Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is the only school of its kind in Minnesota. As a private, Catholic, college-preparatory high school sponsored by the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, Cristo Rey serves students of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds from families with low incomes from the Twin Cities area.

The school is a member of the national Cristo Rey Network, an association of similar urban high schools serving young people from economically-disadvantaged families.  A hallmark of a Cristo Rey education is the students' participation in the Corporate Internship Program in which they work in entry-level clerical positions. In addition to attending classes, students work in a corporate office five days a month thereby earning up to 70% of the cost of their education.  To accommodate this work schedule, the school has an extended school day and year.  The school’s curriculum is designed to support the students’ work experience in addition to preparing students for university, college or other post secondary education.

Cristo Rey works in partnership with Urban Ventures, a long-standing youth and family services agency in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis and shares the new Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center located at 2924 -- 4th Avenue South just north of East Lake Street in South Minneapolis.

University of St. Thomas students serve as tutors both during the day and after school, participate with students in extra-curricular activities, and have taught classes in their after-school Academic and Social Success Program. 

In January Term 2008, students in Dr. Carol Bruess' Public Speaking course (COMM 100) worked with students in an English class at Cristo Rey.  They presented speeches to Cristo Rey students about their individual journeys to college; the Cristo Rey students helped critique them.

For more information about our partnership with Cristo Rey, please contact Barb Baker.