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Academics + College Success

By attending Cristo Rey, I have not only grown intellectually and spiritually, but I have become a better person, brother, and son. I have enjoyed my experiences, and the rigorous curriculum has helped me to understand my capabilities and potential to light the world on fire.
 

- Graduate, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep '22


Beginning freshman year, students experience a culture of high expectations by integrating rigorous academic preparation, significant professional work experience through the Corporate Work Study Program, Catholic educational values, and support for students to and through college. 
Academic Excellence
Cristo Rey schools provide consistent, high quality learning that accelerates growth and achievement to ensure college readiness for all students. School leaders utilize a proprietary, standards based, college preparatory curriculum—aligned to the Common Core State Standards, the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards, and the SAT—that emphasizes lifelong learning behaviors and critical thinking skills to ensure appropriate rigor and empower student success. Classroom coursework includes:
 
  • 4 units of English Language Arts
  • 4 units of Mathematics
  • 4 units of Science
  • 3 units of Social Studies
  • 3 units of World Languages
  • 4 units of Religious Studies
  • 2 additional units of other academic disciplines

To propel the highest quality teaching, learning, and academic leadership, the national office Leading and Learning team, in collaboration with our schools, designs and delivers interrelated professional development opportunities that ensure appropriate rigor and promote student engagement, retention, and success.

Propelled by a lead investment from The Howley Foundation, we've launched a reading and writing initiative, Accelerating Literacy Across the Curriculum, and are expanding our math program, Putting MATH Education to Work, to deepen academic excellence across our schools.

College Success
Through a longstanding partnership with the Wilson Sheehan Foundation, we implement a systematic, results-based approach to strengthen our Network-wide college-going culture and supports for students and graduates on their path to and through college.
 
With a goal of 100% college enrollment for our high school seniors, the national office College Initiatives team works closely with our schools' college counselors to maximize best-fit four year enrollment that focuses on affordability, match, and high graduation rates. To support students as they navigate common barriers to college persistence and completion, our schools' alumni advisors deploy post-secondary programming and tools to offer strategic intervention support. 
 

Furthermore, our partnering colleges and universities are committed to student success with minimal student debt and have a proven track record of graduating students from the lowest income quartile.