The Ingenuity Experience at Poly
The Ingenuity Project at Poly is an advanced STEM curriculum and leadership program. Accepted students participate in a 4-year cohort of math and science courses and socially responsible STEM research.
“Ingenuity provides a good foundation for the rigor of college. Besides classroom academics, Ingenuity pushes its students to branch out and try research at the nearby institutions. Doing cool things and being able to explain them in a compelling way prepared me for the real world.”
— Duane Dennis, Class of 2010
MIT graduate
Founder of a nutraceuticals company, Miramix
Alumni of the program are becoming the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math. 78% of alumni report majoring in a STEM field in college and over 30% of alumni report pursuing advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. or M.D.
Benefits of Ingenuity at Poly
- Rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) classes in math and science for college credit.
- Off-campus research opportunities with renowned universities and research institutions.
- Personalized student and family guidance for selecting colleges and identifying college financing.
- Outstanding master teachers who provide challenging, small-class instruction.
- High standards for student performance that foster academic leadership and collaboration.
- Interaction with a cohort of highly motivated peers.
- Connection to a network of successful alumni and professionals in STEM-related careers.
STEM Leadership Development
Leadership is a key part of the student experience. Ingenuity students are encouraged to practice leadership through participation in clubs, sports, and community service. Students are also supported to take the lead in creating new clubs and opportunities on campus based on shared interests or emerging needs. These opportunities allow students to grow as innovators, collaborators, and leaders at Poly and in our community.
STEM Leadership Groups
The following are a few current leadership groups developed with Ingenuity students:
- Brown Ignite Fellowship: A one-year program for 10th–12th graders that builds STEM leadership through financial literacy, mentorship, and real-world projects. Fellows work with Brown Advisory professionals and design workshops to teach financial literacy,
- SQUAD: Ingenuity’s mentoring and support group for students of color, offering study groups, peer connections, and safe spaces. SQUAD helps BIPOC students balance academics with wellbeing while building confidence and community.
- iWISE: iWISE (Ingenuity Women in STEM Engagement) is a supportive community where girls in STEM can connect, grow, and be inspired. The program fosters interest in STEM and links students with accomplished women leaders in the field.
- Ingenuity Student Board: The Student Board gives students a voice in shaping Ingenuity programs and policies. By collaborating with staff and gathering peer input, members advocate for student needs and lead new initiatives.
Ingenuity High School Course Sequence
At the high school level, Ingenuity’s course sequence ensures students are taking accelerated math and science courses that will prepare them for hands-on research and college-level classes. Students follow one of two math pathways – traditional or accelerated – while all students take the same science sequence.
Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Researchers
Junior Researchers Share Their Research to a Middle School Audience
Ever wonder what it’s like to be a real scientist or engineer? A group of junior research students (Class of 2026) did just that—and now they’re sharing their story! In fun blog posts, essays, and storyboards, these students talk about how they chose their research topics, tackled big questions, and made exciting discoveries. Whether they were studying the stars, building cool gadgets, or solving real-world problems, they all started with curiosity—just like you. Their journey shows that anyone can be a researcher, even in middle school. All it takes is a question, a little creativity, and the courage to explore!
Click the icons below to explore topics of interest!
Have Additional Questions?
Use the form linked below to submit any further questions or request an application form.
“Ingenuity definitely built my academic work ethic that made my academic accomplishments possible. The research opportunity also allowed me to discover my passion for learning new things and solving new problems.”
— Teno Boone, Class of 2009
Johns Hopkins University (2013)
Research and Development Engineer at Proctor & Gamble
Student Outcomes
In November 2014, the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) published a Preliminary Examination of Ingenuity Student Outcomes from the classes of 2008 and 2013. The study sought to determine whether Ingenuity middle school graduates who did not continue in Ingenuity at Poly nonetheless experienced continuing academic benefits from their prior Ingenuity experience. BERC compared Ingenuity students to a suitable comparison group.
BERC reached the following conclusions:
Ingenuity middle school graduates earned, on average, 3.5 credits in math, as compared to 2.5 among comparison students. For advanced science credits, Ingenuity students earned 3.9, as compared to 2.7 among their peers.
Ingenuity students earned significantly more Advanced Placement credits in high school (9.3 versus 5.8).
Ingenuity students achieved significantly higher weighted GPAs at the end of high school than comparable students, with an average GPA of 3.0, compared to 2.5 in the comparison group.
Ingenuity students attained significantly higher scores on the PSAT and SAT tests across all subject areas.
Ingenuity Student Pledge
The philosophy of the Ingenuity Project is to nurture, develop and encourage the Ingenuity participant. In keeping with this philosophy, students agree to the following pledge when joining the program.
INGENUITY STUDENT PLEDGE:
- I PLEDGE to participate in Ingenuity orientations, enrichment opportunities and experiences to support my development and growth as a STEM leader.
- I PLEDGE to practice these Core Values to help me make good decisions in school and grow as a student and future STEM leader.
- PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE – I will strive for excellence, not perfectionism. There are many ways to achieve excellence and it will require integrity, self-reflection, and resilience. This begins with completing my school assignments and preparing for assessments to the best of my ability.
- SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY – I will seek to use Math, Science, Technology, and Engineering responsibly and ethically to benefit society, our environment, and the greater good.
- CURIOSITY – I will pose meaningful questions to complex problems. I will seek out and value multiple perspectives, participate in dialogue in my classes, and embrace new opportunities.
- INNOVATION – I will take risks and learn from my failures. I will explore new possibilities and look for ways to create positive change around me. This begins with practicing a growth mindset and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, strengthen my skills, and grow as a student.
- COLLABORATION – I will collaborate across diverse groups by listening, exchanging ideas, sharing power, and helping others develop their skills. This includes asking others for help and advocating for what I need in school.
- INCLUSIVITY – I will create meaningful relationships with people from different cultures and backgrounds. I will affirm and honor others’ interests and perspectives, and I will make authentic efforts to get to know and appreciate all of my classmates regardless of our different life experiences.