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The Cristo Rey Network is comprised of 24 high schools throughout the United States that provide quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to urban young people who live in communities with limited educational options. Cristo Rey schools throughout the network have a demonstrated track record of success. 99.3 percent of the Cristo Rey Network Schools Class of 2008 were accepted to two or four year colleges. All Cristo Rey students participate in a work-study program that is managed by the school in partnerships with community businesses. The Cristo Rey development model seeks to integrate learning from the work program, the classroom and extracurricular experiences for the fullest benefit of its students.

Dear Parents and Students:

After an exhaustive three-month study, the NCCR Planning Team has released an initial Report on the Feasibility of a Cristo Rey School in Philadelphia. The study found sufficient community support for the alternative Catholic education model, but concludes that opening in September of 2010 is not feasible because of the insufficient time that is available to build a successful foundation for the school. All potential sponsors advised against a 2010 opening.

As you know, The Planning Team has worked in earnest to find a way to establish a Cristo Rey High School at the site of Northeast Catholic High School in an attempt to serve an underserved community and also to give the current students a place to finish their high school experience. The Planning Team made every effort to overcome obstacles to a September 2010 start-up, but has concluded that it would be impossible, in the few months remaining until the fall of 2010, to build the quality Cristo Rey school that parents and students deserve.

The conclusion regarding the start-up date is disappointing to the Planning Team. We know that it will be especially disappointing to parents and students and alumni who hoped that a new Cristo Rey high school could help fill the void created by the closing of Northeast Catholic High School.

The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales were active and valuable contributors to the initial planning phase. During the course of the work, the Oblates expressed their strong interest in sponsoring the new school, along with another religious community, a group of organized laypeople, or the Archdiocese itself. Very Rev. James J. Greenfield, OSFS, Provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, has announced that the Oblates will lead the next phase of planning which will focus on determining the feasibility of opening the new school in September of 2011.

The Initial Report describes the Planning Team’s findings and explains the reasons for the start date decision. We encourage you to review the full the report, which is available for download here

Sincerely,

NCCR Planning Team

The Planning Team is comprised of Philadelphia leaders in business and education, graduates of Northeast Catholic High School, representatives of the Northeast Catholic High School Alumni Association, the National Cristo Rey Network, The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and the Society of Jesus. Click here for a list of Planning Team members.

• Cristo Rey of Baltimore
• Cristo Rey of Los Angeles
• Cristo Rey of Boston
• Cristo Rey of Chicago
• Cristo Rey of New York
• Cristo Rey Network