FAQ

The United States Department of Labor Code of Federal Regulations, 29 CFR § 570.37, specifically authorizes Cristo Rey Network schools to operate the Corporate Work Study program within federal child labor laws. Each local Corporate Work Study program is committed to full compliance with the federal regulation in addition to respective state labor laws. Students must be eligible to work in the United States.

Cristo Rey High School transports students from school to work and from work to school.

Before starting their first year, all students participate in our Summer Success Institute. During this work study training, students complete a skills assessment. Combined with their performance and participation in Summer Success, this assessment helps us match students with suitable corporate partners.

Students do not have to be Catholic to enroll at Cristo Rey. Our schools admit students inclusive of all faiths and cultures. On average, 92% of Cristo Rey students are Catholic.

Each student’s faith journey is different. Students may want to alter serve, participate in prayer groups, sing in the choir or be a lector at mass, actively engage in student retreats, go to confession, join the Service Club, or lead a service project among other opportunities that help them grow in faith. 

Cristo Rey is a CIF school, and the sports offerings include Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Cheer. As our student body grows and interests evolve, we plan to expand our sports program to accommodate additional options. Students interested in additional sports have an opportunity to petition to the Athletic Director and become a founding member of the sport.

Included in the monthly tuition is the cost of participation in sports, uniforms, and transportation to and from athletic events.

Students at Cristo Rey High School are exposed to the PSAT and SAT exams throughout their four-year tenure. They visit various college campuses, participate in college exploration and research activities in grades 9th -11th, and are encouraged to apply for summer programs to strengthen their academic profiles. Additionally, students engage in various career exploration exercises outside of their Corporate Work Study experience.

Since the first Cristo Rey school opened in 1996, college enrollment and completion has been our goal for all students. The Cristo Rey Network and member schools offer a wide range of support for graduates on their path to and through college including: 

Alumni Advising: The Cristo Rey Network is at the forefront of the alumni support field developing within the higher education landscape. Nearly all of our schools employ at least one full-time alumni advisor who works with our high school seniors through their college commencement, providing a range of support, advocacy, and connectivity to Cristo Rey graduates that helps ensure their college persistence and completion.

On Campus Programming by University Partners: The Cristo Rey Network has formed and developed strategic partnerships with colleges and universities that offer competitive financial aid packages and programming geared to and supportive of students who are typically underrepresented on campus.

Alumni Tracking and Support: The Cristo Rey Network has enhanced our alumni data collection and management efforts through the launch and implementation of GradForce, a platform that provides Alumni Advisors with a robust communications and tracking system to support graduates as they persist towards their degree.

Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association: Established in 2019, the Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association fosters lifelong relationships for alumni to strengthen their personal and professional pathways towards success. The National Alumni Association facilitates mentorship and community engagement for graduates across all Cristo Rey schools as well as provides exclusive access to opportunities offered by our Alumni Partners.

To ensure lasting, measurable value of our outputs, the Cristo Rey Network collects, analyzes, and synthesizes data on all aspects of school performance to improve the delivery of our programming. A key component of our continuous improvement efforts includes supporting schools in identifying meaningful metrics to accurately assess the successful implementation of their work and intended outcomes. To make the performance data actionable, the Network offers professional development opportunities, advice on analytical approaches, and resources on best practices. 

The Cristo Rey Network’s 12 Key Performance Indicators include:

1. College Readiness
2. SAT Gains
3. Student Retention
4. College Enrollment
5. College Completion
6. Job Placement
7. Job Retention
8. Operating Revenue & Expenses
9. Cash Flow 
10. Student Enrollment
11. Cost per Student
12. Fundraising