The Cristo Rey Network is pleased to announce the recipients of the organization’s grant, Advancing Excellence: Supporting Schools Poised for Transformation. This new, multi-year grant is part of the national office’s commitment to investing in schools poised for growth, demonstrating readiness to catalyze bold, sustainable improvement in academic, financial, and operational performance. 

Thanks to the support of two lead philanthropic partners, three school grantees will each receive $600,000 over three years to implement their innovative program, while also receiving national office subject matter coaching and participating in a national shared learning community. In company with all Cristo Rey Network school leaders, the following schools were celebrated at the Cristo Rey Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School’s InsureFutures: Underwriting our Future program will develop the school’s talent pipeline (of Corporate Work Study student associates) into a structured education-to-employment pathway in the insurance and risk management industries through enhanced Corporate Work Study training, a partnership with Schools That Can for embedded workforce development, and expanded industry-aligned skill building. A central component is a formal partnership with St. John’s University’s Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science, through which seniors can enroll in a dual-credit Risk Management 101 course via the College Advantage Program, earn college credit, access priority admission and scholarship opportunities, and receive targeted mentoring and postsecondary support to promote persistence and degree completion in quantitative fields.

Cristo Rey San José Jesuit High School will enhance its College & Career Readiness (CCR) program through a three-year, research-informed initiative that strengthens integration with Corporate Work Study and deepens students’ career development. Building on the CCR program launched in Fall 2025 for grades 9–12, this effort will further develop students’ professional identity, workforce skills, and preparation for an AI-influenced future. The initiative begins with a design phase engaging employers and university partners to identify and align key human, technical, and AI-related competencies, followed by implementation of refined, applied learning experiences emphasizing communication, problem-solving, adaptability, ethical reasoning, AI literacy, and college persistence. The final phase focuses on evaluating outcomes and sharing insights across the network to ensure students are well prepared for both college success and long-term career growth.

Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (Washington, DC) will launch a market-responsive Career Pathways model through a pilot AI-infused Business & Entrepreneurship (AIBE) Pathway.The four-year pathway integrates rigorous academics, Corporate Work Study placements, and co-curricular programming to prepare students for college majors and careers in business, finance, economics, and entrepreneurship. AIBE combines business fundamentals, financial literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, ethical leadership grounded in Catholic social teaching, and responsible AI use as a decision-support tool. By intentionally connecting classroom learning with applied experience, AIBE equips graduates to compete for selective college programs and thrive in the evolving, technology-driven business workforce.

“The Cristo Rey Network is grateful for the bold creativity of our school leaders and their commitment to finding new ways forward when barriers arise, ensuring every student has access to the transformative impact of a high-performing Cristo Rey school,” said Cristo Rey Network Chief Advancement Officer Brenda Morris.