Rising Phoenix Rural High Schools

A New Kind of
College Prep

High school is the time to start college.

The Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program is an innovative collaboration between UW-Green Bay and select rural high schools within the university's 16-county footprint to provide promising high school students an opportunity to get a head start on college by earning their high school diploma and a two-year Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree.

Participating School Districts

The school districts participating in this program include:

Bonduel
Bowler
Crandon
Florence
Gibraltar
Niagara
Northland Pines
Reedsville
Shiocton
Suring
Tigerton
Wausaukee

Opportunity

A group of promising sophomore students will be admitted and will enroll during their junior and senior years. Students will become dually enrolled in college credit courses at their high school and UW-Green Bay campus locations of Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette and Sheboygan.

Positive Effects

Research shows that students who enroll in early college or dual credit have improved postsecondary persistence and a higher rate of degree or credential completion.

College-Ready Matters

The skills and knowledge students need to be admitted to college are the same ones they need to succeed at a job. Being college-ready means students are ready to do well in a four-year university, a two-year college, an apprenticeship or a job.

Information
Sessions

Join us for a Zoom session.

Parents and students are invited to learn more about how the program works, discuss the support available and share the benefits to ensure that it is a fit.

Tuesday, February 28, 6 p.m.

Recording

Thursday, March 2, 7 p.m.

Recording

Student Benefits

Student Success Coach

Students will work individually and consistently with a Student Success Coach and school counselor. They will provide academic and social-emotional support and advise on course selection, major/career exploration, and transition planning upon graduation.

No Cost

There will be no cost to students or families.

Flexible Classes

Flexible class schedules will be developed in order to fit individual student needs. Students will primarily be enrolled online through the UW-Green Bay, Green Bay Campus. Students will still be able to take elective classes and participate in extra-curricular activities at the high school.

Learn Together

Students will learn together as a cohort, supporting each other and sharing resources.

Accessible

UW-Green Bay’s Disability Services Office will help students with a documented disability (IEP, 504), with academic accommodations.

About the AAS Degree

An Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree requires students to complete 60 college credits that include general education courses and an area of emphasis. With an AAS degree, you have essentially completed the first two years of a bachelor’s degree! You can either continue with UW-Green Bay or transfer to another 4-year college or university where your general education requirements will likely be completed. Students are also able to jump right into the workforce with an AAS degree.

Application Steps

Below are the steps students take towards admission and enrollment into the Rising Phoenix Program.

Admissions process begins Winter 2023 and rolls out with a cohort of rural high school juniors in Fall 2023 through their projected graduation in Spring 2025. Students apply as sophomores and are enrolled in the program as juniors and seniors.

Priority Application Deadline: March 15, 2023

Admissions criteria may include:

3.0 GPA average or above will be encouraged, although not required
First generation college student
Racial or ethnic minority student
Free or reduced lunch eligibility
Demonstration of academic excellence or college readiness
School attendance
Recommendations by high school teachers and school counselors
Expression of interest in an early college opportunity

1. Student Application

Complete online application. Short answer responses and student and parent/guardian expectations and FERPA forms are required. We recommend preparing your responses to the essay questions prior to starting the online form. Questions include:

Why are you interested in participating in the Rising Phoenix Early College High School Program?
Describe a time when you overcame a serious challenge. Explain the details of the situation and how you handled things and worked through things.
As a Rising Phoenix student, you will take college-level coursework at your high school, online, and/or on one of the UW-Green Bay campuses in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette, or Sheboygan. How will you utilize social and academic resources and support during your journey? Please be specific.

See example responses if you need some help with where to start.

Complete Online Application

2. Teacher Recommendations

Teachers submit recommendations online. Two recommendations are required, one in a core subject area (English/language arts, math, social studies, science).

3. Student Transcripts & Attendance Record

Email high school transcript and attendance record to risingphoenix@uwgb.edu. School counselor or district staff member provides documents to review committee.

4. Admissions

Students are notified of admissions decisions by early April 2023.

Example Student Schedule

A student's schedule may include a manageable blend of classes at the high school, on a UW-Green Bay campus location or online.

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM Time Block	Worktime for Online UW-Green Bay Courses WF 100: First Year Writing \| NUT SCI 242: Food & Nutritional Health \| ANTHRO 100: Varieties of World Culture
2nd Hour 9:15-10:15 a.m.	Algebra 2	Algebra 2	Algebra 2	Algebra 2	Algebra 2
3rd Hour 10:30-11:30 a.m.	Band	Band	Band	Band	Band
PM Time Block	Worktime for Online UW-Green Bay Courses WF 100: First Year Writing \| NUT SCI 242: Food & Nutritional Health \| ANTHRO 100: Varieties of World Culture

Charting His Own Course

"The Rising Phoenix Program was super new, and I wanted to get first-hand college experience, try it out and see how it goes. At Manitowoc, you're a lot closer to your professor. The classes are smaller, and you go more in-depth. It's a lot more focused and personal. I was considering AP courses, but this was much better."

Mason Thao
Manitowoc Lincoln High School

Read Mason's Story