Mission and Beginnings

Mission and Beginnings

Mission

Cristo Rey Jesuit, a Catholic high school for young women and men of all faiths and limited financial means, integrates rigorous academics, professional work experiences, and spiritual development to empower graduates to succeed in college and life.

Vision

Cristo Rey Jesuit graduates will be open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, work experienced and committed to doing justice. They will become leaders committed to a lifelong pursuit of learning, faith and justice.

In partnership with the USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, the Cristo Rey Network and the Milwaukee business community, our school will embrace families of limited financial means and promote religious, racial and ethnic diversity. We will nurture our students to be men and women in service to, and with, others through academic achievement, business experience, faith formation and civic leadership.

TIMELINE

2012-2014 Feasibility Study Phase
Led by Marquette University’s College of Education, now-President Andrew Stith, and a Feasibility Study Executive Committee

  • 500 students/parents and 100 community/education leaders interviewed
  • $5 million start-up funding raised
  • Letters of intent secured from the first Corporate Work Study partners
  • First school site selected

2014
Approval by the Jesuits and the Cristo Rey Network to open Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee

2015
Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee opens its doors as the 29th Cristo Rey Network School in the United States with its founding class of students

2016
Enrollment continues to grow with a second class of freshmen and a total of 50 Corporate Work Study Program partners

2017
With the third freshman class and continued overwhelming community support, Cristo Rey Jesuit begins to outgrow its space and searches for a new location. The school purchases the property at 1818 W. National Avenue in the Clarke Square neighborhood. The building will be renovated to optimize academic, artistic and athletic opportunities for students.

2018
The 2018-19 academic year marked the first full 9th-12th grade student body since the school opened. The school also announced they would build their new building from the ground up instead of renovating the current property.

2019
In May 2019, the inaugural class graduated from Cristo Rey Jesuit. 100% of them were accepted to college. In September, the school officially broke ground at 1818 W. National Avenue.

2020
In August, construction of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School was completed at 1818 W. National Avenue. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, small groups of students begin in-person learning in September.