With Jesuits' support, new Cristo Rey school planned for Houston

Published: 2007-04-18

NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- The Society of Jesus' New Orleans province will sponsor a high school in Houston that will be part of the Cristo Rey Network, which establishes schools in urban areas to serve economically and educationally disadvantaged youths. The network has commissioned a feasibility study to determine where in Houston the high school should be located. It will serve the fourth most populous city in the country and one of the most ethnically diverse. The one-year feasibility study will begin this summer and will take into account demographic, educational, housing and other data. The study coordinator, who has not yet been hired, will interview local school, church and community leaders, and will conduct focus groups of middle-school students and their parents to gauge interest in the school. The study will determine whether there are enough entry-level clerical jobs in the area to support the school's students, as well as how many students might enroll. Cristo Rey schools partner with local businesses that provide job opportunities for students, covering their tuition through their salaries.

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