About
The Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program (ChiS&E) offers a math-first, multi-year progression that can include algebra in kindergarten, engineering design in 4th grade, and real-world coding by middle school. Specific courses include 5th Grade Young Mathematicians (Geometry), 6th Grade Young Mathematicians (Algebra), 7th Grade Mathematics of the Physical World, 8th Grade Introduction to Computer Programming, 9th–10th Grade Sustainable Energy & Data Science, and 11th–12th Grade Electrical & Computer Engineering. The program also includes STEM career days and mock interviews, and students can start at any age and grow with ChiS&E.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Saturdays during the school year and weekdays during summer, with some sessions running 9:00am–12:30pm during the school year and 9:00am–3:00pm for four-week summer sessions
• Price: Enrollment at ChiS&E is free.
Spring sessions are listed as Saturdays from 9:00am–12:00pm CT on April 11, April 18, April 25, May 2, and May 9, with specific calendars for each grade-level course. The 5th Grade Young Mathematicians (Geometry) schedule includes April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9, May 23, May 30, and June 1, while the 6th Grade Young Mathematicians (Algebra) schedule includes April 11, April 18, April 25, and May 2. The 7th Grade Mathematics of the Physical World schedule includes April 11, April 25, May 2, and May 9, and the 8th Grade Introduction to Computer Programming meets Saturdays 9:00am–12:00pm CT on April 18, April 25, May 2, and May 9. The 9th–10th Grade Sustainable Energy & Data Science course meets on April 25, May 2, and May 9, and the 11th–12th Grade Electrical & Computer Engineering summer sessions run on weekdays for four weeks from 9:00am–3:00pm with weekly field trips.
Fall sessions begin October 11th and include four Saturdays from 9:00am–12:30pm for 4th and 5th graders and eight Saturdays from 9:00am–12:30pm for 6th graders. Additional fall sessions include four Saturdays from 9:00am–12:30pm at Kenwood Academy High School. Parents of early-grade students are required to join their children in class and complete the same assignments, and parents attend two orientation sessions to understand their multi-year commitment. The program uses a parent-as-coach model, with parent training designed to enhance science and technology awareness alongside their children.
Students receive instruction from highly trained teachers, with STEM college graduate students present to assist. Kenneth Hill, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Howard University and a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from Wayne State University, serves as President & CEO. The leadership team also includes Ajamu Baker (Engineering Consultant), Mayisha Ealey (Chemours), John Gavin (Attorney, Retired), Barbara Bennett (Parent), Crystal Gallegos (Parent), and Katherine Volt ((Retired) Chicago Public Schools).
Kenneth Hill founded the Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program, Inc. (ChiS&E) in 2008, after founding the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) in 1976. ChiS&E began serving students in first grade in 2009, added kindergarten the following spring, and has added a grade each year. The program reports a 100% college acceptance rate and notes that 80% of ChiS&E students choose STEM majors, and it maintains an alumni network that returns to mentor and support students, including through mentorship and career exposure such as STEM career days, university partnerships, and mock interviews. The program also offers family support for scholarship applications, personal statements, and college strategy, along with presentation and communication skills development.
The mission of the Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering Program (ChiS&E) is to activate students’ natural curiosity and wonder by engaging them early with the building blocks of math and science, teacher-parent mentoring, and active listening. Its extracurricular and experiential math-based program partners with world-class instructors, universities, and research laboratories, and students learn what it takes to become scientists and engineers. Program partners include the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, as well as school teachers and principals. ChiS&E works in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and currently focuses on the communities of North Lawndale, Little Village, Englewood, Bronzeville, and Woodlawn, and today serves parents and students in more than 50 Chicago Public Schools; its inaugural schools included John J. Pershing East Magnet, Eli Whitney Elementary, Dvorak Technology Academy, Sir Miles Davis Magnet Academy, Wells Preparatory Elementary Academy, Spencer Elementary Math & Science Academy, and Woodlawn Elementary Community School.
Testimonials include a parent who states that ChiS&E helped their daughter find her voice and her future, noting that she left with a full scholarship and a plan and is now studying Biology. Another alum reports that ChiS&E really helped in pre-med courses and that they are now a senior psychology major graduating from Spelman College. A separate statement describes ChiS&E as catching the imagination of young people to the potential of math and science as tools for building their dreams by developing their skills to act in the world as professionals, doctors, engineers, scientists, and computer scientists, and says that it gives them the power of choice.
Last updated July 29, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Saturdays during the school year and weekdays during summer, with some sessions running 9:00am–12:30pm during the school year and 9:00am–3:00pm for four-week summer sessions
• Price: Enrollment at ChiS&E is free.
Spring sessions are listed as Saturdays from 9:00am–12:00pm CT on April 11, April 18, April 25, May 2, and May 9, with specific calendars for each grade-level course. The 5th Grade Young Mathematicians (Geometry) schedule includes April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9, May 23, May 30, and June 1, while the 6th Grade Young Mathematicians (Algebra) schedule includes April 11, April 18, April 25, and May 2. The 7th Grade Mathematics of the Physical World schedule includes April 11, April 25, May 2, and May 9, and the 8th Grade Introduction to Computer Programming meets Saturdays 9:00am–12:00pm CT on April 18, April 25, May 2, and May 9. The 9th–10th Grade Sustainable Energy & Data Science course meets on April 25, May 2, and May 9, and the 11th–12th Grade Electrical & Computer Engineering summer sessions run on weekdays for four weeks from 9:00am–3:00pm with weekly field trips.
Fall sessions begin October 11th and include four Saturdays from 9:00am–12:30pm for 4th and 5th graders and eight Saturdays from 9:00am–12:30pm for 6th graders. Additional fall sessions include four Saturdays from 9:00am–12:30pm at Kenwood Academy High School. Parents of early-grade students are required to join their children in class and complete the same assignments, and parents attend two orientation sessions to understand their multi-year commitment. The program uses a parent-as-coach model, with parent training designed to enhance science and technology awareness alongside their children.
Students receive instruction from highly trained teachers, with STEM college graduate students present to assist. Kenneth Hill, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Howard University and a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from Wayne State University, serves as President & CEO. The leadership team also includes Ajamu Baker (Engineering Consultant), Mayisha Ealey (Chemours), John Gavin (Attorney, Retired), Barbara Bennett (Parent), Crystal Gallegos (Parent), and Katherine Volt ((Retired) Chicago Public Schools).
Kenneth Hill founded the Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program, Inc. (ChiS&E) in 2008, after founding the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) in 1976. ChiS&E began serving students in first grade in 2009, added kindergarten the following spring, and has added a grade each year. The program reports a 100% college acceptance rate and notes that 80% of ChiS&E students choose STEM majors, and it maintains an alumni network that returns to mentor and support students, including through mentorship and career exposure such as STEM career days, university partnerships, and mock interviews. The program also offers family support for scholarship applications, personal statements, and college strategy, along with presentation and communication skills development.
The mission of the Chicago Pre-College Science & Engineering Program (ChiS&E) is to activate students’ natural curiosity and wonder by engaging them early with the building blocks of math and science, teacher-parent mentoring, and active listening. Its extracurricular and experiential math-based program partners with world-class instructors, universities, and research laboratories, and students learn what it takes to become scientists and engineers. Program partners include the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, as well as school teachers and principals. ChiS&E works in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and currently focuses on the communities of North Lawndale, Little Village, Englewood, Bronzeville, and Woodlawn, and today serves parents and students in more than 50 Chicago Public Schools; its inaugural schools included John J. Pershing East Magnet, Eli Whitney Elementary, Dvorak Technology Academy, Sir Miles Davis Magnet Academy, Wells Preparatory Elementary Academy, Spencer Elementary Math & Science Academy, and Woodlawn Elementary Community School.
Testimonials include a parent who states that ChiS&E helped their daughter find her voice and her future, noting that she left with a full scholarship and a plan and is now studying Biology. Another alum reports that ChiS&E really helped in pre-med courses and that they are now a senior psychology major graduating from Spelman College. A separate statement describes ChiS&E as catching the imagination of young people to the potential of math and science as tools for building their dreams by developing their skills to act in the world as professionals, doctors, engineers, scientists, and computer scientists, and says that it gives them the power of choice.
Last updated July 29, 2026.
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