How Does It Work
Providence Cristo Rey High School offers a curriculum that enables each student to graduate with a Core 40 or Core 40 Honors diploma as well as four years of corporate work experience. In a typical month of 20 school days, students attend a regular schedule of college prep classes on 15 days that meet state requirements and work an average of 5 days. The Corporate Work Study Program, an integral part of the regular curriculum, at Providence Cristo Rey High School partners with local businesses and corporations such as pharmaceutical companies, law firms, accounting and investment firms, architects, construction engineers, hospitals, and real estate firms. These corporate partners contract for a team of four students who job share a full-time entry-level position. Each student works five full weekdays each month during normal business hours. Their class schedules are arranged so that no student misses academic classes due to work. Through this program, students earn almost 75% of their tuition. Even more important, the work experience in a professional setting assists students in building the knowledge, skills, motivation, and self-confidence to be successful in higher education, in the workplace, and in life.