Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Chicago, IL

We saw that incoming students needed genuine experience in the wider adult world to build their self-confidence, maturity and aspirations, so our Nonlinear model includes an internship program for every student to work in professional settings.

Designing that program as a separate business within the school, providing certain tax advantages for the internship sponsors, and using classroom block scheduling allows the program to fund most of the school’s operating costs, in addition to the invaluable benefits for students.

Create brand new, high quality college prep schools serving lower income communities.

Must be affordable to low income families. The educators had no funds, no building, no donors, and no plan – and they wanted the first school open within one year.

We opened the first school within the one-year goal, using the Nonlinear educational and operational model. It now has been replicated nationally with 36 more schools (in 24 states), enrolling more than 15,000 students. More schools are planned. Nationally, 90% of all Cristo Rey students attain college enrollment (not just acceptance).

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