The Cristo Rey Network® is comprised of 24 high schools that provide a quality, Catholic, college-prep education to young people in urban communities with limited educational options.

Formally organized as a 501(c)3 organization in 2003, the Cristo Rey Network helps select and train school leaders, offers professional development programs for faculty and staff, facilitates the sharing of best practices among schools and monitors each school’s progress on the Network’s Mission Effectiveness Standards.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, along with venture philanthropists B.J. and Bebe Cassin, provided seed funding to promote the replication of the Network schools. Today, the Cristo Rey Network relies on a broad base of national philanthropic support.

Network Success

The Network has grown dramatically since the first school was founded in 1996 in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

• Currently, 6,000 students are enrolled in 24 Cristo Rey Network schools.
• Network schools are sponsored or endorsed by 29 religious institutes and 5 archdiocese.
• The Network graduation rate of the Class of 2008 was 94% and 99% of these graduates were accepted into 2 or 4 year colleges.
• Network schools will distribute close of $5 million in financial aid to students for tuition assistance. More than eight in ten students receive financial aid from their school.
• In 2008-2009, students cumulatively earned $26.5 million to fund their education.
• The Network has more than 1,000 Work-Study jobs for students at 1,252 sponsoring companies, averaging just over $25,000 per job.

A Cristo Rey Network school must meet the following governing principles:

I: Is explicitly Catholic in mission and enjoys Church approval.

II: Serves only economically disadvantaged students. The school is open to students of various faiths and cultures, and is culturally sensitive and community-based.

III: Is family-centered and plays and active role in the local community.

IV: Is accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association. It has a college preparatory curriculum designed for a high level of student engagement.

V: Requires participation by all students in the Work-Study program. All students must be 14 years old on or before September 1st or the first official day of work, whichever comes later.

VI: Seeks to integrate the learning present in its Work-Program, classroom and extracurricular experiences for the fullest benefit of its student workers.

VII: Has an effective administrative structure and a diversified Board including religious, education, community, business and civic leaders; complies with all applicable state and federal laws, including immigration, labor and not-for-profit tax laws.

VIII: Is financially sound. At full enrollment, the school is primarily dependent on revenue from the Work-Study program to meet operating expenses. In addition, the school maintains a comprehensive advancement program to ensure financial stability.

IX: Seeks to understand, assure, and improve how and how well its students learn and grow.

X: Is an active participant in the collaboration, support, and development of the Cristo Rey Network.