Impact Report 2021-22: Successfully Transitioning

Students in caps and gowns listen to a graduation ceremony speech.
More than 80 of the 152 MPS students who completed the College Connections program in 2021-22 attended a completion ceremony at MATC on June 15, 2022. (MATC Photo/Timothy Evans)

M3 is expanding its reach to assist more MPS students in making a successful transition from high school to the next step in their academic careers. We are proud to share some highlights from the 2021–22 school year.

 College Connections Program

  • The College Connections program celebrated the accomplishments of 152 MPS students who completed the dual enrollment program with the first in-person ceremony since 2019! It was the largest class yet in the four years that College Connections has been offered.
  • The number of participants increased from 94 in 2021 to 152 in 2022, a 60 percent increase.
  • More schools are involved: This year’s class came from 19 different MPS schools. The first class of 32 students came from nine schools.
  • Since 2019, more than 400 participants have earned more than 5,000 college credits while still in high school – a cost savings of about $1.5 million.

 Smart Start

  • This new support program was launched in 2022 to help MPS high school seniors make smooth transitions to MATC or UWM. Plans called for a pilot group to support more than 60 students, with a goal of eventually growing the program to 500 students.
  • Smart Start programming begins prior to high school graduation through advising and other services, bridges through the summer to get students acclimated to college life, and extends into the first year on the MATC or UWM campuses.
  • This program is possible through generous financial support from Herb Kohl Philanthropies, Kohler Co., and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County through the UW Credit Union Racial Equity Fund.