Cristo Rey

What Cristo Rey does

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a private Catholic college-preparatory high school founded in 2007 in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, operating as part of the national Cristo Rey Network of Schools under the endorsement of the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus and within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The school serves approximately 400 students from limited economic backgrounds — 98% identify as Latino or Black, and the average 9th-grade household income is $58,000 for a family of 4.6 — through a unique model that integrates rigorous college-preparatory academics with four years of paid professional work experience. The Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) places students at 110+ corporate partners across the Twin Cities, where students earn over 40% of the cost of their education while gaining real-world professional experience. The school has maintained a 100% college acceptance rate across all 15 graduating classes, generated $59.9M in college scholarships for the Class of 2025, and ranks 3rd out of 38 schools in college readiness among all Cristo Rey Network schools.

The school's core programmatic offerings include the CWSP (the central product), the Healthcare Career Pathway Program (a CNA training pipeline with St. Catherine University that doubled from 12 to 24 students in its second year, funded by GHR Foundation), the Ken Melrose Technology Lab (M-Lab, opened October 2021, providing instruction in coding, CAD, circuitry, audio/visual editing, and social media marketing using industrial equipment such as laser cutters, CNC routers, 3D printers, and drones), and a College Success program providing alumni support through college. The primary physical asset is the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center, completed June 2007 and jointly developed with Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation, designed by Fielding-Nair International and built by Ryan Companies.

The business model is a three-stream non-profit revenue structure: tuition and fees (with 100% financial aid available to all enrolled students, making net tuition a modest contribution), corporate partner contributions tied to CWSP placements (effectively a per-student sponsorship), and donations and fundraising (the UnGala 2025 raised over $530,000 and the Support Our Scholars breakfast is an annual recurring event). Distribution is via direct admissions — campus tours, open houses, an admissions team, and a formal application process — with the Cristo Rey Network providing national brand recognition. The school is AdvancED-accredited, has 75+ faculty and staff, and is currently expanding via a third-floor construction project (Loyola Hall) that began in July 2024.

Name

Cristo Rey

Legal name

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Website

https://cristoreytc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a private Catholic college-preparatory school in Minneapolis serving approximately 400 low-income students, integrating rigorous academics with four years of paid corporate work-study placements at 110+ Twin Cities partner companies, achieving 100% college acceptance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Private school tuition funding with Financial Aid available to 100% of Cristo Rey students.
2. Corporate Work Study Program Revenue: Corporate partners effectively sponsor student positions in the Corporate Work Study Program, providing funding in exchange for student work contributions. Students earn over 40% of the cost of their education by working at partner companies.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fundraising through events such as the UnGala, which raised over $530,000 at the 2025 event, and Support Our Scholars breakfast.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a private Catholic college-preparatory high school in Minneapolis serving students from families with limited economic resources. Its defining product is the four-year Corporate Work-Study Program (CWSP), in which students are placed with 110+ corporate partners across the Twin Cities and earn over 40% of the cost of their education while gaining professional experience, supplemented by a Healthcare Career Pathway, a College Success program, and technology education in the Ken Melrose Technology Lab (M-Lab). Tuition is offered with financial aid available to 100% of enrolled students.

Product overview

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School offers a college and career preparatory education with a unique integrated model combining rigorous academics with four years of professional work experience through its Corporate Work-Study Program (CWSP). The school provides access to Catholic, Jesuit education for students with limited economic resources. Key offerings include the Ken Melrose Technology Lab (M-Lab) for technology education, a Healthcare Career Pathway Program with CNA certification, and a College Success program that has achieved 100% college acceptance. The school operates from the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center facility, providing athletics, fine arts, and campus ministry programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Work-Study Program (CWSP) A four-year program placing Cristo Rey students in entry-level professional roles at 110+ corporate partner companies across the Twin Cities, with student earnings covering over 40% of education cost. Designed for Cristo Rey students and partner employers in healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, insurance, and professional services.
• Healthcare Career Pathway Program A program preparing Cristo Rey students for healthcare careers through an intensive summer Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, delivered in partnership with St. Catherine University and funded by GHR Foundation, with student placements at healthcare partners such as Children's Minnesota, Cerenity Senior Care, and Minnesota Epilepsy Group.
• College Success Program Continued support services helping Cristo Rey students and alumni navigate to and through college, including college selection, scholarship application support, and alumni services. Reported to contribute to a 100% college acceptance rate and millions of dollars in scholarships annually.
• Ken Melrose Technology Lab (M-Lab) Curriculum Technology education curriculum delivered in the Ken Melrose Technology Lab opened in October 2021, offering hands-on instruction in Coding, CAD, Circuitry, Audio/Visual Editing, and Social Media Marketing using equipment such as Laser Cutter, CNC Router, 3D Printers, Drones, Robots, and video/photography software. Aimed at Cristo Rey high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate every year since inception
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Catherine UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Cristo Rey to provide healthcare career pathway programs, including an intensive summer Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program that has grown from 12 students to 24 students in its second year.
• Urban Ventures Leadership FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-owns the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center facility with Cristo Rey. Launched the facility in 2002 to serve youth of the Phillips neighborhood. Shared mission to provide educational and youth development services.
• Ryan CompaniesminorOthersDesigned and constructed the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center facility completed in June 2007.
• Fielding-Nair InternationalminorOthersInternationally recognized school design firm served as principal educational facility consultant for the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center.
• Monarch Healthcare ManagementcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program partner that has grown from sponsoring 2 students at 1 location to now sponsoring 20 students across 5 locations. Provides meaningful healthcare internship experiences.
• Patterson CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study Program partner since 2016, supporting student interns like Jhonson and Sam who contribute to projects, research, and explore different business departments.
• Homeward Bound Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst-year Corporate Work Study partner that welcomed 4 student interns, including seniors. Providing real-world experience, leadership conference access, and professional support. Doubling interns next year.
• Children's MinnesotacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner hosting CNA student placements as part of the Healthcare Career Pathway Program.
• UnitedHealth GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner providing healthcare sector internship opportunities for students.
• MedtroniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner providing medical technology sector internship experience.
• Minnesota Epilepsy Group, P.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner hosting CNA student placements in healthcare career pathway.
• Cerenity Senior CarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner hosting CNA student placements in senior care facilities.
• Tennant CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner where students like Raul have worked as Business Process Analysts for multiple years, handling system error logs, data analysis, and team collaboration.
• Urban Ventures Cornwell Early Learning CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner providing early childhood education placements where students support teachers and work with young children, with mentorship from Educational Co-Director Jen Whelan.
• Delta DentalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in the healthcare/dental services sector.
• EcumencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in senior living and healthcare services.
• FrasercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in healthcare services.
• EbenEzercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in healthcare services.
• American Red Cross Minnesota & Dakotas RegioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in humanitarian services.
• MedicacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in health insurance services.
• Mission Animal HospitalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in veterinary services, featured in local news coverage of student experiences.
• Masonic Institute for the Developing BraincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Work Study partner in healthcare research and development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Academy of Holy Angels: Minneapolis-area Catholic college-prep high school sharing the same local applicant pool and Catholic mission orientation. Comparable as a local Catholic peer for admissions competition, though without the CWSP funding model.
• De La Salle High School: Minneapolis-based Catholic college-prep high school serving a similar Twin Cities demographic. Comparable as a local Catholic peer with overlapping applicant pool, though lacks the Corporate Work Study funding model that differentiates Cristo Rey.

Emerging players

• Success Academy Charter Schools: NYC charter network with rigorous college-prep focus and strong outcomes for underserved students. Comparable on outcome-driven positioning, though operates in a different metro and as public charters rather than private Catholic.
• Uncommon Schools: Northeast charter network (NYC, Newark, Boston, Rochester) operating college-prep charter schools for students from low-income backgrounds. Comparable mission of college readiness outcomes for underserved populations.
• IDEA Public Schools: Large Texas-based public charter network with explicit college-for-all mission serving predominantly low-income and minority students. Comparable on scale ambition and outcome-driven positioning for underserved populations.
• KIPP Foundation (KIPP Schools): National charter school network with explicit mission of college-prep education for students from underserved communities. Shares the outcome-driven, mission-focused positioning but operates as a public charter network rather than private Catholic model.
• Noble Network of Charter Schools: Chicago-based charter network focused on college readiness for underserved students with strong outcomes track record. Comparable on mission and outcome orientation, though structured as public charter campuses rather than a single-site Catholic school.

Others

• Cristo Rey Network: National network of 38 Catholic college-prep high schools operating the same Corporate Work Study Program model. As the parent organization providing shared branding, accreditation support, and standards, the network is the institutional counterpart rather than a true independent peer.

Direct peers

• Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School: Sister Cristo Rey Network school operating the identical Corporate Work Study Program model in a different metro, serving similar low-income demographic with college-prep mission and corporate-funded tuition offset. Most directly comparable on operating model and target population.
• Cristo Rey New York High School: Sister Cristo Rey Network school in Harlem running the same work-study-funded model serving students from limited economic backgrounds. Comparable on CWSP structure, Jesuit college-prep mission, and 100% college acceptance outcomes.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CristoReyJesuitTC/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/cristoreytc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cristo-rey
• Instagraminstagram.com/cristoreytc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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