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Changing America one student at a time

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Transforming urban America one student at a time, Providence Cristo Rey High School is a school promising success for its students. As a Catholic, college prep institution of learning, Providence Cristo Rey offers an unparalleled look into the ā€œreal world,ā€ yet struggles with boosting attendance numbers.

Providence Cristo Rey is one of 22 schools nationwide in a network modeled after Cristo Rey Jesuit High School of Chicago. In 1996, the flagship school was launched by a group of Jesuits who were dissatisfied with the dropout rate in Chicago. With quality education in mind, they chose to begin a college prep school for kids who were not typically college bound, were of low-income and who didnā€™t find themselves in an environment conducive to learning.

Providence Cristo Rey is independent of other schools in the Cristo Rey Network, but holds steadfast to 10 standards such as accepting kids who come from moderate to low income families, being anchored by a faith-based organization and addressing diverse learning styles.

Like most college prep schools in Indiana, Providence Cristo Rey has created an educational program solely geared toward the Core 40 diploma or Core 40 with honors. Students take a minimum of three years of English, math and science among other courses. No student would be able to graduate with anything less than a Core 40 diploma.

Providence Cristo Rey may seem like your average college prep school but what puts them in a class of their own are their high expectations of their students.

ā€œEither you stay here and go with the program, or you donā€™t stay here. We never talk about ā€˜if you go to college;ā€™ we talk about ā€˜when you go to college.ā€™ Weā€™re not going to underperform, but if you want to be in this school, (students) canā€™t underperform either,ā€ said Jeanne Hagelskamp, president of Providence Cristo Rey High School.

Hagelskampā€™s faculty and staff have created an environment favorable to active and effective learning. Kids come from all across the city and are as diverse as they come. Because the school is small and only in its second year of existence, students generally attend classes despite achievement level. There are advanced classes for the exceptionally bright, which Hagelskamp hopes to increase as the schoolā€™s population increases.

Hagelskamp and her crew are still laying down the groundwork for what they hope Providence will be. One aspect of the school seems to have hit a home run from the beginning is Providence Cristo Reyā€™s work program.

Students are required to pay a tuition of anywhere between $500 and $2,250 but much of the cost is offset by Hagelskamp pounding the pavement and the schoolā€™s corporate clients. Students are required to work a total of five days per month getting real life job experience at companies such as Baker & Daniels LLP, Clarian Health, Eli Lilly and Co., Roche Diagnostics and the list continues to grow.

One such student has taken full advantage of what Providence has to offer. Sophomore Terry Majors is not only an exceptional student; heā€™s employed by corporate client Ice Miller LLP. Majors knows heā€™d succeed no matter what school he attends, due to his familial support, yet he enjoys the opportunities awarded to him through school.

ā€œIā€™ve seen many statistics that say Black males arenā€™t made to make it, made to succeed. As a Black male, I feel I should apply myself a bit more to show we do still have smart males out there; all of us arenā€™t dumb,ā€ said Majors. ā€œI have an early start to that.ā€

Majors is also one of 18 youths to serve as part of Indiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council. Appointed by state lawmakers and the governor, council members serve a two-year term and tackle issues affecting Indiana youth such as education, employment, substance abuse and foster care among others.

Representing Indianapolis, Majors is not only the youngest but also one of only three Blacks in the council. Majors is also setting his sights on Indiana colleges to one day become an attorney.

While students like Majors are getting a leg-up on their future, Providence Cristo Rey is still searching for students to fill its scarce classrooms. The average size classroom is 12 to 14 students and the school has only 90 students total. It has the capacity to fit 400 and is constantly growing educationally. Just this month, Hagelskamp added a new biology lab donated by Eli Lilly.

With the corporate connections and premier education, one would think parents would be flocking to Providence Cristo Rey. Exposure may contribute to low attendance, but Hagelskamp believes potential costs may scare parents.

ā€œWe will never want money to be a reason for a student not to come. Weā€™ll work with parents,ā€ said Hagelskamp.

To help their situation, Providence Cristo Rey will be hosting an open house Nov. 23 from 1-3 p.m. where families can come and see what the school is all about and meet students, parents and corporate partners.

ā€œThere are some students who say ā€˜I can get a diploma a lot easier down the street.ā€™ When the day is done, what have you learned? There are some great schools out there, but we feel we provide a great opportunity for kids to be in a college prep environment and professional work experience,ā€ added Hagelskamp.

For more information call (317) 860-1000, visit www.providencecristorey.org or visit www.cristoreynetwork.org.

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