Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep

Cristo Rey St. Martin (CRSM) is a Catholic learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose, and service. Through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, integrated with a relevant work study experience, students graduate ready to succeed in college and life. CRSM was founded in the fall of 2004 with less than 100 students and only 13 supporting business partners. Today CRSM serves over 400 students and enjoys partnerships with more than 80 local businesses including corproate leaders like Walgreens, Abbott, and Wintrust. When CRSM was opened by Archdiocese of Chicago, it became the first Lake County Catholic high school to open in more than 40 years. As a Cristo Rey school aimed at “transforming urban America one student at a time," CRSM utilizes an innovative Corporate Work Study Program to provide top-tier education to low-income youth. To fund the school, students participate in a job-sharing program where they gain professional experience while also making money to pay for their education. This empowering initiative allows each student to fund the majority of their tuition while also setting his/her sights on future employment. Visit our website at cristoreystmartin.org to learn more, and watch this video to explain the work program in more detail: https://youtu.be/IN7I7uME5Dw