More MPS grads going to MATC, UWM

Data show clear impact of M-Cubed partnership’s pathways from K–12 to higher education

MILWAUKEE – More than 1,000 Milwaukee Public Schools 2025 graduates are attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College, according to new data from the M-Cubed partnership that brings Milwaukee’s three largest public education institutions together. 

M-Cubed builds bridges that help MPS students prepare for, apply, and attend the college of their choice, whether in Milwaukee or across the country. M-Cubed Advisory Board Member Jackie Herd-Barber noted the work being done. “For years, we’ve talked about removing barriers for young people. M-Cubed is actually doing it,” she said. “More students stepping onto college campuses means more opportunity, and that momentum matters for our entire community.”

Under the M-Cubed partnership, MPS, MATC, and UWM collective efforts include:

  • Academic and career planning for every MPS student, which includes college exploration; 
  • M-Cubed Milwaukee Parent Institute to help MPS families leverage high school to better navigate college preparation; 
  • Tours of MATC and UWM for thousands of MPS students each year;
  • Work-based learning, including apprenticeships and internships, at all three institutions so students can envision themselves in a career and understand the education and training to get there;
  • Dual enrollment allowing MPS students to earn UWM and MATC college credits while still in high school, including through M-Cubed College Connections;
  • M-Cubed Smart Start, a bridge program that helps MPS seniors register for classes, prepare for college, and start at MATC and UWM as part of a supportive group; and
  • Direct Admit options that allow students to apply to more than a dozen Wisconsin schools through a streamlined application that takes less than 10 minutes. 

Greg Wesley of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and an M-Cubed Advisory Board Member observed, “The M-Cubed collaboration unlocks long-term community impact that can’t be attained in silos. We are witnessing this in real time as increasing numbers of Milwaukee students follow the pathways to higher education that M-Cubed has forged. Young people—many for the first time—can see themselves attending and thriving in college.”

The data illustrate the strength of this trend for enrollments in Fall 2025.

  • 551 MPS Class of 2025 graduates attended MATC, a 32% increase compared to 419 students in 2023.
  • 478 MPS Class of 2025 graduates enrolled and started at UWM, a 61% increase compared to 297 students in 2023.

M-Cubed Advisory Board Member Cristy Garcia-Thomas of the Greater Milwaukee Committee noted the impact on the entire Milwaukee community. “Seeing more MPS graduates choosing MATC and UWM for higher education is exciting, and shows promise for our community and future workforce,” she said. “M-Cubed is creating stronger pathways to opportunity by aligning systems, removing barriers, and investing in student success. This remarkable growth is an extraordinary accomplishment for everyone involved.”

Now in its 11th year, the commitment of the M-Cubed partners is stronger than ever, especially in light of the building momentum that is helping Milwaukee students succeed.