reimagining public education.
At the DPS Foundation, we leverage our unique and direct access to the district to mobilize our entire community behind high-impact programs. This partnership is more than a new curriculum, it is a winning and emerging model designed to ensure that our students become the leaders and societal contributors we need for a rapidly changing world.
A Revolutionary Model for Greatest Impact
The IYC program is a very innovative and exciting pilot that nurtures students’ abilities as real-world problem solvers. Developed at the University of Southern California, this proven education model serves populations of greatest need by integrating:
Design & Technology
Business & Entrepreneurship
Digital Communications
By focusing on human-centered design thinking with a STEAM lens, this curriculum achieves the greatest impact on student well-being and success.
Research shows that IYC students are 10% more likely to perform at or above state benchmarks, with nearly 90% of participants on track to meet elite college requisites.
Solving the Opportunity Gap
While the 21st century has seen unimaginable social and technological advancement, the opportunity gap continues to widen for our most underserved students. The DPS Foundation is fundraising to bridge this gap –and it will take industry partners to wrap its arms around this innovation center model.
How the DPS Foundation Creates Impact at Scale
In Fall 2026, the first ninth-grade cohorts will begin at Manual High School and Denver School of the Arts (DSA). These two schools were selected to reflect our commitment to equity –while also providing opportunities for the pilot to be created to become truly scalable over time.
As a trusted partner to both the district and the donor community, the DPS Foundation works to ensure investment in schools is directed in an effective, impactful, and lasting way. By supporting this initiative, you are helping us create impact at scale, moving beyond traditional classroom boundaries to create a sustainable “New Era” of learning in Denver.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
It will take our entire community—from philanthropists to industry experts—to bring this revolutionary curriculum to life. Ready to play a role in this innovation? To learn more about how you can invest in the Iovine and Young Centers at DPS, please contact our team at campaigns@dpsfoundation.org.
