At Rise High, our mission is clear: to create as strong a foundation for success as possible — in STEM and in life.
Since our founding in 2017, we have intentionally built a program centered around four integral pillars: Engaged Learning, Sustained Exposure, Mentorship, and Cohort Experience. Together, these pillars shape a dynamic learning environment where students don’t just learn about STEM — they experience it.
Each week, students are guided through hands-on STEM lessons led by passionate professionals from across the field — from science teachers to nuclear engineers, from drone pilots to game developers. Every instructor is driven by the same goal: to create an educational, supportive, and fun environment where students can thrive.
Sustained Exposure
Rise High meets weekly throughout the school year, following a Fall and Spring Term model. This consistent schedule, combined with continued advancement from 6th through 12th grade, provides students with continuity and stability in a safe, supportive learning environment. Over time, students build not only knowledge, but confidence — exploring new concepts while experiencing steady growth year after year.
Engaged Learning
At Rise High, learning is hands-on and interactive. Our instructors design custom curriculum that emphasizes problem solving, professional development, and personal skill-building. Students aren’t just absorbing information — they’re actively applying it. Through real-world challenges and collaborative projects, they develop both STEM knowledge and the confidence to use it.
Cohort Experience
Students from schools across Schenectady come together by grade level and advance through the program as a unit. This cohort model fosters meaningful friendships, trust, teamwork, and a true sense of belonging. As students grow academically, they grow socially — learning how to collaborate, lead, and support one another.
Mentorship
Our extended network of dedicated volunteers, instructors, and staff includes professionals from a wide range of STEM fields. These mentors work directly with students, building relationships that extend beyond the classroom. Through mentorship, students gain guidance, encouragement, and valuable connections that can shape their future academic and career paths.
“Our ability to offer both a STEM curriculum and a supportive experience for our students allows us to create an environment where students can creatively problem solve, giving them life skills that go beyond STEM,” said Gretchen Belanger, Executive Director of Rise High. “We aren’t just preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math – we are equipping them with the tools to succeed in any path they choose.”