200006597_1784539955065933_4785285785054237275_n.jpg
199848561_1784539518399310_4983961031409664615_n.jpg
287242753_2054562104730382_977163130646472377_n.jpg
356237746_1209145449814205_406846790147618498_n.jpg
Logo of Queen City Scholars featuring a shield with letters D, S, C and symbols like a mortarboard and torch, surrounded by the text 'Queen City Scholars' and a crown below.

DCS expands to Charlotte, NC!

Queen City Scholars helps students succeed in their post-secondary journeys, no matter their background.

We call our students SCHOLARS because that is what we aspire all of us to become on this journey. Our Charlotte scholars are known as Queen City Scholars!

Watch the video below to learn more about what QCS does for our Charlotte participants.

OUR IMPACT

100%

graduate high school on time

94%

attend 4-year colleges with 95% persistence

80%

graduate from college in 4-5 years

QCS achieves this through our intentional summer programming, as well as one-on-one guidance, resources and support.

OUR MISSION

The mission of QCS is to prepare and support under-resourced students academically and socially to succeed in their post-secondary journeys

We provide an intentional residential lived experience that replicates the academic rigors and social complexity of being away from home for college.

Our vision is that through this experience, our scholars develop the hard and soft skills to not only find their right academic, social, and financial post- secondary fit, but to thrive on their next journey.

Five students walking and smiling on a college campus.
Two soccer players in white jerseys celebrating on a field.

WHAT WE DO

Animation of a light bulb turning on and off, with a glowing filament.

College Counseling

Icon of two stylized people, one brown and one green.

Mentorship

Illustration of a closed brown book with a green bookmark

College-style Coursework

Illustration of a classical building with columns

Residential Campus Experience

Graphic of two hands shaking, one in green and the other in brown, symbolizing agreement or partnership.

Cohort-style Peer Support

Many students lack the resources to apply to, become accepted by, and succeed in college. Each year, hundreds of students miss out on college due to a lack of guidance, resources and support.

READY FOR COLLEGE

We offer a tuition-free program to help students navigate the complex path to college and career success. You can’t become what you've never experienced, so through QCS, scholars gain the crucial lived experience of what it’s like to be away from home in a college environment.

Venn diagram with three overlapping circles labeled 'social,' 'academic,' and 'financial' with 'FIT' in the center overlap area.

SCHOLARS IMPACT

QCS is leading the way on helping scholars navigate college acceptance and graduation.

We focus on scholars learning about the right academic, social and financial fit.

$5M+

in financial aid offered to scholars since 2014.

Taco emoji with shell, beef, lettuce, tomato, and cheese

SUMMER 2026

Applications for next Summer will be open on December 1, 2025.

A diverse group of people posing outdoors in front of an amusement park entrance, with a clock tower and blue sky in the background. Many are wearing casual clothing, some in matching white t-shirts. They are smiling and appear to be part of a group outing or event.