“Our focus at Cristo Rey Boston is academic achievement,” says Rosemary Powers, president of the school. “We don’t just want our kids to attend college–we want them to graduate from college. This will transform their lives, their families’ lives, their communities. And that will make the future better for all of us.”

Cristo Rey Boston (CRB) is one of 38 schools in the Cristo Rey Network, an association of schools that combine a unique work study program with a college‐​prep curriculum. The Boston school was founded in 2004, replacing the struggling North Cambridge Catholic High School.

The Corporate Work Study program is at the heart of Cristo Rey schools. The experiences help the students see future possibilities and encourage them to pursue higher education. As Lufus Philip, CRB Class of 2021 put it, “The Corporate Work Study staff are responsible for my work ethic being what it is now. They introduced me to a glimpse of the real world and how it may be hard, but we all have the potential to overcome it.”

Fellow CRB student Caitlin Samantha Gomes‐​Rodrigues spent time at Novartis and the Broad Institute through the work‐​study program. At the Broad Institute, she worked as a lab intern, which included preparing lab samples and performing quality checks on the lab machinery. She says the biggest challenge—and advantage—of the Corporate Work Study program was “being in a new setting and being the youngest person working with much more experienced people. I had to show them I could do the work and understand the science behind the work. I wanted to learn and take in new opportunities while putting my best foot forward.” Caitlin plans to major in chemistry or biology track with a goal of becoming a pediatric surgeon.

A CRB student works at JP Morgan.
A CRB student works at JP Morgan.

In addition to providing enriching experiences for the students, the Corporate Work Study helps fund students’ education. During the pandemic, Cristo Rey Boston decided to provide full tuition scholarships to all admitted students. Since only students at or below the federal poverty level are admitted—the average family income is around $33,000—providing full tuition helps the school meet its commitment to closing the opportunity gap for students from lower income communities. The Corporate Work Study program helps defray nearly half of the tuition cost.

The unique structure appears to work. Cristo Rey Boston typically has a 100% graduation rate and college acceptance rate. Its alumni report that they’re well prepared for the rigors of college and beyond. They credit the academic formation, the skills and lessons learned in the Corporate Work Study program, and the strong relationships developed through CRB as primary drivers in their successes.

CRB students showing their college pride.
CRB students showing their college pride.

Since its founding in 1996, Cristo Rey schools have provided life‐​changing opportunities for thousands of students with limited economic resources. These students, in turn, will have a ripple effect as they go out in the world.

“We’re a more diverse world every time Cristo Rey students graduate and walk into a work field,” says Diana Do Rosario, who graduated from CRB this year. “There are just so many options and opportunities that we have been offered here at CRB that I think we’ll take with us as we grow.”