Detroit Cristo Rey High School

Detroit Cristo Rey High School is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic high school in Detroit, Michigan, in the West Vernor-Junction Historic District.[4] It opened in August 2008 and operates within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.[5]

Detroit Cristo Rey
Address
Map
5679 West Vernor Highway, Detroit, Michigan

48209-2157
Coordinates42°19′2″N 83°6′9″W / 42.31722°N 83.10250°W / 42.31722; -83.10250
Information
TypePrivate, Cristo Rey Network
Established2008
School districtRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
PresidentChris Lynch
PrincipalKarla Gudiño
Grades912, coeducational
Enrollment288[3] (2014-2015)
Color(s)Green and Gold   
Athletics conferenceCatholic High School League[1]
SportsBasketball, Track, Cross Country, Volleyball.[2]
Team nameWolves[2]
Websitedetroitcristorey.org

Description

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The high school building is part of the Most Holy Redeemer Church parish.[5] It is co-sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and The Congregation of St. Basil.[5] The school is located in the former Holy Redeemer High School building.[6] It is the only coeducational Catholic high school in the city of Detroit, and is open to students of all faiths.[7]

Detroit Cristo Rey High School opened August 2008 with an initial freshman class of about 100[8] and graduated its first class in 2012. It is part of the Cristo Rey Network of high schools nationwide, the original being Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. The founding president of Detroit Cristo Rey was Earl J. Robinson, a past president of Lees-McRae College.[9] The Board of Trustees named Michael Khoury president in 2009.[10] Its founding principal was Susan Rowe, a former teacher and administrator at University of Detroit Jesuit High School.[5]

Admissions, tuition, demographics

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A student admitted in the ninth grade must be able to read at a seventh grade level; students unable to meet this requirement may not be admitted.[11]

Cristo Rey schools are designed for children from low-income families. Each school has a maximum income cap for applicants. Detroit Cristo Rey has a standard tuition of $2,300/year but many families work at the school to lower their tuition costs to around $1,000/year.[4]

During its first year (2008-2009), Detroit Cristo Rey had a student body that was approximately 50 percent African-American and 40 percent Hispanic. Approximately 50 percent of the student body was Catholic.[4]

Local Support

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South side of Vernor at Junction, looking west

In 2009, Detroit Cristo Rey High School received grants from The Skillman Foundation ($900,000), the McGregor Fund ($75,000), and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.[7]

Students collaborated with Detroit Institute of Arts Art studio instructor Vito Valdez to create a mural representing the school and community.[12]

Corporate Work Study Program

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Cristo Rey Network schools utilize a unique work study program that pairs students and local businesses. Students work one day a week at a local business while their wages are paid to the school for their tuition. In the 2009-2010 school year, "About 35 employers and 120 freshmen and sophomores are involved, and the program covered about 35 to 40 percent of the school's total expenses."[13]

Activities

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All students participate in an off-site retreat each year, which for seniors runs overnight. Students contribute over 40 hours of community service during their four years.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Catholic High School League: School Locator" Accessed May 28, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Detroit Cristo Rey Athletics" Archived 2009-09-06 at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 27, 2010.
  3. ^ "Student Life". Detroit Cristo Rey High School. Archived from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2014-12-19.
  4. ^ a b c Delaney, Robert."Cristo Rey adds sponsors, looks for more, as it starts its second year", The Michigan Catholic, July 24, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d Kohn, Joe. "Cristo Rey Ready to 'Rise'", The Michigan Catholic, April 11, 2008. Accessed May 27, 2008.
  6. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions Archived 2013-01-30 at the Wayback Machine." Detroit Cristo Rey High School. Retrieved on January 7, 2012. "Detroit Cristo Rey High School is located at Vernor and Junction in the southwest area of the city in the old Holy Redeemer High School."
  7. ^ a b Welch, Sherri Begin."Cristo Rey High School lands grants", Crain's Detroit, March 3, 2009.
  8. ^ Kohn, Joe. "Detroit Cristo Rey Opens Doors to Work-Study School", The Michigan Catholic. August 22, 2008. Accessed November 7, 2008.
  9. ^ "New Detroit Cristo Rey High School Announces Selection of President" Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine, 2007. Accessed May 27, 2008.
  10. ^ "People on the Move", The Detroit News, May 28, 2009. Accessed May 28, 2009.
  11. ^ Guerra, Jennifer. "Catholic Prep Chain Helps Detroit's Minority Students Go On To College" (Archive). National Public Radio (NPR). June 11, 2014. Retrieved on July 7, 2014.
  12. ^ "Cristo Rey Mural Collaboration", July 3, 2009.
  13. ^ "Private schools cope with weak economy", Education Report, May 26, 2010. Accessed May 28, 2010.
  14. ^ "Campus Ministry – Student Life – Detroit Cristo Rey High School". www.detroitcristorey.org. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
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