The Ingenuity Project

PROJECT MISSION

The mission of the Ingenuity Project® is to prepare highly capable and motivated Baltimore students to achieve at nationally competitive levels in mathematics, science, research and related fields with the expectation that Ingenuity students will graduate from high school, attend college, and ultimately be prepared to become leaders in their chosen professions.

REACHING TOWARD THOSE GOALS: RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

The Ingenuity Project® is proud to announce that Ingenuity seniors Ryan Harrison, Abe Davis and Emma Call won 5th, 7th and 10th place nationally in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, which has been called the “the junior Nobel Prize” because past alumni have won six Nobel Prizes and have been recognized in more that 100 of the most coveted mathematics and science honors in the world. In 2005, Ryan placed 5th overall nationally and was the first student from a Baltimore city public school to achieve such distinction since 1958. In 2006, Abe placed 7th nationwide, and in 2007, Emma became Baltimore's first woman to win the prestigious prize.

Click on image to enlarge

Ryan Harrison

Emma Call

Abe Davis

DISCIPLINARY FOCUS

The Ingenuity Project® uses advanced curriculum in mathematics and science developed by master teachers. The specific objectives are:

Conduct classes in enhanced mathematics and science education in conjunction with basic skill building;
Incorporate applied learning activities, science research, and extensive use of technology;
Design classrooms capable of supporting student research and participation in national competitions;
Develop comprehensive after school and summer enrichment programs for Ingenuity students;
Provide a learning environment capable of responding to the heterogeneous strengths of each class and individual; and
Develop partnerships with mentors at universities, medical institutions and biotechnology research centers to provide students access to professional internships.

PROJECT DEFINITION

General Information

The Ingenuity Project® began the middle school program in 1994, the high school component in 1997 and the elementary program in 2001. Ingenuity is a non-profit organization 501(c)3 funded by the Abell Foundation and the Baltimore City Public School System. The administrative offices are located at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and serve over 450 children in grades 1 through 12.

Interested students must apply during the Fall preceding the school year they wish to attend. Applicants generally enter the program for the first, sixth and ninth grades. Students who continue to meet Ingenuity's high standards continue through eighth grade and may reapply for the high school program. Enrollment is citywide, serving a diverse population. Approximately two-thirds of the students selected come from outside the school zone of each of the Ingenuity schools. To the extent that openings occur in the program, students wishing to enter the Ingenuity Project® for grades other than first, sixth and ninth must demonstrate competencies in science, mathematics, and reading.

For further information on the origins of the project, read "PROFILES IN INGENUITY," The Baltimore Sun, May 31, 2001

Teachers

Ingenuity students are instructed by teams of mathematics, science, and computer science teachers who are recruited from Baltimore City, surrounding counties and other parts of the country. These teachers are responsible for providing a mathematics and science program that will encourage students to strive for and achieve academic excellence.

PROJECT STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Director:
Associate Director:
Dean of Students:
Research Coordinator:
Mathematics Dept. Head:
Mathematics Teacher:
Mathematics Teacher: Mathematics Teacher:
Admissions Coordinator:
Administrative Assistant:
Founding Director:

Dolores Costello
Sergei Zverev, Ph.D.
Gale Fletcher, M.S.
David Nelson, M.S.
Mikhail Goldenberg, Ph.D.
Mark Kaplan, Ph.D.
Catherine VanNetta, Ph.D.
Chris Guinoo
Shani Lee Ortiz, M.A.
Dolores Morales
Karol Costa

If you want to make a contribution to the Nancy Forgione Fund, please mail your check to: The Ingenuity Project, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21209. Make the check payable to The Ingenuity Project. Enclose a note or write "in memory of Nancy Forgione" on the check. Nancy Forgione's two sons, Albert Michael Hill Jr., a senior at Wesleyan University, and Owen Forgione Hill, a freshman at Brown University, are Ingenuity graduates.

APPLICATIONS:

Applications for the 2009-20010 school year will be available in MS Word format on November 5, 2008. Click HERE to download the application form.

Ingenuity accomplishment: What Does It Take To Ace The SAT? by Claudio Sanchez. NPR Morning Edition , August 26, 2008 · More than a million students take the SAT every year, but fewer than 1 percent score a perfect 2400 on the college entrance exam. So what goes into acing the SAT? One public school has had a remarkable rate of SAT perfection.

Hear from our Ingenuity Project students at Roland Park Middle School (broadband | 56k) and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. (broadband | 56k). Also view an ABC 2 News excerpt (wmv | realplayer) on the Ingenuity Project.

Click here to view a WJZ 13 special on 2007 Intel finalist Emma Call aired on February 5, 2007.

Kid Genius: Ben Walker - a story about the Ingenuity at Roland Park Middle School student studying Algebra and Geometry with Dr. Goldenberg at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute; March 22, 2007, Fox 5 News, Washington, DC.

"A Little "Ingenuity" Leads Baltimore City Students to Success in Math and Science" by Christopher J. Doherty, Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education. The article is a Lead Feature in US Department of Education's "The Education Innovator," February 9, 2006, Vol. IV, No. 4.

Send e-mail to The Ingenuity Project® with your comments, suggestions or questions.

Click here for map and directions

The Ingenuity Project
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
1400 W. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21209
Phone: 410-662-8665
Fax: 410-662-8674