The Cristo Rey Network Schools bill themselves as "schools that work". This is, quite literally, the truth. A Cristo Rey Network high school provides high quality, college preparatory education to students from low-income households. The bedrock of a Cristo Rey model high school is the Corporate Internship or "work study" program, which places students into entry level clerical positions and generates much needed revenue for the school.
When they reach full enrollment, Cristo Rey Network high schools are able to cover up to 90% of their operating expenses through the work program and a modest tuition.
The Corporate Work Study Program began in 1996 with the founding of the Crito Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. The Cristo Rey model expanded to a nationwide network with funding from the B.J. Cassin Educational Initiative and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations. The Cristo Rey Network now includes 24 schools with over 6,000 students.
By partnering with local businesses and not-for-profit organizationsk Cristo Rey model schools are changing the face of urban education in the United States. The Corporate Work Study Program is a win-win situation, for students and for the organizations employing them. By assuming the functional role of an employment agency, Cristo Rey Network high schools have streamlined the process for employing their students. The students are not on the payroll of the employing organization. Rather, they are employees of the school's separately incorporated work-study or coroproate internship program, which the sponsoring organization pays quarterly, annually or monthly for the services of the students.
In San Francisco, the Immaculate Conception Acaademy is a Cristo Rey School in the Dominican Tradition.
For more information or to find out how your company or not-for-profit could become involved in this proven program, please visit icacademy.org or call 415.568.2788.
For a May 2010 Wall Street Journal story abou the Cristo Rey program, please visit A Good Catholic Story.
Thank you for your consideration!
The Cristo Rey Network