Timeline

• 2015–16

  

  Launching Something New

  RISE began with a bold idea: that schools could accomplish more for students by working together across districts. With support from Dalio Education and incubated within New Visions for Public Schools, five high schools across four school districts in Connecticut joined forces to pilot the RISE Network. From day one, our focus was clear — help every student successfully transition to, through, and beyond high school.

• 2016–17

  

  Standing on Our Own

  After a promising pilot year, RISE became an independent nonprofit. We opened our New Haven office, built our founding team, and introduced the RISE by 5 strategies — a framework of promising practices piloted by partners that grounded the network in practices to help all students succeed.

• 2017–18

  

  Harnessing the Power of Data

  Educators needed tools to see students’ progress more clearly. RISE launched secure and user-friendly dashboards that gave teachers real-time insights to act on. For the first time, educators across districts could speak a shared language of data to drive improvement.

• 2018–19

  

  Establishing Proof of Impact

  Our early years showed what was possible: network schools posted double-digit gains in Grade 9 on-track achievement. These results confirmed that the RISE model worked — and set the stage for growth.

• 2019–20

  

  Growing and Deepening Our Mission

  RISE doubled the size of the Core Network to nine high schools and launched the RISE Funders Collaborative, building a community of champions committed to student success. We also broadened our
mission, creating a Postsecondary Success Team to support students’ college and career journeys.

• 2020–21

  

  Rising Together Through Crisis

  The onset of COVID-19 reshaped education overnight. Even in the
toughest moments, RISE partners leaned on one another, adapting quickly to support students through remote and hybrid learning. At the same time, RISE expanded its reach — launching new partnerships in Hartford and co-creating the Connecticut FAFSA Challenge. In 2021, the RISE Network was honored with the Carnegie Foundation’s Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement, recognizing our data-driven approach and national leadership in improvement science.

• 2021–22

  

  Expanding Student Success

  RISE deepened its dual focus on Grade 9 and postsecondary readiness. With support from the Gates Foundation, we hosted the first Grade 9 Symposium, connecting educators across districts to share strategies. Building on this momentum, we launched a new improvement community — the Freshman Focus Network (later renamed the Grade 9 Focus Network) — to extend support beyond the Core Network. RISE also released its first research reports, contributing to the broader field of student success.

• 2022–23

  

  Growing Cross-Network Learning

  The Grade 9 Focus Network began to grow beyond its pilot year, offering a new avenue for collaboration across schools. Meanwhile, RISE launched the Data Hub, a next-generation platform designed with educators to make student success data more actionable and user-friendly. Together, these advances signaled a new era of collaboration and tools to accelerate student achievement.

• 2023–24

  

  A Network of Networks

  By 2024, RISE was partnering with 55 schools across six states, serving nearly 30,000 students. The Grade 9 Focus Network expanded to 18 schools, illustrating the demand for cross-district collaboration. This period also marked the launch of a bold new vision: building
a “network of networks” — connecting newer partners with schools that have been engaged in this work for years, so educators at every stage can learn from one another and drive improvement at scale.

• 2024–25

  

  Evolving Our Design

  RISE introduced an updated programmatic design to strengthen impact
across schools. The Schools on the RISE framework created a unifying structure for how schools measure progress and sustain improvement, while new cross-network professional learning opportunities brought educators together more often to collaborate and innovate.

• 2025–26

  

  10 Years of RISE

  This year marks RISE’s 10th anniversary — a moment to celebrate educators, students, and partners who have fueled a decade of impact. Since 2015, the Core Network has achieved a 15-point gain in Grade 9 on-track achievement, and 100% of seniors in the Class of 2024 identified a postsecondary plan. From five pilot schools to a growing national movement, RISE is proof that when schools work together, students thrive.

• Beyond 2026

  

  The Next Decade of Impact

  Looking ahead, RISE is committed to expanding its network of networks, advancing equity through data-driven improvement, and ensuring every student has the support to graduate ready for
college, career, and life. The past 10 years proved what’s possible — the next 10 will be about scaling that possibility nationwide.