1995:  Origins of Cristo Rey: Father John P. Foley, S.J. returned to his hometown of Chicago by invitation of his Jesuit Provincial. The Provincial wanted to create a quality, Catholic, college preparatory high school in the Pilsen community of Chicago, a Hispanic neighborhood of working-class families with very limited options for giving their children a high quality education. The Jesuits literally walked the streets of the Pilsen neighborhood, asking the residents what they and their families needed most. A college preparatory high school was their response. Thus, Father Foley and his team created a plan to implement an innovative business model, the Corporate Work Study Program.

1996:  Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) opened with Father Foley as founder and the first president. (see photo)

2001:  News of the success of the original Cristo Rey school spread to educators and others throughout the country. Groups in Portland, Denver and Los Angeles approached Father Foley and other Cristo Rey Jesuit High School leaders about how they might replicate the school and its mission of serving students from economically challenged families in their own communities. In response, the Cristo Rey Network of schools was founded in 2001 with Father Foley as its first president.

2003:  The Cristo Rey Network was formally organized as a 501(c)3. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with venture philanthropists B.J. and Bebe Cassin, provided seed funding to promote the replication of the Cristo Rey schools.

2012:  The Walton Family Foundation announced its investment of $1.6 million in the Cristo Rey Network to accelerate growth, primarily in states that have either vouchers or tax credits.

2014:  The Cristo Rey Network began implementation of the organization’s 2020 Strategic Plan, with the objective to sustain growth while expanding impact. By 2020, Cristo Rey aims to serve 14,000 students annually in 40 Cristo Rey schools and have 20,000 alumni.

2016:  Origins of Cristo Rey Richmond: Following a series of community discussions, convened by Bishop Francis DiLorenzo, of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, the decision was made to initiate a two year study of the feasibility of the Cristo Rey model here in the Richmond region.  Bon Secours Richmond Health System together with the Catholic Diocese provided the initial support for the study.  A Feasibility Study Committee was formed in April of 2016, followed by the naming of the Committee Chair, Alexa Quinn, and hiring of a Feasibility Study Coordinator, Katie Yohe.  The efforts of the committee, and the community as a whole, helped secure financial, corporate, parental, and community support for the Cristo Rey project.  

2017:  To further their mission and expand the healing ministry of Bon Secours, Bon Secours Ministries, founded by the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris, accepted the calling as founding Religious Sponsor of Cristo Rey Richmond. In cooperation with the Catholic Diocese of Richmond who owned the campus, and our canonical sponsor, Bon Secours Ministries, we secured as an initial site, 304 N. Sheppard, the former home of Benedictine College Preparatory. In addition, Peter J. McCourt was named founding President & CEO of Cristo Rey Richmond. The results of the Feasibility Study were submitted for approval by the Cristo Rey Network national board of directors.

2018:  Generous donors continued to show their commitment of support providing over $2.5 million for initial start-up costs. Following the submission of the Feasibility Study Report, the Cristo Rey Network Board approved the associate membership of Cristo Rey Richmond High School in the Network.  This initiated the launch phase of the new corporate entities: Cristo Rey Richmond High School, Inc. and Cristo Rey Richmond Corporate Work Study Program, Inc.  New companies signed up to become our founding Corporate Work Study Partners, new community members pledged financial support of an additional $2 million and the search for the founding class of freshmen students began.  The decision was made, after careful consideration of options, to remain in the initial site for the school and work to restore the historic new home of Cristo Rey Richmond began in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.

2019:  On Monday, August 19, 2019, Cristo Rey Richmond High School opened its doors to the Founding Class of 2023. This Founding Class included 95 students from 34 middles schools and 33 zip codes.  The first year ended with the arrival of the COVID-19 global pandemic, forcing schools to “go virtual” almost overnight – and Cristo Rey did so and concluded the first year with all virtual instruction.

2023: 100% of Cristo Rey Richmond High School’s first graduating class was accepted to college, earning over $15 million in scholarships, grants, and financial aid offers.  Our founding Class of 2023 graduated on June 10th and made history again. Additionally, renovation and construction work continued on the campus, with the new Student Life & Administration Building opening in September.