Individual Academic and Career Plans (ICAP)

An ICAP is a personalized plan through which students define their post-secondary and career goals. Denver Public Schools (DPS) ECE-12th grade students participate in counselor-led guidance curriculum in order to develop a plan to prepare them for high school, college, and workforce readiness. The ICAP provides a framework that allows students to see the relevance of school to their future college and career aspirations. Students’ ICAPs are always evolving as students recognize and build new connections between school and the world of work.

Students participate in developmentally appropriate activities to support:

Academic Success Now
  • knowledge of how to be a successful student
  • development of organization and study skills
  • confidence in dealing with peer pressure

College Readiness
  • understanding of what “post-secondary” is and why it is important
  • recognition of how to act now to become college ready

Career Planning
  • discernment of the difference between a job and a career
  • awareness of changing careers in a global society
  • appreciation of how interests and skills impact career options

Benefits for Everyone Involved

ICAP for Parents
The ICAP offers parents an opportunity to further support and guide their student’s academic endeavors, college plans, and career explorations. Parents and their students can discuss, school steps to take now for future success in college and career.

ICAP for Schools
The ICAP can increase graduation rates and improve student success. Academics become more relevant when students have a college and career plan. Schools are able to connect high school success to students’ future goals.

ICAP for Community
The ICAP will benefit the community by developing citizenship and increasing post-secondary completion. This will create a more educated workforce, thereby improving our businesses, neighborhoods, and communities.