Providence Cristo Rey

Providence Cristo Rey High School is not your typical high school. Not only is this Catholic school devoted to giving low-income students a quality college-prep education, but offers students a peek into the real world. With this learning model, PCR students are going places…literally.

Meet Darnell Bland Jr. As the valedictorian of the Class of 2011, this young man has received a full scholarship to Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

“I’ve worked so hard over the past four years,” said Bland. “I’ve always had good grades, but I figured if I want to be successful and go to college, I’d have to work extremely hard and show what I’m capable of.”

The importance of a good education was stressed in his single-parent household. At Georgetown, he intends to major in international business and minor in film.

Bland’s academic ambition is certainly impressive, but he’s really no different from his classmates. About 92 percent of his peers have been accepted into a four-year college or university ranging from Howard University to Purdue University, and have been offered over $1 million in scholarships.

One of 24 schools in the Cristo Rey Network, the Indianapolis institution prides itself on creating an environment of motivation and support from families, faculty and staff and corporate partnerships with businesses in the city.

One of the ways they make this model work is through their corporate work-study program where students leave campus to work in business settings such as CPA, marketing or scientific firms. They learn everything from how to use a phone system to confidentiality to how to develop a market research plan. This is one of the key factors that attracted Brittnee Vaughn to PCR her freshman year.

“To know that I’d get to work too – I knew this school was perfect for me,” said Vaughn.

She has worked at companies such as AIT Laboratories, Roche and Eli Lilly and plans to stay in Indianapolis to attend IUPUI majoring in forensic science. Bland worked at BDK, an accounting firm, and for the past three years as an executive assistant at August Mack. Students’ tuition is partially paid by the work-study program and PCR’s corporate partner list continues to grow.

Students aren’t just all about business and academics. Students still do normal activities such as lock-ins, student council, sports and prom.

“I was talking with a parent who said ‘the kids, while they’re in school, act like kids. They laugh and have fun. But the outcome is so much different in terms of how prepared they are when they leave school,” said Joe Heidt, president of PCR.

What also makes PCR an enterprising school is their small class sizes. Bland was always very studious, but coming from Indianapolis Public Schools to PCR his freshman year gave him the one-on-one attention he needed.

Additionally, PCR offers advanced studies and tutors and mentors for additional non-academic and academic support. A great example of this is after-school learning teams. This supplemental help, boosted the entire school’s grade point average a full point.

“There are a lot of private, college preparatory schools here in Indianapolis. We’re here to serve the families that can’t afford those schools, but desire that form of education,” said Heidt, who added that PCRHS students perform above the national average.

Attending PCR on Indianapolis’ Westside has certainly opened a lot of doors for Vaughn who is excited to attend IUPUI.

“I love my school and I’m grateful for everything it gave me,” she said.

Bland’s sentiments are similar to Vaughn’s. He is not only eagerly anticipating his trek to D.C., but proud to be a positive example for his family and friends.

His advice to his classmates, “Live life to the fullest and try to have as few regrets as possible. Live in the moment and put your best foot forward in everything you do,” said Bland. “Hold on to those relationships that helped you get to where you are and never forget who you are no matter how successful you become.”

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