CR21 Milwaukee

College Readiness 21 (CR21) is a transformational program that addresses the needs of Milwaukee’s under-served youth. CR21 provides the resources, guidance, and opportunities that low-income, first generation, and minority students need to graduate from high school and gain access to higher education. By preparing students for college, CR21 empowers them to break down the barriers that stand between them and their dreams. 

The driving force behind CR21 is the strong belief that college is within reach of every motivated student, regardless of socioeconomic status or other factors. The following are the strategic goals of CR21:
 
Short-Term: Provide Milwaukee’s disadvantaged students with services that increase high school retention and graduation rates.
 
Intermediate: Ensure that Milwaukee’s under-served students enroll in and graduate from college. 
 
Long-Term: Cultivate talented, civically engaged professionals and leaders who contribute to the economic and societal well-being of the region.
 
Students begin CR21 programming the summer before their freshman year and remain in the program until high school graduation. By engaging students early on, CR21 ensures that they will be well prepared to succeed in and graduate from high school, move on to college, and, most importantly, complete college.  
 
CR21 students set clear goals to finish the program, graduate from high school, and enter college. The support services offered by CR21 ensure that students will:
  • Value learning and develop positive attitudes about academic achievement.
  • View higher education as a viable, achievable option.
  • Improve academic skills—particularly in core areas such as math, science, reading, and writing—through focused instruction, tutoring, and mentoring.
  • Explore a variety of college options.
  • Gain a strong connection and familiarity with college campuses.
  • Understand the connection between college majors and career paths.
  • Familiarize themselves with college admissions policies and procedures.
  • Understand the financial aid application process and optimize scholarship opportunities.
  • Prepare for standardized testing.
  • Develop important life skills to address challenges they will face outside of the classroom.
  • Acquire and cultivate attributes to become socially responsible citizens who contribute positively to the communities in which they live.
  • Develop leadership skills that will enhance their communities and professions.
  • Become lifetime learners and role models for their families and friends.

CR21 recruits students while in the eighth grade from our vast network of partnering schools and youth serving organizations. While CR21 serves students from many diverse backgrounds, its main focus is on low-income, first generation, and minority students.

  • At the close of College Readiness 21 Milwaukee’s seventh program year, the program comprised 205 students:
    • 24% of the students in the program were freshmen, 24% were sophomores, 28% were juniors, and 24% were seniors;
    • 90% were first generation college prospects;
    • 76% were low-income;
    • 72% were both low-income and first generation, 5% were neither first generation nor low-income;
    • 58% were female and 42% were male;
    • 47% attended Milwaukee Public Schools, 37% attended private schools, 9% attended charter schools, and the remaining 7% attended public schools outside the Milwaukee Public Schools district;
    • Enrolled students were 72% African American, 25% Latino/Latina, 1% Asian, and <2% of other races or ethnicities.

WFIC College Readiness21:   Helping Students Achieve Success

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