The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence, known as PEOPLE, is moving staff and opening space at Rufus King Middle School in Milwaukee. The grand opening, which is rescheduled due to weather conditions, will be February 27th to introduce the PEOPLE Milwaukee staff to the community and help eighth graders learn how to apply to the college prep program.
The PEOPLE program started 20 years ago with 66 high school students from Milwaukee. It now has graduated 526 students of which 253 are from Milwaukee Public Schools. The PEOPLE journey prepares first-generation and low-income students to be viable college candidates, apply for admission and enroll at UW System institutions, with an emphasis on UW–Madison.
The UW–Madison PEOPLE program has two separate units — one for precollege high school students and one for college scholars. Upon enrollment in the precollege program, each student is assigned a Precollege Advisor to help support all areas of the college application process. Students who are accepted at UW–Madison may be eligible for a four-year tuition scholarship and support services from the PEOPLE College Scholars Program.
Families (and eighth-graders) interested in learning more can come meet Bucky Badger and take part in a grand opening celebration at the PEOPLE Milwaukee office in Rufus King International Middle School at 121 E. Hadley St. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. with a program be held at 5:00 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting and tailgate.
The 2019 PEOPLE application will be open Feb. 1 to March 11, 2019. Students and their families can apply online at peopleprogram.wisc.edu/apply. Students must meet minimum proficiency standards in all subjects and must enroll in one of the partner high schools for the 2019-2020 school year.
PEOPLE partner high schools in Milwaukee Public Schools:
- Hamilton
- Audubon
- Bay View
- Bradley Tech
- Golda Meir
- Vincent
- Madison
- Marshall
- MacDowell
- Pulaski
- Milwaukee High School of the Arts
- Milwaukee School of Languages
- Riverside
- Reagan
- King
- South Division
- Washington
CONTACT: Mary Carr Lee, mary.carrlee@wisc.edu