Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ page has been created in response to the questions that we have received in past years about the DP Engineering Academy, and its admissions and application process.

General DPEA FAQ

I am not sure that I want to be in the Engineering Academy. How should I decide?

Informative DPEA presentations are made in May at Goleta Valley Junior High, and potentially other schools as well. Attending a DPEA presentation at your school or shadowing the DPEA will help you learn more about the program. Also, use this website as a resource; review the four-year plans and courses to determine if they sound of interest to you.

The Engineering Academy was not created in order to "groom" future engineers. It is a program for students who enjoy challenges and would like a unique opportunity to experience a more practical approach to studying science.

Please use the shadow the DPEA email form to contact us to make your request and state that you are interested in shadowing a student in the Engineering Academy.

Space is currently limited to 32 students per grade level due to staffing and facilities constraints. It is strongly recommended that you shadow the DPEA. To learn more about the admission process and to obtain an application, please click here.

Space in the Engineering Academy is limited. Therefore, all qualified students may not be able to participate. It is expected, as with any such program, that there will be some level of attrition. If space becomes available, a school-wide notification will be made, and eligible students will be invited to apply.

This is a four-year program and is designed as such. The courses are sequential and cumulative, thus each course builds on the material presented in prior courses. It is required that students who enroll in the Engineering Academy do so with the intent of participating throughout all four years of high school. Non-DPEA students may enroll in AP Physics and AP Computer Science when space is available.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to simultaneously meet the requirements of both of these programs given the demanding natures of their respective workloads. It is, however, possible to take individual IB courses as a student in the Engineering Academy as long as you ensure that you are fulfilling college admission and graduation requirements.

Robotics is the capstone course of the DPEA. Only Engineering Academy seniors may enroll in the robotics course and be on the robotics team.

No, the DPEA is a program within the public Dos Pueblos High School, and there is no tuition to enroll in the program, including robotics.

Every year, we receive hundreds of e-mails regarding the program, many of which ask questions that are answered on this FAQ page and website. Prior to contacting us, please read the information available on the website. If your questions remain unanswered, you can contact us here.

Application FAQ

Where can I find the application?

The downloadable application forms are found here. Printed copies will also be available.

Please limit your responses to the space offered on the application form, and do not attach additional pages. Practice being concise, and focusing on the main points you want to make.

If you are not currently in the Santa Barbara School District, and do not have a student ID number, leave this field blank.

The application due dates vary every year. Once they are determinedfor this year, the dates for your school will be available on the Application Process page.

The application must be submitted in paper form, printed single-sided on two pieces of paper. Please do not staple your application to anything. Submit it in a 9" x 12" envelope with your name on it to the location listed for your school.

No, we provide a fillable PDF form , so that students may type their responses. While we suggest that students do type, rather than handwrite, the application, this is not required. You may print out the blank application, and fill it out by hand. Either way, you must give us a paper copy of your application; you cannot email it to us, or submit it online.

Admissions FAQ

This FAQ page has been created in response to the questions that we have received in past years about the admissions process.

How can I guarantee a spot for my student in the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy?

Student applicants to the DPEA are accepted solely on their own merit.

The application instructions can be found here. The basic process is to complete and submit an application. Qualified students (those who completed GATE Algebra by the eighth grade) will then be contacted for an interview.

What if I missed the DPEA presentation at my school?

The DPEA presentation is for informational purposes only, and attending is not required in order to apply.

The DPEA did not visit my school to give a presentation; can I still apply?

All students in the Santa Barbara area are invited to apply to the DPEA.

What is the required GPA to apply to the DPEA?

GPA is a factor considered in admission to the DPEA, however there is no minimum required GPA to apply to the DPEA. All DPEA students are expected to exhibit a high level of academic commitment.

What are the prerequisites for applying the DPEA?

Students must be enrolled in GATE Algebra or a more advanced math course in their eighth-grade year, and plan to complete calculus by their senior year of high school.

How do I get onto the robotics team? Is there another application?

All twelfth-graders in the DPEA participate on the robotics team; there is no additional application. Students must remain in good standing throughout their years in the DPEA.

Will I get an interview? When will I know?

In order to be qualified for the admission to the DPEA, a student must take GATE Algebra in the eighth grade. Every qualified student who applies to the DPEA will be interviewed. You will be contacted in order to schedule a time and date.

When will I know if I have been accepted to the DPEA?

Notification times will vary. We work with multiple feeder schools, and need to work with each to receive student transcripts. We hope to notify all students by August 1, and are working towards accelerating this process.