The Cristo Rey Network addresses the fact that fewer than one in ten low-income students who begin high school complete a postsecondary degree by age 24 (Carnevale, Anthony. “Views: College Is Still Worth It - Inside Higher Ed.” Inside Higher Ed. Web. 14 Jan. 2011.). The impact of that national statistic is compounded by the growing importance of college completion to career advancement. Indeed, according to Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, experts predict that by 2020 65% of all U.S. jobs will require some form of postsecondary education. The adverse effects of these trends are clear: without college degrees, low-income youth will face enormous obstacles in transcending poverty and building professionally fulfilling and economically stable lives.
Over the last two decades, some have questioned whether Catholic schools could play a significant role in responding to these stark educational and career preparation challenges. Since 2000, the U.S. has witnessed the closing of approximately 2,000 Catholic K-12 schools, particularly inner-city Catholic high schools with a longstanding history of serving low-income students.
During a period when traditional Catholic schools were shuttering their doors at an alarming rate, the Cristo Rey Network has grown into the largest network of high schools in the country that exclusively serves low-income students.
Today, however, there is reason for new faith in the power of Catholic education. Catholic School Renaissance, published in October 2015 by The Philanthropy Roundtable, reports “Catholic educators and donors have responded to these downtrends and American K-12 Catholic schooling is now reorganizing to bounce back.”
With a proven track record of student results and successful school replication, the Cristo Rey movement is a vibrant and innovative contributor to this positive forecast and poised to have 20,000 students in the next decade.
