Frequently Asked Questions>

How do Network schools define "economically disadvantaged"?
The Cristo Rey schools seek to serve urban young people who are among the 37 million Americans living in poverty.  In general, “economically disadvantaged” students are those who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.  These young people are from families with incomes that are less than 185% of the federal poverty level.  In 2006, for example, a family of four earning $37,000 or less qualified for the federal free or reduced lunch program.  The average family income for 9th graders in the Cristo Rey schools during the 2006-07 school year is $33,051 with an average family size of four.  All applicants to Cristo Rey schools complete financial aid forms, and the family financial information on all incoming students is shared with the Network.

How does the Network respond to interest in Cristo Rey schools by middle-income families who do not have access to Catholic education?
We understand that there are many young people of various income levels who desire and do not have access to Catholic secondary education. The Cristo Rey Network®, however, only supports schools that have chosen to serve communities with a high concentration of young people who qualify for the federal free/reduced lunch program.  Eligibility for the program is calculated by family size and a percentage of the federal poverty level.  The Cristo Rey Network® simply cannot provide Catholic education to the many millions of American young people who do not have access to it.  We urge Dioceses, lay groups and religious congregations to form Catholic schools for the vast numbers of middle and working class families who desire them.

How is the Cristo Rey Network Governed?
The Cristo Rey Network® is owned by the Member schools and governed by a Board of Directors.  The first eight Directors were all selected by the Member schools.  Five directorships are designated as “Board” positions.  When these slots become vacant, they are filled by the board.  The remaining positions are filled by a majority vote of the member schools.  The board sets policies for the Network, approves new schools and feasibility studies, and oversees the budget and work of the staff of the Network's central office.  To learn more about our governance, please see the Bylaws of the Cristo Rey Network® and a copy of the Membership Agreement each school signs with the Network."  For more information, you may download copies of the Bylaws and Membership Agreement.

What are the academic levels of the students who enter your schools?
Cristo Rey schools serve students of various academic abilities.  Our schools generally do not take students with Individual Education Program (IEP) requirements beyond the school’s resources.  Teachers at our schools are undergoing Network and local level professional development in order to respond to the needs of all learners. Most schools have or are developing summer programs and out-of-school programs for those students who are not at grade level. The schools recognize that a great deal of extra work must be done with our students to prepare them for college, and students must come to our schools prepared to work hard to improve their academic skills.

Do the schools of the Cristo Rey Network only serve Catholics?
Like all Catholic schools, members of the Cristo Rey Network serve young people of various faiths and cultures. Students who attend Network schools must be open to religious education and to assimilating the values of Catholic education into their daily lives. In some Cristo Rey schools, 50% or more of the students are non-Catholic.

How can a school become a member of the Cristo Rey Network?
The Network’s Board of Directors approves the admission of all schools to the Network. Each school must be approved by the local Bishop first. Every school begins with a thorough feasibility study that assesses the need and viability of a Cristo Rey model school in the community. A study, which must be approved by the Network’s Board of Directors, looks at educational trends and challenges in the target area, evaluates whether or not there are enough entry-level clerical jobs to support a school, and determines how many and what kind of young people have an interest in enrolling in the school. At the conclusion of the study, the sponsor of the future school applies for admission in the Network.

Who determines if we can do a feasibility study and how long does a study last?
The Cristo Rey Network® Board of Directors reviews each request for a feasibility study and votes to authorize the study. Turnaround time on an application is usually about one month. A representative of the Cristo Rey Network needs to visit the target community to get a sense of the need for and potential success of a Cristo Rey model school. The study usually lasts for nine months to a year or more.  Studies can only be done if the future school intends to be located in a metropolitan area of 750,000 or more people.  An area this size is required to ensure a sufficient number of clerical jobs for the work-study program.

What happens when a study concludes?
The report, together with an opinion by the local committee on whether or not the school is feasible, is submitted to the Cristo Rey Network Board of Directors for review. If the organizers and the local Catholic diocese or archdiocese determine that a school is feasible, the report should include a budget and business plan, timetable for opening, and a summary of how the proposed school plans to meet each of the ten standards outlined in the Cristo Rey Mission Effectiveness Standards. The board will grant the school Provisional Membership during the year or more from the end of the study to the first day of school (for more information, please download copy of our Provisional Membership Agreement).  Once a school is open, it applies for full membership in the Network, which must be approved by a vote of the Board.  To gain full membership, a school must meet certain benchmarks prior to opening, and it must be clear that the school is on target for meeting each of the Network's Mission Effectiveness Standards.

Was a study ever completed that did not lead to the establishment of school?
At least five studies completed as of May 2005, did not result in schools because the proposed programs were not able to meet all ten of the Mission Effectiveness Standards.

What are the benefits of being a member of the Network?
A school or group forming a school gains access to all training, contracts, and other materials of the Corporate Internship Program. Network members send personnel to training sessions, and the Cristo Rey Network staff provides guidance and assistance to new schools on the work study program, admissions, curriculum, financial management and other aspects of the unique Cristo Rey Network® model. Network members also enjoy the chance to share ideas and to learn from each other.

Who is the Director of Communication and what does he or she do?
Kristy Blackmore is the Director of Communicaton. Kristy assists member schools as they develop the work-study program and coordinates all trainings, conferences and internal communications. Kristy can be reached at (773) 890-6885 or kblackmore@cristoreynetwork.org

How many Cristo Rey-model schools does the Network envision?
The Cristo Rey Network® seeks to educate 12,000 urban young people by 2012.  We estimate that it will take 30 or more schools to achieve this goal.  Please see our Strategic Business Plan to learn more about the exciting growth of the Cristo Rey movement.

What kind of groups are you looking to work with to start Cristo Rey model schools?
We work with Roman Catholic religious congregations, dioceses and lay groups. The potential school sponsor must be entrepreneurial and have the expertise needed to run a successful school.

Can a school convert to the Cristo Rey model?
Two schools, North Cambridge Catholic and Verbum Dei High School, have successfully converted to the Cristo Rey model. Holy Family High School of Birmingham, Alabama is planning to convert to the model in the fall of 2007.  To convert, a school must show that it intends to serve only economically disadvantaged students.  By converting, an old Catholic school essentially closes, and a new one is born. For more information, please download a Microsoft Word version of the conversion requirements.

Can I schedule a visit to one of the Cristo Rey Schools?
All the schools in the Network are available for full day visits by appointment only. Many of the schools will have scheduled/set dates for out of town visitors. If you would like to visit any Cristo Rey Network school including the model school, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School of Chicago, please contact Kristy Blackmore at (773) 890-6885 or email her at kblackmore@cristoreynetwork.org You can also download a copy of a sign up sheet for visiting Cristo Rey Chicago.
Logistical information

If we are interested in starting a Cristo Rey Model School, who should we contact?
Please contact:

Jeff Thielman
Cristo Rey Network
Vice President, Development and New Initiatives
106A Kenny Cottle-Stuart House
885 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: (617) 244-8512
Fax: (617) 244-8747
e-mail:Thielman@bc.edu