Cristo Rey Richmond High School

What Cristo Rey Richmond High School does

Cristo Rey Richmond High School is a private, Catholic, college-preparatory high school located at 315 N. Belmont Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 2019 as part of the national Cristo Rey Network (40+ schools), the school exclusively enrolls students from families of limited economic means in the Greater Richmond metropolitan area. The institution's signature differentiator is the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), in which teams of four students share one full-time-equivalent professional role, rotating to provide employer coverage Monday through Friday. CWSP fees from corporate partners — covering all payroll, tax, and compliance obligations — fund the majority of each student's tuition; family contributions are capped at $350 per month based on financial need, with the remainder covered by fundraising, bequests, and Virginia state tax-credit programs (NAP and EISTC).

The school operates a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum requiring 32.5 credits for graduation, paired with the Corporate Readiness Institute (a 9th-grade business-skills and professional-etiquette boot camp funded by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust) prior to CWSP deployment. Supporting infrastructure includes PowerSchool for student information, TADS for admissions and financial aid, and Naviance for college counseling. The model is supported by 50+ corporate partners across healthcare (Bon Secours, VCU Health), legal (McGuireWoods, Troutman Pepper), financial services (Kinsale Capital, Markel, Davenport), private equity (Blue Heron Capital, 1607 Capital Partners), energy (Dominion Energy), museums (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia Museum of History and Culture), and local nonprofits, with additional revenue from individual donations, planned gifts (Reys of Light Society), and the "Fund a Job" program.

The school is accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) and is a member of the Virginia Council for Private Education. The first graduating Class of 2023 achieved a 100% college acceptance rate with over $15 million in scholarship offers. The school is sponsored by Bon Secours Ministries and the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, and operates as a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) with its own board, under canonical approval from the Diocese. A new Student Life & Administration Building opened in September 2023 to support continued program growth.

Name

Cristo Rey Richmond High School

Legal name

Cristo Rey Richmond High School

Website

https://cristoreyrichmond.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cristo Rey Richmond High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school in Richmond, Virginia serving students from families of limited economic means. Students fund tuition by working in teams at 50+ corporate partners through the Corporate Work Study Program, supported by PowerSchool, TADS, and Naviance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Catholic college preparatory education
• Corporate work study program
• Private secondary education
• Tuition assistance programs
• Faith-based education

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) Fees: Companies pay an annual fee to the CWSP for student worker services. Four students share one job, providing coverage Monday through Friday. CWSP handles all payroll, W-4, I-9, Workers' Compensation, FICA, FUTA and other employer issues. This is the primary revenue source that covers the majority of each student's tuition cost.
2. Family Tuition Payments: Families pay tuition which is subsidized by CWSP earnings and fundraising. The cost per student is over $20,500 for 2026-2027, but no family pays more than $350 per month based on financial need.
3. Individual Donations and Contributions: Direct contributions from individuals to support school operations and student scholarships.
4. State Tax Credit Programs: Virginia Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and Education Improvement State Tax Credits (EISTC) provide tax benefits to donors.
5. Fundraising and Grants: Traditional fundraising covers an additional portion of student education costs beyond CWSP earnings.
6. Bequests and Planned Gifts: The school accepts bequests through the Reys of Light Society planned giving program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cristo Rey Richmond High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school that delivers a four-year college-prep curriculum to students from families of limited economic means in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area. Its defining offering is the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), in which every student works one day per week at a corporate partner, with student wages applied toward the cost of education. The school also provides college counseling, athletics, and service-learning programs, and reports that 100% of graduates are accepted to college.

Product overview

Cristo Rey Richmond High School is a Catholic college-preparatory high school serving students from limited economic means. The institution operates a unified educational model centered on the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), which integrates students' academic education with professional work experience. The core offerings consist of the CWSP as the signature differentiating program, combined with a rigorous college-preparatory academic curriculum, comprehensive college advising services, athletics programs, student clubs, counseling and wellness services, Campus Ministry, and Student Life programming. The school provides additional support services including transportation, school nutrition, and family engagement initiatives. Students graduate with 32.5 credits and benefit from a 100% college acceptance rate, with ongoing support through college completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College Preparatory Curriculum A four-year Catholic college-preparatory academic program for high school students in the Greater Richmond, Virginia area, designed to prepare every graduate for admission to and success in college.
• Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) A work-study program in which every student works one full day per week at a corporate partner, gaining professional experience while student wages are applied to the cost of their education. Targeted at high school students and at Greater Richmond-area corporate partners.
• Tuition Assistance Program A need-based financial aid program that scales tuition to family income and caps family tuition at approximately $350 per month, enabling students from families of limited economic means to attend.
• College Counseling Services Structured college counseling and application support provided to all students, contributing to a reported 100% graduate college acceptance rate.
• Athletics Program Interscholastic athletics offered to enrolled students as part of the broader student experience at the high school.
• Service Learning Program Community service requirements for students, tracked via the Helper Helper service-hour platform, integrated into the school's Catholic, faith-based educational mission.
• Transportation Services School-bus transportation from neighborhood hubs in the Greater Richmond area, provided to students to reduce transportation as a barrier to attendance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate for founding Class of 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bon Secours Richmond Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Bon Secours Richmond Health System serves as founding Religious Sponsor through Bon Secours Ministries. The Sisters of Bon Secours' charism 'to bring God's healing, compassion, and liberation to people' guides the school's mission. Bon Secours provides multiple hospital locations for student work placements.
• Catholic Diocese of RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Bishop Francis DiLorenzo initiated the feasibility study for Cristo Rey Richmond. The Diocese provided initial support and owns the campus property. The school operates with canonical sponsor approval from the Diocese.
• 1607 Capital PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing professional work experience for Cristo Rey students.
• Allianz Worldwide PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer. Board Chair Elena Edwards is retired CEO of Allianz Partners.
• Dominion EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer. Board Treasurer Alma Showalter is VP Tax at Dominion Energy.
• McGuireWoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing legal industry work experience for students.
• Troutman PepperminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing legal industry work experience for students.
• Riverfront Investment GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer with positive testimonials about program benefits and student workers.
• Tuckahoe HoldingsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing professional work experience for students.
• Blue Heron CapitalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing private equity industry exposure for students.
• Children's Museum of RichmondminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents placed through 'Fund a Job' program providing museum work experience for students.
• Virginia Museum of History and CultureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents placed through 'Fund a Job' program providing museum work experience for students.
• The DoorwaysminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents placed through 'Fund a Job' program providing nonprofit work experience for students.
• Commonwealth Catholic CharitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudents placed through 'Fund a Job' program providing charitable organization work experience for students.
• Davenport & Company LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInvestment firm that manages Cristo Rey Richmond's brokerage account for securities donations. Also a CWSP employer.
• Virginia Museum of Fine ArtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing arts and museum work experience for students.
• MarkelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing insurance industry work experience for students.
• Kinsale Capital GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing financial services work experience for students.
• VCU HealthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program employer providing healthcare industry work experience for students.
• Cristo Rey NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCristo Rey Richmond is one of over 40 schools in the Cristo Rey Network. The network was founded in 2001 and provides shared Mission Effectiveness Standards, brand identity, and best practices for all member schools.
• Chamber RVA (Richmond Chamber of Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce supporting local business community engagement.
• Virginia Hispanic Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member supporting Hispanic business community connections.
• Metropolitan Business LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member supporting minority business community engagement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cristo Rey Network: National 40-school Cristo Rey Network umbrella that Cristo Rey Richmond belongs to. Provides the centralized Mission Effectiveness Standards, accreditation support, and shared employer relationships that anchor the Cristo Rey Richmond operating model.

Direct peers

• Cristo Rey Baltimore High School: Mid-Atlantic Cristo Rey Network school operating the same CWSP model integrated with college-prep academics. Geographic proximity (Baltimore–DC corridor) and parallel urban-market dynamics make it a tight operational and labor-market comparable.
• Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School: Southeastern Cristo Rey Network school serving low-income Atlanta students through the same corporate work-study structure. Mirrors Cristo Rey Richmond's urban, multi-corporate-partner model in a comparable scale footprint.
• Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago): Founding school of the entire Cristo Rey Network (1996), operating the identical CWSP model serving low-income Chicago students through corporate work-study. Most directly comparable model and brand to Cristo Rey Richmond.
• Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School: Northeastern Cristo Rey Network school operating the same CWSP-plus-college-prep model in a comparable mid-size urban market, with overlapping employer categories (healthcare, financial services, legal).
• Cristo Rey Boston High School: Northeastern Cristo Rey Network school running the same CWSP integrated model. Comparable in operational structure and in employer-mix dependence on financial services, healthcare, and professional services.

Regional players

• Maggie L. Walker Governor's School: Regional public governor's school in the Richmond region serving academically advanced students across districts. Competes for the same college-aspiring student population in the Greater Richmond area, though public-funded and selective rather than need-based.
• The Steward School (Richmond): Independent college-prep school in Henrico County / Richmond area. Competes for college-prep families in the same Richmond labor market but charges full tuition and does not operate an integrated employer work-study program.
• Trinity Episcopal School (Richmond): Independent K-12 college-prep school in Richmond. VP of Advancement Cynthia Coleman currently chairs its Board of Trustees. Comparable private college-prep positioning in the same Richmond catchment, though without the work-study component.

Emerging players

• Partnership for the Future: Richmond-based college-prep and workforce-development nonprofit (where current CEO Charleita Richardson previously served 13 years). Pursues a related but narrower mission (mentoring, college access) without operating its own school or CWSP-like employer integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CristoReyRichmondHSAthletics
• Instagraminstagram.com/crrhsathletics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cristo-rey-richmond

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cristo Rey Richmond High School