In 1996, a spark ignited on Chicago’s near Lower West Side. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School opened its doors, not just as another school, but as a beacon of hope. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School was founded by the Midwest Jesuits. It was created to serve the immigrant Latino community of Pilsen and Little Village. This school pioneered a revolutionary model of education, the Corporate Work Study Program. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School remains dedicated to providing a high-quality, college-preparatory education to families with limited financial means.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School offers a unique approach. The Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) helps students fund their education. Through CWSP, students work one day a week at entry-level jobs in over 90 Chicago companies. These include banks, law firms, hospitals, and non-profit agencies. The program allows students to earn up to 65% of their tuition. They also gain invaluable work experience, build professional networks, and explore diverse career paths. Work is integral to the curriculum. Dismissal from a job is equivalent to failing a course.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is more than just academics and work. Forty percent of students participate in athletics. They utilize the local Harrison Park for practice. The school offers a wide range of sports. Boys can participate in basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, volleyball, and track. Girls can join soccer, softball, volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, and track. Some sports, like cross country and track, are co-ed.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s innovative model has garnered national recognition. It inspired the creation of the Cristo Rey Network, a nationwide system of similar schools. Philanthropists, impressed by the school’s success, invested millions to replicate this unique approach to education. Today, 37 high schools across the US follow the Cristo Rey model, all stemming from the original Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. The school stands as a testament to the power of education combined with real-world experience, empowering students to break the cycle of poverty and achieve their full potential.