Many Chicago high school students aspire to attend college to move up the economic ladder. However, barriers to higher education such as cost often prevent students from underrepresented communities from attending.  Further, the transition period between high school and college is often disconnected and does not provide guidance and resources to first-generation students or students from lower-income households.  

Established in 2020, Chi-Rise is a postsecondary success initiative under Crown Family Philanthropies to improve postsecondary access, persistence, and attainment rates for historically underrepresented high students in Chicago. Chi-Rise partners with five neighborhood Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high schools on the city’s South and West sides: Chicago Vocational Career Academy, Percy Julian, Thomas Kelly College Preparatory, North-Grand, and George Washington. Through this partnership, schools develop greater capacity to improve the fit, match, and affordability of the postsecondary options that students are exploring and ultimately selecting. The program also offers a scholarship to ease the burden of college costs and allow students to enroll in schools where they are most likely to persist and earn their degree.

In partnership with Crown Family Philanthropies, the Inclusive Economy Lab will serve as both technical support for the program’s evolving design and conduct research on the impact of Chi-Rise 2.0.