Start Well, Persist Well

We partner with school districts to give students supports proven to drive success from middle school to college and beyond. Join our collaborative network of schools using tailored strategies to advance the educational and racial equity students deserve.

Join Our Network

Support Our Work

On-Track and Postsecondary Culture

Build a community-wide culture that prioritizes freshman success, on-track achievement, and college and career readiness.

Targeted Transition Supports

Develop postsecondary pathway supports for grade 9 students investing in key transitions, staff, and focused student subgroups.

Data-Driven Educator Collaboration

Facilitate student-centered team meetings, leveraging data tools, protocols, and educator expertise to holistically support all students.

Equitable Educator Practice

Provide educators with professional coaching and resources that equip their pursuits of more rigorous, engaging, and inclusive learning spaces.

Cross-School Learning

Join other network teams to exchange experiences, insights, and innovative ideas that advance our collective goals and impact.

Why It Matters

College enrollment plays a crucial role in helping students pursue their ambitions and become productive citizens and leaders. As early as 9th grade, however, is where that possibility is either accelerated or derailed. That’s why our work empowers young people to, through, and beyond high school by intentionally designing educational systems and structures that support equitable learning.

—

of students from low-income backgrounds complete high school within four years nationwide.

—

of 2021-2022 9th grade students of color in Connecticut were off track, making them more than two times less likely to graduate within four years.

—

of students from low-income backgrounds attain a college degree within six years after high school.

—

of seniors attending RISE Core Network schools did not have defined postsecondary plans prior to RISE interventions.

What Core Schools Receive

RISE Core schools get the guidance, community, and autonomy they need to prepare students for critical transitions to 9th grade, college, and career.

Woman talking to another while sitting down

Evidence-Based Practices

Implement proven practices without starting from scratch. Use what’s working to develop tailored, well-vetted strategies.

RISE Data Hub

Easily access, visualize, and apply real-time data to develop and launch impactful, student-specific interventions.

Continuous Improvement Community

Focus on what matters most for each student, refining and scaling ideas with support from peers, experts, and our network.

Having the support of the network, the tools that the network provides, and a very efficient way to use data to support those students is vital to the success of our students and where they see themselves once they leave.

Dr. Dawn Brooks

Principal, Middletown High School

We collaborate and share ideas, best practices, and new findings with each other and other partner schools in the RISE Network because we know that it takes all of us working together to empower young people to reach their potential.

Barbara Wood and Michael Rinaldi

The joy is being a part of this journey and actually seeing them reach goals that they set.

LaShante James

Assistant Principal, Brien McMahon High School

Our Impact:

More Connected, Equitable Schools

By working together, testing and refining strategies, and exchanging key insights, RISE Network schools are paving the way for innovative, scalable interventions.

Teacher sitting and listening with students at a table

Our Reach

Core schools serve as innovation labs, and their remarkable results make a compelling case for a combined focus on postsecondary access and 9th grade on track rates.

—

students

—

network schools

The RISE reach map highlighting 9 schools in Connecticut

Student Outcomes

Each school in our Core Network saw campus-specific improvements and outcomes that exceeded state averages.

—

greater increase in graduation rates (+12pp) than the state average (+3pp)

—

of graduating seniors in Core Network schools have identified postsecondary plans, a 19pp increase from 2021

—

point increase in percentage of students planning to pursue higher education year-over-year, from 70% to 86%

My On-Track Coach helps me with my grades, she builds me up and gets me back on track. She supports me through my hardest periods.

Michelle

Student, Grade 9, East Hartford H.S.

Chart of the increase in grade 9 On-Track achievement. 19 pp increase for all students, 29 pp for Black students, 22 pp for Latinx students, 22 pp for multilingual learners, 25 pp for special education students, 22 pp for male students

Participant Experience

RISE Network participants are energized – and their collective commitment reinforced – by the progress their interventions are making toward educational and racial equity in our schools.

I've collaborated with our dean of students so much more. I've collaborated with teachers outside of my subject area. I actually never did that prior to the Data Hub.

Abraham Kane

Math Teacher, Brien McMahob High School

—

1,000

educators engaged in continuous learning practices

—

of participating educators agree that the continuous improvement approach facilitated through the RISE network supports overall problem-solving at their school

—

of participating educators agree the work is making a difference for the students they serve

Case Study:

FAFSA Task Force

The RISE Core Network identified and scaled the FAFSA Task Force strategy as part of their participation in the Connecticut FAFSA Challenge, a state-wide effort reaching more than 10,000 students across 57 high schools and 35 districts.

Student talking to teacher in front of computer

Opportunity

FAFSA completion is associated with a 127% increase in immediate college enrollment. Low FAFSA completion rates left over $4B dollars on the table in 2023, unnecessarily taking college off the table for far too many.

Insight

Students need personalized attention and guidance to navigate the FAFSA application process. This level of support exceeds what any one person can give, requiring a district and school-wide commitment.

Focus

Platt High School created a dedicated FAFSA task force and used the RISE Data hub to track data student by student. The task force met bi-weekly to identify which students to contact and guide through a FAFSA application the following week.

Collective Commitment, Scaled Success

Platt High School’s outcomes catalyzed the adoption of the FAFSA Task Force strategy by the entire RISE Core Network and resulted in a RISE partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education to offer coaching for FAFSA Challenge grant recipients across the state. Thanks to their efforts to increase FAFSA applications, college is now possible for a radically higher number of students.

Chart showing the improvements in FAFSA completion rates from March 2022 to March 2023. 1.5 pp increase nationwide, 8.7 pp increase across Connecticut, 21.3 pp increase for RISE Core Network schools

—

percentage point improvement in FAFSA completion (from 43.5% in 2020 to 70.2% in 2023) at Platt High School

Through collaboration with the RISE Network, we have set FAFSA completion goals which we track closely throughout the year. The FAFSA task force has allowed for dedicated staff to work closely with the students who are struggling the most.

James Donewald

Assistant Principal, Maloney High School

I wondered how I would be able to pay for [college]. I received an email from Mrs. Crittenden in the summer about the Hartford Promise scholarship. From that moment, I was able to follow up with her to get everything done and "made her my best friend." Before this, I didn't know about a plan for FAFSA and she really helped me with the FAFSA process.

Nyshawn Robinson

Student, Hartford Public High School

As a Spanish speaker, I was able to ensure that my Spanish-speaking families have the same equitable access to a FAFSA coach. Being this accessible person has made all the difference for most of my students and families, but it has also been an extremely rewarding experience for me.

Angela Fragoso

English Language Teacher, Platt High School

Start Well, Persist Well

More Connected, Equitable Schools

FAFSA Task Force

Get Involved