RISE is a project-based charter school where learning is driven by curiosity, creativity, and real-world application. At the high school level, students engage in Year-Long Projects—deep, student-designed experiences that extend far beyond traditional assignments. Each student chooses a topic aligned with their personal interests and passions, then engages in sustained inquiry, research, and skill development throughout the year.

At the end of each year, our students grades 9-12 each share their presentations to an audience of parents, community members and RISE staff.  This year we had a student create an animated movie, design and model tiny home solutions for affordable housing, learn to quilt and make a custom quilt, learn to embroider multiple textile projects, sew their own clothing, design and weld a goat feeder, raise and milk goats, then make soap from goat's milk, build a personal computer from scratch, code a video game, learn about non-profits and volunteer hours at a local non-profit, start a gutter cleaning business, work with government entities to clear UTV trails in the backcountry, and many more...

Through these experiences, students develop independence, problem-solving skills, and real-world competencies that prepare them for college, careers, and life beyond the classroom.