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New Detroit Catholic High School to serve
low-income city youth and prepare them for college
For immediate relase from Cristo Rey Network
Thursday, June 14, 2007
 DETROIT – A new model of Catholic high school, proven successful around the country, will open in Detroit.
The Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school will be part of the Cristo Rey Network of high schools that will serve low-income students in the Detroit community. The new school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008 in southwest Detroit. Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit, this week gave his blessing for the new school.
Detroit Cristo Rey High School will be a "school that works" because its students will graduate ready for college. In addition, to help pay the costs of their private school education, every student will work an entry-level job at a local business one day a week through the school's Corporate Work-Study Program.
"It has taken the energy of many dedicated individuals who have served on a task force or committee to keep this project moving forward," says Sister Canice Johnson, RSM, project director for the Detroit Cristo Rey High School Planning Committee for the past two years.
Johnson touts the local corporations that have stepped up to provide corporate-work study jobs for the students. "We are extremely grateful to the 25 businesses that have expressed their belief in the youth of Detroit by committing to jobs," she says.
The Corporate Work-Study program will provide students an entry into the work force and provide businesses with young people eager to have real job experience. It is a win-win situation for both the students and the businesses.
Two religious congregations, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHMs) and the Basilian Fathers, will co-sponsor the school. Both congregations have a long and outstanding history in the metropolitan Detroit community.
The Basilian Fathers serve God's people in many different branches of education, including their presence at Catholic Central High School, first in Detroit and now in Novi, as well as Ste. Anne de Detroit Parish and the former Holy Redeemer High School in Southwest Detroit.
The IHM Sisters, known for their pioneering work in education, have served as educators in southeast Michigan for 160 years. The IHM sisters have taught in over 100 parish grade schools, in over 50 high schools and founded and sponsored several schools, including Immaculata High School in Detroit, Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills – both all-girl schools – in addition to Marygrove College.
"It's really exciting to open this unique model of school in Detroit and to be able to make a change in the lives of young people who might not otherwise have such an opportunity," said Sister Margaret Sweeney, IHM, a member of the congregation's Leadership Council.
Father Joseph Redican, CSB, of the Basilian General Council, added, "When the committee looked at this model and the success of the Cristo Rey Network, we were convinced it would be an excellent way to provide affordable, quality, Catholic education for youth in the city."
The Detroit Cristo Rey High School, scheduled to open in the fall of 2008 with 100 ninth-grade students, will add an additional grade each year. The full capacity of the school will be 500 students.
Updated June 16
Detroit Cristo Rey High School Corporate Work-Study Partners
At the press conference, Sr. Canice Johnson, RSM, the project director, indicated tuition would be about $2,200. To help defray costs, every student will work five days a month in an entry level job at one the school's 23 corporate work-study partners:
Capuchin Soup Kitchen
Communities in Schools
Detroit Salt Company
Henry Ford Health System, Community Care Services Division
I-Group Model and Talent Management
Kirch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrooke
Madonna Universtiy/Felician Sisters
Marygrove College
Mexincantown Community Development Corporation
Michigan Industrial Shoe Co.
Pitney Bowes Management Services
Polk Global Automotive, a division of R.L. Polk & Co.
Productions Plus
Southwest Detroit Business Association
St. John Health
St. Mary Mercy Hospital
The Bing Group
The Corradino Group of Michigan, Inc.
Think Detroit/PAL
UHY Advisors, MI, Inc.
VisionIT
William Beaumont Hospitals
YMCA
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