A new kind of
College Prep
High school meets higher education.
The Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program is a transformative partnership between Wisconsin school districts and UW-Green Bay—redefining what’s possible for high school students. Through dual enrollment, personalized student success coaching and a rigorous academic pathway, students can earn both a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree—all by the end of their senior year. This trailblazing initiative is designed to break down barriers and empower students to achieve their postsecondary goals with confidence and momentum.
Intentional Support Leads to Success
Delivering Impactful Support
Students regularly connect with a dedicated Student Success Coach who provides academic advising, skill-building opportunities and vital social-emotional support—enabling them to thrive both in the classroom and beyond.
Empowering Students
Rising Phoenix empowers students to shape their future—connecting them with college majors, unlocking career pathways and guiding them toward their goals with clarity and confidence.
Access Mission
The Rising Phoenix Program is breaking barriers in Wisconsin—driven by a mission to expand access and close opportunity gaps by empowering underrepresented students with intensive college support and a clear path to higher education success.
Program Outcomes
The program's achievement to date reflects a commitment to academic rigor, student support and early access to higher education—setting students up for long-term success. This high-impact model proves that with the right support and structure, students can thrive academically and enter college with a significant head start.
Delivering Results
Rising Phoenix boasts an impressive 84% program completion rate, with students achieving an average 3.35 GPA with UW-Green Bay.
Accelerating Success
Students earn an average of 60 college credits, and 79% of Rising Phoenix graduates earn an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree while still in high school.
Shaping the Future
The program is shaping Wisconsin’s future—94% of Rising Phoenix graduates go on to pursue bachelor’s degrees within the state.
Partnerships
We partner long-term with schools to design programs uniquely tailored to their educational goals.
Partner Schools
- Algoma High School
- Bay Port High School
- Crandon High School
- Gibraltar High School
- Green Bay East High School*
- Green Bay Preble High School*
- Green Bay Southwest High School*
- Kewaunee High School
- Kiel High School
- Laona High School
- Luxemburg Casco High School
- Manitowoc Lincoln High School
- McKinley Academy
- Mishicot High School
- Niagara High School
- Options Virtual Charter School
- Oneida Nation High School
- Reedsville High School
- Shawano Community High School*
- Sheboygan Warriner High School*
- Shiocton High School
- Suring High School
- Sturgeon Bay High School
- Tigerton High School
- Two Rivers High School
- Wabeno High School
- West De Pere High School
- Wrightstown High School
* Students at these four schools may also be eligible for the GEAR UP Rising Phoenix Program.
GEAR UP Target Schools
UW-Green Bay is the higher education partner for the Wisconsin GEAR UP Grant. The collaboration allows for UW-Green Bay's Rising Phoenix opportunity to be made available for eligible students at GEAR UP target schools.
- Ashland High School
- Bayfield High School
- Green Bay East High School*
- Green Bay Preble High School*
- Green Bay Southwest High School*
- Milwaukee Barack Obama High School
- Milwaukee Bradley Technology High School
- Milwaukee Alexander Hamilton High School
- Milwaukee High School of the Arts
- Milwaukee Riverside University High School
- Milwaukee South Division High School
- Milwaukee Washington High School of IT
- Shawano Community High School*
- Sheboygan North High School
- Sheboygan South High School
- Sheboygan Warriner High School
- Wausau East High School
- Wausau West High School
Not affiliated with any of these partnerships?
Check out our personalized options.
Custom Pathways
We design customized and flexible pathways for schools and school districts that meet the educational and financial needs of their students. All tuition and books are paid by the school or district, a shared cost with the school or district and families, or an outside funding source that has been identified and secured. Learn how our courses may meet high school graduation requirements by consulting our course alignment guide.
Balancing Dreams
With Opportunity
For Steven Concepcion, achieving personal success has always been about finding the right equation—one that balances dreams with opportunity. He enrolled in the inaugural GEAR UP Rising Phoenix program in Fall 2021 to turbocharge his college journey.
Highest Recognition
The UW System Board of Regents honored UW-Green Bay’s Early College Programs with an Academic Staff Excellence Award, recognizing service to the university. The award is the highest recognition bestowed on members of UW-System’s academic staff. Early College Programs advocate thinking creatively and strategically about student engagement and support to ensure retention and success. Rising Phoenix is one of the categories of Early College Programs.
Access Nearby
With Rising Phoenix, students and schools have access to any of our four locations and online for relevant courses.
Request a Consultation
Visit with Aubrey Schramm, Executive Director, Early College Programs, to learn how you can create your own Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program.