CURRICULA ENHANCEMENTS

Enhancing our Curricula

Our Academic Renewal process began in 2019 as a result of evaluating our curricula through self-study for our Middle States accreditation and collecting feedback from Cristo Rey alumni in college. We identified a number of areas for improvement to better prepare students for college and careers. The information to follow details the work completed to date in each area of Academic Renewal. Cristo Rey plans to measure the effectiveness of these enhancements through PSAT and SAT scores, as well as high school and college graduation rates.

Mathematics

In collaboration with university professors from West Chester, Temple, and Villanova, our Math Faculty developed a new curriculum sequence called Integrated Math. Integrated Math

is organized by concept benchmarks rather than by subject

courses, a model which is common in most countries around the world and has proven results in increasing SAT scores in mathematics. Over a student’s first two and a half years at Cristo Rey, they will take Integrated Math, which combines topics in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and more, allowing them to develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts with a focus on real-world implementation. In their junior year, students have the opportunity to choose a course track in Statistics or Calculus that they will take through senior year.

STEM

Through insights from Cristo Rey’s findings in our “Jobs of the Future” research report, as well as student career interest surveys and input from alumni, our Science Faculty developed a science curriculum to better prepare students for careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Cristo Rey partnered with Philadelphia Education Fund’s McKinney Center for STEM Education to collaborate in designing an integrated curriculum that combines

topics from three STEM pathways – Life Sciences, Data Analytics

and Engineering Design. After taking two years of Integrated Science, students choose a STEM pathway they would like to pursue in their junior and senior year. Our Science Team is working closely with the Work-Study Team to build STEM career exposure beginning freshman year by bringing STEM professionals into classes. We are also working to better align students’ interests in STEM with their Work-Study job opportunities.

“Enhancing the STEM curriculum has allowed us to leverage what makes us unique – our Work-Study Program. We want to be at the forefront when thinking about ‘jobs of the future’ for our students.”

- Adam Mesewicz, Science Faculty, STEM Coordinator

Literacy

The focus of the Literacy Curriculum Renewal is to improve the alignment between Cristo Rey literacy-based courses (also known as humanities courses) – English, History, Theology, and Latin – so the courses mutually support each other. Previously, these courses operated in silos, which led to some fragmentation in the curriculum and lack of cohesion between a student’s humanities classes. With support from partners at Villanova University, the Humanities Faculty at Cristo Rey has improved alignment of content and rubrics to reinforce literacy skillbuilding across each humanities course and accelerate student learning. Our goal is to guarantee that all freshmen are being

taught the reading, writing, speaking, listening, research,

and grammar skills needed to thrive in 10th grade, and so forth, to better prepare them for college.

“Young people who can communicate well – in speaking and in writing – will find success in college and beyond; it’s our hope that this project sets them up for that success.”

- Erik Nelson, English Faculty, English Content Lead

Financial Literacy

Cristo Rey’s Financial Literacy Course launched in 2018 as a senior-level course to provide our students the basics of personal financial management. As we received feedback from alumni and gathered data on the impact of financial hardship on college persistence, it became clear we needed to expand our Financial Literacy curriculum. Thanks to the generous support of TD Bank, we were able to commit to an expansion in the 2022-2023 school year. Cristo Rey has partnered with Next Gen Personal Finance, supported by the Philadelphia Financial Scholars, to provide new curriculum resources, as well as professional development for faculty. We have added a junior-level Financial Literacy course and built financial literacy content into our Business Literacy curriculum, which is taken by all 9th and 10th graders to develop skills for the Work-Study Program. As a result

of students receiving financial literacy education in all four years of high school, they will be better prepared for managing

finances and student loans during and after college.