Effective Practices: Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep

One of the foundations of going to school is to prepare each student for the real world. There's a large collection of various careers that can push these young pupils to finding their passion. It can be tough, but the right tools during their educational experience will keep them on balanced ground for the future. However, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep brings that real world experience to them even before they receive their high school diplomas. Their corporate work study program readies them for what the work world has waiting for them: Every Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep student carries a full course load of rigorous college preparatory coursework while working five 8-hour days each month at one of our Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) business partners. Our partners are in industries including health care, consumer goods, financial services, engineering, architecture, law, education and non-profit organizations. Our 10-month school year means our students gain valuable experience at their CWSP workplaces without missing any scheduled classes. Besides providing our students with an innovative way to fund the majority of their college prep education, their CWSP experience reinforces critical thinking and organizational skills that complements our work with them in the classroom. The CWSP experience provides students a platform to apply what they are learning and make connections to the world of work. Students also develop professional relationships that encourage success in college and throughout their lives. For more information on how the CWSP works and to become a CWSP business partner, please contact Kristen Watson kwatson@cristoreystmartin.org Check out the CWSP News Archive, too!