At Washington High School of Information Technology, we strive to prepare our students for success in college, career, and life.
Supporting students’ academic performance, job readiness, college preparedness, as well as their overall well-being, are the focus of evidence-based programs and opportunities available to Washington students.
College and Career Center
The College and Career Center at Washington is open two days per week, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The center provides expert support to students and families applying for college, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), researching internships and apprenticeships, and more. You may reach the center at (414) 875-6185.
College Access Programs
PEOPLE
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) started in 1999 with sixty-six high school students from Milwaukee. The PEOPLE program serves students in grades 9 through 12 in seventeen MPS high schools.
UW-Green Bay Rising Phoenix
Rising Phoenix is a program for students at participating GEAR UP high schools. Students can earn their high school diploma and a two-year Associate of Arts and Sciences degree upon high school graduation by taking dual enrollment online courses through UW-Green Bay at no cost. Students must meet GEAR UP and Rising Phoenix program eligibility requirements to enroll.
UWM TRIO & Pre-College
Federally funded TRIO & Pre-College programming promotes academic excellence in high school and college access for first-generation, low-income, and other underrepresented students. The TRIO & Pre-College experience at UWM includes tutoring in core subjects like math and science, college tours, and structured academic support to eligible MPS students who aspire to thrive in college or university after earning their MPS high school diploma.
Wisconsin GEAR UP
The Wisconsin GEAR UP program supports students in grades 6 through 12 with the goal of high school graduation and preparing for and succeeding in postsecondary education. The Wisconsin GEAR UP program is in a number of schools across MPS.
Career Preparation
BGC Career Development
Young people set goals, develop workforce-ready skills, and explore a variety of industries and work environments through Boys & Girls Clubs Career Development programming, available through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center at Washington. Activities include worksite tours, guest speakers, hands-on experiences, and lessons on financial planning and career planning. Together, these BGC Career Development programs teach skills and provide training to help scholars launch a successful job search.
BGC Grad Plus
Through Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee’s Graduation Plus (Grad Plus) programming, Washington scholars receive mentorship and support as they work toward high school graduation and post-secondary education goals. Available through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center at Washington, BGC Grad Plus uses a relationship-centered case management approach to provide impactful, individualized support to every scholar.
Violence Free Zone (VFZ)
VFZ Youth Advisors build relationships with students. These Youth Advisors are mature young adults who are from the same neighborhoods as the students in our school. These Youth Advisors can gain the trust and respect of the students they work with because they overcame some of the same challenges our students experience today. VFZ Youth Advisors serve as mentors, conflict resolvers, and positive role models inside and outside of school.
Alternative Education
Students who are at risk of graduating late or who fall behind on credits may access individualized teaching support, an alternative schedule, accelerated courses, and other accommodations in programs designed to get them get back on track to graduation.
To learn more, contact our school’s counseling department or the district’s Office of Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO).