Home
Mission & Philosophy
Cristo Rey Orange County High School is a Catholic learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose, and service. Through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, integrated with a relevant work study experience, students graduate ready to succeed in college and in life.
WHERE CRISTO REY STUDENTS WORK
High Expectations. High Support.
Welcome to Cristo Rey Orange County High School! We offer an affordable, private, Catholic, college preparatory education and a clear path to college, career, and heaven for our students. We achieve this through a rigorous academic curriculum, an innovative Corporate Work Study program that places students in Orange County businesses where they earn a significant portion of their education, and through spiritual formation so students can reach their full God-given potential.
The Cristo Rey Difference
We are a Catholic, coed, high school located in Santa Ana, CA. Our mission is to provide a college preparatory education to students who otherwise couldn't afford a Catholic education. We do this through a very generous scholarship program and our innovative Corporate Work Study program.
Cristo Rey Orange County provides students access to a top-quality Catholic education, four years of professional work experience, and a proven path to college. Cristo Rey students work five days a month at top Orange County companies. This hands-on experience brings classroom education together with real world experience, giving students an educational experience unlike any other. We are the ONLY school in the area offering this opportunity.
Interested in becoming a Cristo Rey student? Click here to receive more information!
The Cristo Rey Orange County Athletics program provides students with opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, and character through competitive sports. Our student-athletes balance rigorous academics and Corporate Work Study responsibilities while participating in CIF Southern Section competitions, demonstrating exceptional dedication both on and off the field. Learn more here.
Imagine a high school where students don't just prepare for the professional world – they're already part of it. At Cristo Rey, our Corporate Work Study Program turns this vision into reality. Each of our students spends five days per month earning their education in the offices of Orange County's leading companies, developing real-world skills that can't be taught from a textbook. This innovative approach does more than help fund their education – it opens doors, builds confidence, and transforms teenagers into young professionals. Our students don't just dream about their future careers; they're already building them, one workday at a time.
We're proud to share this special interview with Latino Health Access featuring Cristina Cuellar, our VP of Admissions, Claudia Suarez, a current parent, and Brandon, current student, as they discuss the transformative impact of a Cristo Rey Orange County education.
Through partnerships with community organizations like Latino Health Access, we continue to expand our reach and share how our unique educational approach combines academic excellence with professional work experience to empower students and families - watch the complete interview on our YouTube channel @cristoreyorangecountyhs or click on the image below. (For the complete interview, click here).
As spring arrives on campus, our Cristo Rey CROCS Boys Volleyball team is hitting the court with energy and enthusiasm.
Under dedicated coaching leadership, our student-athletes are training hard and building team chemistry as they prepare for their upcoming matches. To catch all the action and support our CROCS, check out the complete season schedule on our athletics calendar here.
Thank you to the 60 Orange County executives who joined us for an inspiring morning exploring the future of work and education at our Inaugural CEO Breakfast, where we discussed “The Future of Work and Education in Orange County”. Our very own student, Ashley, took to the stage to open the discussion by sharing her work study experience at Latham & Watkins.
Special thanks to our distinguished panelists Annette Morgan of City of Hope Orange County, Oscar Gonzalez of Northgate Markets, and Paul Cook of Irvine Ranch Water District, for sharing their invaluable insights on workforce development, artificial intelligence's impact, and the power of early professional exposure in shaping students' futures. And a great big thank you to our moderator, Ian Williamson of UC Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business who led the conversation.
"It really boils down to awareness, access, and ambition," said Williamson. "People can only pursue opportunities of which they are aware. Even if a person is aware of an opportunity, it's very difficult for them to try something they've never seen. It's almost superhuman. So, access to people who have been successful changes a person’s perspective as to what they can achieve. It raises the ambition for what is possible in their life."
News & Events
Single Featured Item
Highlight: David N. '27 had some special visitors to his music class from his office at UCI!
Thank you to our Corporate Work Study partners for supporting our students. Learn more about Corporate Work Study here.
Cristo Rey recently hosted a remarkable Interview Day for early applicants to our third class, the Class of 2029. Instead of a placement test, we interview all students and families to understand their goals and how we can support them on their journeys to college and career success.
Our applicant pool reflects the educational diversity of Orange County, with 53% currently enrolled in Catholic schools and 47% coming from public and charter schools. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Psomas for generously providing their space, which allowed us to showcase our unique Corporate Work Study Program and give families an inspiring glimpse into the Cristo Rey experience.
We cannot wait to welcome these bright young minds to Cristo Rey and support them on their journey of academic, professional, and spiritual growth. To apply, visit us here.
Click on the image below to see a recap video.