The Cristo Rey Network
Due to inexorable financial pressure, inner-city Catholic schools are closing all around the country. Going against this trend are the new “Cristo Rey model” high schools – 12 established in the last 11 years and seven more in 2007.
The Cristo Rey model was developed back in 1995, when then-Chicago Archbishop Joseph Cardinal Bernadine challenged the Jesuits to find a way to provide quality Catholic secondary education for the impoverished immigrant Hispanic population of Chicago’s near southwest side. Its unique idea is to prepare students for part-time employment in entry-level clerical positions and then to solicit the sponsorship of local businesses in employing them. The result is “schools that work.”
The work experience gives these students a whole new vision of themselves, of their education, and of their own potential.
Students in Cristo Rey model schools earn approximately 70% of the cost of their education while providing real value to their employers. This renders the schools financially viable, even while enrolling students exclusively from low-income families. A distinct bonus is that the work experience gives these students a whole new vision of themselves, of their education, and of their own potential.
The Cristo Rey Network of schools was established in 2001 when philanthropist B.J. Cassin established the Cassin Educational Initiative Foundation, to “blueprint” and replicate Cristo Rey-model high schools and similarly innovative grade schools.
There are currently 22 Cristo Rey Network school, with two new schools set to open in the Fall of 2009.
Cristo Rey Network schools include:
Baltimore, MD- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (2007)
Birmingham, AL-Holy Family Cristo Rey High School (2007)
Brooklyn, NY-Lourdes Academy High School (2008)
Cambridge, MA-North Cambridge Catholic High School (2004)
Chicago, IL –(Pilsen)- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (1996)
Chicago, IL- (West Side)- Christ the King Jesuit College Prep (2008)
Cleveland, OH- St. Martin de Porres High School (2004)
Denver, CO- Arrupe Jesuit High School (2003)
Detroit, MI- Detroit Cristo Rey High School (2008)
Indianapolis, IN- Providence Cristo Rey High School (2007)
Kansas City, MO- Cristo Rey Kansas City High School (2006)
Lawrence, MA- Notre Dame High School (2004)
Los Angeles, CA- Verbum Dei High School (2002)
New York, NY- Cristo Rey New York High School (2004)
Newark, NJ- Christ the King Preparatory High School (2007)
Omaha, NE- St. Peter Claver High School (2007)
Portland, OR- De La Salle North Catholic (2001)
Sacramento, CA-Cristo Rey High School Sacramento (2006)
Tucson, AZ- San Miguel High School (2004)
Washington, DC- Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (2007)
Waukegan, IL- Saint Martin de Porres High School (2004)