Friday, May 6, 2011

Cristo Rey: A new model high school for the underprivileged

From the website:

The Cristo Rey Network is comprised of 24 high schools that provide a quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to young people who live in urban communities with limited educational options. Today we are educating 6,500 students, and will soon be reaching more than 10,000 young people, who otherwise would not have access to a quality, college preparatory education. This past year, 100% of the schools’ senior class was accepted into college. Our mission is clear – college success for Cristo Rey Network students.



Member schools utilize a rigorous academic model, supported with effective instruction, to prepare students with a broad range of academic abilities for college. Cristo Rey Network schools employ an innovative, entrepreneurial Corporate Work Study Program that provides students with real world work experiences. Every student in a Cristo Rey school works five full days a month to fund the majority of his or her education, gain job experience, grow in self-confidence, and realize the relevance of his or her education. Students work at law firms, banks, hospitals, universities, and other professional corporate partners. Last school year, Cristo Rey Network students earned $30 million to make their education possible.

The Cristo Rey Network of schools was founded in 2001 when leaders from groups in Portland, Oregon, Cleveland, Denver, and New York - hoping to replicate Cristo Rey Jesuit High School of Chicago - gathered for the first time to learn more about the model school. Since 2001, leaders of the Cristo Rey schools have been meeting regularly to share ideas and best practices.

In 2003, the Cristo Rey Network was formally organized as a 501(c)(3) organization. The Network is governed by a Board of Directors, several of whom are elected by the member schools. The members of the Cristo Rey Network are schools approved by the Board. Each member school agrees to adhere to the 10 Mission Effectiveness Standards of the Cristo Rey Network.

B.J. and Bebe Cassin were the first philanthropists to promote the scaling up of the Cristo Rey model. In 2001, they made a $12 million commitment to replicate the Cristo Rey schools. Today, dozens of foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and individual donors throughout the country have contributed to the efforts of the Cristo Rey Network.

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