Dive Brief:
- Forbes contributor Daniel Porterfield writes that the Cristo Rey Network debunks the common education argument that poverty holds low-income students back.
- Porterfield isn't exactly unbiased in his assessment of the network of 28 Catholic high schools — he serves on Cristo Rey's board — but the network is also mentioned in Megan Sweas’ new book, "Putting Education to Work," which cites Cristo Rey as an example in support of the ed reform argument that excellent school models can defy the odds.
- The Catholic network's first school opened in Chicago in 1996 with the goal of empowering the poor in the Pilsen neighborhood.
Dive Insight:
So what makes Cristo Rey successful? According to Porterfield, the school's senior ACT scores have been on the rise, college enrollment is higher than other high-poverty schools, and the schools have a much higher six-year college completion rate. Most specifically, the article points to the fact that since 2006, 74 Cristo Rey alums have enrolled in the prestigious Georgetown University. While it may be taking some longer than others to graduate, none have dropped out thus far.
While Sweas and Porterfield make some good points, it's important to consider a few other facts. Cristo Rey is a Catholic school, which means the parents electing to send their kids to this school are possibly providing more supports than would otherwise be the case. The schools have tuition, and while families can get scholarships or vouchers, the mere act of doing so shows extra dedication and commitment on the part of the family.
Additionally, the Cristo Rey Network has received a considerable amount of money from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (in 2003, it gave $20 million to help the network grow), as well as other foundations (the article says it has received over $40 million from the private sector). While philanthropy is great, it does seem a little unfair to compare a school with so much extra cash to a typical low-income high school.