Rising Phoenix Manitowoc Public School District
A New Kind of
College Prep
High school meets higher education.
The Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program is a transformative partnership between Manitowoc Public School District 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.
Receive Support
Your Success Coach and school counselor provide support for academics, well-being, planning and post-graduation goals.
Learning & Life
Flexible schedules are tailored to each student, supporting extracurriculars while taking courses.
Grow together
Students grow together, academically and personally, through shared classes and a UWGB First Year Seminar.
Explore What's Possible
If you are interested in learning more about the program to determine if it's a fit, we offer a number of ways to get a preview.
In-Person Information Sessions
When the application window opens, students, parents, guardians and school staff will be invited to attend in-person information sessions.
| Location | Room | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc Lincoln High School | TBA | Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM |
| UWGB Manitowoc Campus | TBA | Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 6 PM - 7 PM |
Recorded Information Session
Students, parents, guardians and school staff also have the option of watching the recorded session below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We share the answers to the most common questions on our FAQs page. If you need to share this information in Spanish or Hmong, please email our Student Success Coaches Nalani Reyes or Hleeda Vang.
Who is Eligible
Apply as a sophomore. Enroll junior and senior year. UW-Green Bay uses a holistic admissions process, looking for students who show maturity, academic readiness and a drive to succeed. Rising Phoenix is designed to support students traditionally underrepresented in college. The school district will fund a group of students who meet eligibility criteria. All other admissible students will be offered an opportunity to participate at a discounted tuition rate.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Currently enrolled in 10th Grade at Manitowoc Lincoln High School
- 3.0 cumulative GPA or above encouraged, however, a 2.75-2.99 GPA will also be considered. Ensure essay and teacher/counselor recommendations address GPA.
- Demonstration of college readiness evidenced through student essay, transcript, strong school attendance and two (2) recommendations
How to Apply
The Class of 2028 Application is CLOSED.
Priority Application Deadline was Monday, March 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM
There are two steps required by students for each Rising Phoenix application. These can be accomplished in any order. Once either of these steps is completed, we will start an application file for you and will be in touch with updates.
Complete Student Application with Essay
Your online application will require an essay, along with signatures from both the student and a parent or guardian. To prepare for the essay, we provide a list of essay questions.
The priority Application Deadline was on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Students were notified of their admission decisions in mid-April.
Request Two Teacher Recommendations
At least one of the recommendations need to be from a core subject area teacher, such as English, math, science or social studies. Please share the recommendation link below with the teachers that you have asked to serve as a reference for you. Their completed responses will be sent directly to our review team.
Transcript & Attendance Records
No student action needed. Our team will request these records directly from your school after we have received your signed application.
Cost Pathways
Two cost pathways are available for the Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree, which requires 60 credits. Each applicant’s cost pathway is determined through the admission review process and communicated at the time of admission. Students may then choose whether to accept the pathway offered.
No Cost Pathway
The school district will fund a group of students who demonstrate academic readiness and are traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
Self-Pay Pathway
Students may also be offered an opportunity to participate in the program at a discounted tuition rate for credits beyond the 18 Early College Credit Program (ECCP) already covered by the district. This option is referred to as the Rising Phoenix Self-Pay Pathway. For additional details, including current tuition rates, check out the page at the link below.
Have Questions?
Contact UW-Green Bay Student Success Coach, Becky Lahti, at (920) 366-3954 or lahtir@uwgb.edu