IMPACT REPORT | 2026
CRISTO REY PHILADELPHIA
MISSION & CHARISMS MISSION Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a college preparatory, Catholic school for students of all faiths, nurtures and challenges young people to recognize and realize their full potential as they learn to love others, grow in their faiths, and serve the common good.
WE BELIEVE in Somebodiness.
WE DREAM
with Creative Hope.
CHARISMS Our charisms reflect our faith in action. They are guided by our three endorsing communities — The Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — and by our belief that every student deserves to recognize and realize their full potential, what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called somebodiness.
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WE LEAD
in Truth, Unity, and Love.
WE SERVE
with Gentleness and Humility.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT NOVEMBER 2026
Dear Friends of Cristo Rey, Last summer, a few leaders in our community sat down to reflect on how our endorsing religious communities — The Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — have shaped our collective faith and mission at Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School. By definition, a charism is a special spiritual gift, grace, or supernatural power given by the Holy Spirit to an individual or community to benefit others and build up the Church. Our charisms, as noted to the left, alongside our mission and values, are now a cornerstone of our community and provide the spiritual foundation of Cristo Rey Philadelphia. By embodying our charisms, we strive to live out our mission each and every day. This applies to our high expectations and high support in Academics through the leadership of the Student Success Team. This manifests in collaboration with our Work-Study Partners and our students' lifelong preparation for the workplace through our Certification Program. The charisms are at work in our Wellness Department, which has intentionally built a culture to provide a supportive and empowering approach for our students. Additionally, these charisms guide and influence the choices and post-secondary journeys of our students as they navigate their career aspirations.
At our Mission Moments event celebrating our endorsing communities in November 2025, founding Board Chair Kevin Nadolski, OSFS, reminded us about how special and unique this community is when he said, “Among the favorite things, for me, about Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, is that it began with committed lay women and men who saw a need, responded to it, and then reached out to religious women and men to move it forward.” I am fortunate to be a part of this community as we celebrate our 15th year and plan for many years to come! We are proud of what we have accomplished and excited about our future. I hope you enjoy reading about the impact you make possible year after year for our determined and ambitious students. I speak for the entire Cristo Rey Philadelphia community when I say thank you. Your investment in our students lets them believe in their somebodiness, dream with creative hope, lead with truth, unity, and love, and serve with gentleness and humility. In Blue Pride,
SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM Thomas A. Shoemaker President & CEO Elizabeth Blessing, MEd Principal Porsha Faust Vice President of Corporate Work-Study Evelin Román Director of Admissions & Engagement Kate Reilly Vice President of Advancement
Thomas A. Shoemaker President & CEO
Rich Pugh Director of Student Life
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PAGE BY PAGE 5
| ACADEMICS
9
| COLLEGE ACCESS & PERSISTENCE
13
| WORK-STUDY
19
| STUDENT LIFE
21
| ALUMNI MILESTONES
23 | HORIZONS AT CRISTO REY
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WHO ARE WE? TOTAL ENROLLMENT 509 STUDENTS
$10,529 AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME PER CAPITA
RELIGION
• Christian (Non-Catholic)
44%
• Catholic
23%
• Muslim
12%
• Other religion
11%
• Does not identify
10%
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS (2025-2026)
95% Average Daily Attendance
RACE/ ETHNICITY
• Black/African American
73%
• Hispanic/Latino
19%
• Two or more races
5%
• Asian/Asian American
1%
294 Students Achieved a 3.0 GPA or Higher
• Non-Hispanic White
1%
• American Indian/ Alaska Native
1%
• Charter school
45%
100% Students Took PSAT or SAT
• Catholic school 36% FEEDER SCHOOLS
Retention from October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026
• Public school 11% • Private Non-Catholic school
7%
• Cyber school
1%
95%
Student Demographics are for the 2026-2027 School Year. |4
ACADEMICS High expectations and high support are what fuel our academic practice here at Cristo Rey Philadelphia. We support our teachers in improving their craft in the classroom to better prepare our students for college, whether it be in English I or Advanced Placement Physics. Our students are continuously challenged through rigorous college preparatory coursework. The structured, impactful support that our teachers provide is how our students meet high expectations.
CRISTO REY AP COURSE OFFERINGS AP Calculus AB AP Chemistry AP English Language and Composition AP Literature and Composition AP Modern World History AP Physics AP Pre-Calculus AP Research AP Seminar AP United States Government and Politics AP United States History
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ADVANCED PLACEMENT: WHERE PERSISTENCE BEGINS Participation in Advanced Placement (AP) classes has been linked to postsecondary persistence. Students who take even one AP course are better prepared to finish college. College Board research shows that a student's first AP course, followed by a second, brings the biggest predicted boost in college grades and on-time graduation. Cristo Rey Philadelphia has spent the last 12 years making sure more students can take those first courses. Providing access to our students allows us to better prepare them for their future college career. Additionally, it allows students to be more competitive in the college application process. And finally, once they are on the college campus of their choice, they are not only prepared for the level of work, but if they receive a 3 or higher on their exam, they are also able to receive credit, skip general education requirements, and register for classes early. Systematically, Cristo Rey Philadelphia has expanded AP programming. Beginning with two and now offering eleven, our students opt in to the class offerings that fit their interest and schedule. The gradual addition of AP classes has fostered increased rigor and college readiness for our students. Our most recent addition, AP Capstone, consists of an initial year of AP Seminar and a second year of AP Research. David Blome, PhD, AP Capstone Instructor and longtime Cristo Rey team member, knew he wanted to start this programming upon his arrival to Cristo Rey Philadelphia in 2016. After years of development, that dream came to fruition during the 2025-2026 School Year. When opening the AP Seminar class, Dr. Blome thoughtfully accepted 19 students, ensuring that they were motivated to succeed in their work. Students also understood that their AP Seminar class was a prerequisite for AP Research. Eighteen students received a 3 or higher, with two students earning a 5, and six earning a 4. Eleven are enrolled in AP Research during this current school year.
JOSÉ '27
One of the students who earned a 4 in AP Seminar and is currently enrolled in AP Research is José ’27. José says, “I chose to take AP Seminar because I wanted to undertake a difficult class that would strengthen the skills I was weakest in.” A student who historically shied away from public speaking or socializing, José knew that this class would both nurture and challenge him. He found that over the course of the year the anxiety that he experienced when public speaking slowly dissipated. He says he is “now able to confidently speak in front of strangers.” José also honed his time management and ability to analyze literature, skills that will greatly serve him in college. This year, José is enrolled in AP Research and his project is answering the question of how video games impact mental health and serve as coping methods for young people. He says, “I am able to learn more about ways to refrain from video game overuse and prevent any future harm for myself and, ideally, for others!” By enrolling in seven AP classes across two years, José is challenging himself to grow so that he is better prepared for college and beyond.
132 Students Took at Least One AP Class
238 AP Exams Taken
63% Exams Taken Received Score of 3 or Higher
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SETTING THE STANDARD FOR OUR STUDENTS' SUCCESS During the 2025-2026 School Year, the Student Success Department, formerly Academic Resources, rebranded. This change was intentional, because we wanted Student Success to be a place for all students to learn skills to better succeed in the classroom. Over the past several years, the expansion of staff for the Student Success Team has supported the academic success of our students across all grade levels. The team now consists of nine members: a Director, three Math Specialists, three English Language Arts Specialists, one STEM specialist, and an Alliance for Catholic Education Saint Joseph's University (ACESJU) Counseling fellow who oversees afterschool homework assistance and executive functioning support. This support staff is crucial to the college readiness of our students, because we are working to ensure that students are not only succeeding at grade-level appropriate learning, but are also prepared to persist through high school and college. The Student Success Team uses the Multi-Tiered System of Support when working with our students. Tier 1 is the universal intervention that takes place within the classroom and consists of teacher instruction. Tier 2 is reserved for small group interventions that take place through tutoring, academic coaching, or our Math Pilot Program. Tier 3 is individualized support. With the increased staff, students in need of Tier 3 support received academic coaching for executive functioning skill development, while students who needed support in specific instruction areas received tutoring twice per week. To complement tutoring, staff pushed into class time for support on alternating days. The Student Success Team largely focused on ensuring that students were learning to grade-level proficiency. Throughout the year, the Student Success Team hosted more than 500 tutoring sessions, up 44% from the 2024-2025 School Year. |7
“Working with Student Success has been amazing over the years. They have not only helped me academically, but have also supported me outside the classroom. They understood the pressure that I felt I was under when trying to balance my schoolwork and sports. Collaborating with Ms. Glover has taught me to never give up or be too hard on myself, because I always have her in my NAI’LEI ‘27 corner to support me.”
Over the course of the school year, our data reflected an increase in grades in both Mathematics and English. Equally powerful, the Student Success Team has experienced more students recognizing when they need help and seeking the support of their office, a skill that will assist our students in college, too! The increase in student advocacy can be attributed to the partnership between the Student Success Team and individual Grade Level Teams. Teachers are working to ensure that what is happening in the classroom is matched with a student’s intervention plan. We are fortunate to have a team dedicated to the academic success of our students. With high expectations must come high support and it is making a difference to help each of our students become college ready.
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COLLEGE ACCESS & PERSISTENCE CLASS OF 2026
122
78%
938
129
86%
92%
Graduates
Students Applied to At Least Five Affordable Schools
Total Acceptances
Total Colleges
Students Accepted to At Least Three 4 Year Colleges
Matriculated to 2 or 4 Year Institution
$5,962
Average "Out of Pocket" Cost per Student
$16M
Total Scholarship & Grant Dollars Earned
ALL CRISTO REY GRADUATES
DEGREE ATTAINMENT IN SIX YEARS • 4-year completed | • 2-year completed | • on track to complete CRPHS CLASSES OF 2016-2020
54%
47% 4-year | 7% 2-year
CRPHS CLASSES OF 2021 & 2022
55%
27% 4-year | 4% 2-year | 24% on track
Low-Income College Students
1,166 Alumni
14%
across the United States
High-Income College Students
58%
across the United States
(Numbers provided by the Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: 2026 Historical Trend Report)
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CLASS OF 2026 FEATURE: NYASIA HOLLAND Immaculata University, Class of 2030
Nyasia Holland’s life has always been centered around serving others. Now a freshman at Immaculata University studying Early Childhood Education, she plans to become a Kindergarten Teacher. Her love for working with young children and her belief in the importance of their earliest years in school have inspired her career path. “Being a part of a child’s early fundamental steps is really important for me,” she shared. “I really feel like I would be a good fit for that.” Cristo Rey Philadelphia prepared Nyasia for college in ways that extend beyond the classroom. Through the Work-Study Program, she gained experience at AmeriHealth Caritas, Main Line Health, Haverford Trust, and Independence Blue Cross, learning that dynamic and fast-paced environments suited her best, while also developing her confidence and professionalism. Nyasia's growth also extended into her leadership and faith. As a Student Ambassador, member of National Honor Society, and Campus Ministry Student Leader, she found opportunities to serve others and reflect on
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her own journey. Because of her excellent educators, she sought out ways to mentor others. Through Campus Ministry, she helped lead underclassmen during retreats and learned that supporting others begins with caring for yourself. Those experiences helped shape the confidence and sense of purpose she now carries into college. At the center of Nyasia’s motivation is her mother, a single parent who has made significant sacrifices so that she could pursue her dreams. When Nyasia told her mother that she wanted to become a teacher, her mother encouraged her to follow the path that made her happy and fulfilled. “My mom is my why,” Nyasia says. As she works toward becoming a teacher, Nyasia hopes to one day provide her students with the same patience, encouragement, and belief that others have given her. Her journey is a reminder that a Cristo Rey Philadelphia education does not end at graduation. It continues through the lives our alumni are creating for themselves.
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WORK-STUDY The Cristo Rey Philadelphia Work-Study Program is a transformative educational model that allows our students to earn a portion of their education while providing them with real-world work experience to better prepare them for their futures. Working at 100+ Job Partners and mentored by 330 supervisors, our students are becoming skilled professionals before they graduate from high school.
2025-2026
2026-2027
98%
123
Students Who Met or Exceeded Expectations at Work
Job Partners
260
93%
Hours Worked per Student during the School Year
Corporate Job Partners Renewed
WORK-STUDY PARTICIPATION 2025-2026
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$3.7M
8
Dollars Earned by Students
New Job Partners
100%
430
Networking Event Participation by Students
Industry Certifications Obtained by Students
2026-2027 WORK-STUDY PARTNERS
Elliott-Lewis
Office of the President
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PRESIDENT
ATHLETICS
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CERTIFICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE The professional landscape is rapidly changing and our Work-Study Program remains committed to evolving along with it. With the support of The Howley Foundation, the Work-Study Team created and rolled out our Certification Program to provide our students with the opportunity to receive industryrecognized certifications that strengthen their readiness for their Work-Study placements, build the credentials needed to stand out in the college admissions process, and prepare them for their future careers. In our pilot year, we focused on our freshmen and sophomores receiving training in Microsoft Essentials and CVS Customer Service. Additionally, a cohort of 26 juniors took an elective to obtain their Google Project Management, Specialized Career Track Certifications, and AI Essentials training. The entire Class of 2026 received their Introduction to Investment Certificate from Brown Brothers Harriman during their Financial Literacy class. In addition to the in-class certifications, 26 juniors and seniors completed Phlebotomy and Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) programming after school. All programs provided the essentials for specialized training and vital clinical skills, respectively. In total, 430 students had the opportunity to obtain certifications aligned with their grade-level and interest. Tommy McBride, Career Connected Learning Specialist (pictured, left), helped students settle into a routine from the start. Mr. McBride set up each class to begin with building an understanding of the program from the ground up. Students needed to know key terms and functions of the program before working with it. Our young professionals moved on to putting those skills to practice and then worked together through projects based in real-life scenarios taking place in workplaces across the region. The addition of real-time application of skills learned in the classroom accelerated the overall learning process and provided the hard skills expected while working in a corporate setting. During the 2026-2027 School Year, our returning industry-certified students can confidently walk into their job placements knowing how to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the assignments they receive while at work. | 15
JAMIR '28
JAMIR completed Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint Certifications during his sophomore year. He found that the skills he was learning in the classroom were helping him in real-time at his Work-Study placement. While in the Accounting Department at Conner Strong & Buckelew, he said,
“The Microsoft Excel Certification course I took really helped me prepare for this role, because I already knew a lot of the skills they were trying to teach me on the job. I learned how to organize spreadsheets, format rows and columns, and use functions, which made my work easier to understand. The practice we did in class working with messy data and using functions definitely helped me feel more confident at work.”
ZAINAB successfully completed the Phlebotomy programming during her junior year. This year, she is placed at Virtua Voorhees Hospital and is working as a Phlebotomist on their Clinical Laboratory and Pathology Team. Zainab says, ZAINAB '27
“Earning my Phlebotomy Certification through Cristo Rey has opened doors for me that I never imagined. Because of the skills and training I received, I’m now able to work in the laboratory at Virtua Health as a Phlebotomist and gain real experience in the healthcare field. Working alongside my supervisors has helped me become more confident, responsible, and comfortable in a professional environment. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I know this experience is helping prepare me for the career I want to build in healthcare.”
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BUILDING SKILLS & IMPROVING CARE WITH JEFFERSON Jefferson has been a Job Partner since the 2015-2016 School Year. Hosting 91 students over the last 10 years, various departments across the health system have hosted our young professionals. The daily work of our students makes a difference, and Dylan PerezLopez ’26 enhanced the standard of care for Jefferson because of his work last year. Dylan, who aspires to become a dentist, was placed with Jefferson to learn more about healthcare during his senior year at Cristo Rey Philadelphia. Reporting to Jefferson Abington Hospital each week, Dylan jumped right into his role with the Nursing Education & Professional Development Team. His supervisors Lauren and Tierra set a routine for him early, understanding that structure for the work day is essential to learning how best to operate in a workplace. About halfway through the year, Jefferson needed updated guidelines regarding peripheral IVs placed in the lower extremities, specifically in the foot. The Nursing Education & Professional Development Team was tasked with figuring out the next steps. Lauren and Tierra decided that this was the perfect task for Dylan. It was work Lauren would do herself and she believes that “at any point in
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someone’s career, it is a really good idea to know how to search for literature, pick good literature, what to do with it when you find it, and how to move it forward.” To begin his research, Dylan worked with the Hospital Librarian to locate specific accredited publications and set to work. From his research, Dylan found the recommendations. Then, Jefferson engaged the Vascular Research Team and the Laboratory, because they were the staff performing the work. Dylan presented his findings and both teams used his research to put forward his recommendations to the Jefferson Shared Governance Board. Moving forward, Dylan’s work will live within Jefferson’s expectations of care and ensure that patients are receiving the care they need to be healthy and well. Providing Cristo Rey Philadelphia students with real-world experiences creates significant change, not only for our studentworkers, but also for our Work-Study Partners, like Jefferson.
“At first I wasn’t very comfortable with my research, let alone the impact it might make. But now seeing how much of an impact it has had, I am very happy to have done that work while at Jefferson. I want to thank my team for supporting me throughout the research process! I am grateful I did this project, because it helped me understand a nurse's job and a small piece of what takes place daily in healthcare. Overall, I am glad I had the opportunity to experience this and I hope someday another student intern can make such a difference as well.” — Dylan Perez-Lopez ’26 (pictured, second from left)
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STUDENT LIFE A sense of belonging can make all the difference in a student’s Cristo Rey Philadelphia journey. We know that engaged students persist through high school graduation. Through sports, clubs, retreats, service opportunities, and wellness, students find meaningful ways to connect with their school community and better prepare themselves to become active participants in their post-secondary journey. During the 2025-2026 School Year, students participated in 33 clubs, 17 athletic teams, 25 retreats, and 50 Service Track placements through the offerings of Student Engagement, Athletics, and Campus Ministry. Survey data and student feedback helped the Student Life Team identify barriers to participation and consider how to best help more students become engaged. The Student Life Team’s growing ability to measure engagement allows Cristo Rey Philadelphia to be more intentional about creating opportunities where every student can find a place to belong, already increasing student engagement. When students find a team, club, service opportunity, retreat, or community where they feel connected, they have a reason to continue showing up in those spaces. We know engaged students persist and persistent students graduate and succeed in college and beyond.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
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99%
210
74%
Retreat Attendance
Students Involved in At Least One Sport
Students Involved in At Least One Extracurricular Activity
SPOTLIGHT: STUDENT WELLNESS Our move from Counseling to Wellness reflects a broader, more proactive approach to supporting what students need to realize their full potential. The Wellness Team supports students through times of crises and in times of calm by working proactively to build relationships and create a culture of prioritizing wellness. They also help students develop the tools they need to navigate high school and beyond. Throughout the 2025-2026 School Year, Wellness focused on freshmen connections, conducting one-on-one check-ins with every 9th grader at the beginning of their Cristo Rey Philadelphia journey. These conversations helped students build an early connection with the Wellness Team while allowing the school to identify mental health needs and encouraging students to seek support when they may be feeling overwhelmed by all the demands of being a high schooler. This proactive approach reflects our belief in each student's somebodiness and helps them recognize and realize their full potential. Every student brings their own experiences, strengths, and challenges to school and the Wellness Team aims to meet them with compassion and respect. Providing a full-time nurse five days a week has expanded the department’s ability to care for students’ physical health, while surveys and student feedback have provided important insight into their mental health, experiences with support, and access to wellness resources. The Wellness Team also recognized that supporting students requires a community. By remaining accessible to Work-Study Supervisors, Cristo Rey Philadelphia Faculty & Staff, and collaborative program partners, Wellness has created a more connected network of care. This shared responsibility reflects the importance of listening to what students are telling us and using what we learn to better support them. That spirit of care continues beyond graduation. Through Senior Exit Interviews, the team connected with the colleges and universities where the Class of 2026 planned to enroll, helping students identify the on-campus mental health and academic support resources available to them. The goal was to prepare students for what comes next and equip them to advocate for themselves. By making Wellness a part of the student experience, not simply a service students seek when they need help, our team helps create a community where students know they matter and have the support they need to move forward. | 20
ALUMNI MILESTONES: 5 & 10 YEARS Since 2016, over 1,000 alumni have graduated from Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School. Any one of their stories can affirm the extraordinary potential of each student who walks through our doors. While it is our mission to help our students recognize and realize their full potential, it is their action that sets the course of their futures.
NAFEESE MORGAN Cristo Rey Philadelphia, Class of 2021 Gannon University, Class of 2025 & 2026
5 YEARS
When Nafeese graduated from Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School in 2021, he became the school’s first student to attend Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. While there, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2025, followed by a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration in 2026. Today, he works as a Patient Care Technician at St. Vincent Hospital within the inpatient psychiatric unit, continuing to explore the many opportunities within healthcare. Leaving Philadelphia meant starting fresh without his friends or family by his side, but Nafeese was ready to find his own path. His interest in healthcare began at home, with both of his parents working in the field. At Cristo Rey Philadelphia, the Work-Study Program gave him the chance to explore that interest firsthand. Through multiple placements at Holy Redeemer Hospital, he gained experience in central sterilization and day surgery which consisted of stocking rooms, writing get well cards, organizing discharges, and creating basins for different surgeries, before taking on a research consulting project as a senior. His work compared Holy Redeemer’s mission and audience with those of other area hospitals and he presented his findings to hospital board members. These experiences gave Nafeese opportunities to explore his interests and begin imagining what his future in healthcare could look like.
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Nafeese credits Cristo Rey Philadelphia with preparing him for the academic demands of college and helping him grow in confidence. As a Student Ambassador and Choir member, he found opportunities to connect with his school community beyond the classroom. Work-Study also helped him step outside of his comfort zone. What once felt like a challenge became a foundation for the independence he carried with him to Gannon. “I was kind of shy going into high school,” he recalls, reflecting on how staying after school for activities helped him build relationships with teachers and classmates. The confidence he developed at Cristo Rey Philadelphia helped prepare him to navigate a new city and create his own path. Although Nafeese has embraced new experiences since moving to Erie, his connection to the Cristo Rey Philadelphia community remains strong. He recently reconnected with his former Scholarship Partner and joined the Cristo Rey Alumni Association. His ties to our school have come full circle with his younger brother now attending as a freshman. Nafeese loved his time at Cristo Rey Philadelphia and encouraged his brother, Caleb, to follow in his footsteps, hoping he would find the same sense of community and opportunity that shaped his own experience. For Nafeese, seeing his brother begin his own journey is a reminder of how much Cristo Rey has meant to him and the lasting impact it continues to have on his family.
Since graduating from Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School in 2016 and Georgetown University in 2020, Esthela Gonzalez has built a career that brings together her professional skills and creative passions. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Justice and Peace Studies and a minor in Psychology, Esthela initially pursued a pre-law track and completed several immigration law internships. In that time, she also discovered her interest in digital marketing. Today, she serves as a Senior Digital Associate at The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit consulting organization, where she manages digital communications across the organization’s website, social media, webinars, newsletters and email marketing. Esthela is especially proud of becoming a Georgetown graduate as a Mexican-American and a first-generation college student, forging a path for those who will come after her. Her mother taught her early on that education is one of the few things no one can take away from her, a lesson that continues to guide her today. Additionally, Esthela has learned to make room for her creative passions and take risks. She has pursued training as an actor, engaged with local theaters, and created her own social media platforms where she creates her own content. “I’ve always tried to stick to a more traditional career path,” she shared, “but I used my college experience and beyond to tend to my inner desires and take leaps of faith towards my passions.”
community helped prepare her for the transition to Georgetown, while the Work-Study Program gave her an early introduction to professional environments. “Through those experiences, I developed skills in networking, workplace etiquette, and building professional relationships before many of my peers applied for their first internship,” Esthela says. While she recognizes that much of college and adulthood can only be learned through experience, she believes Cristo Rey Philadelphia played an important role in preparing her for what came next.
ESTHELA GONZALEZ Cristo Rey Philadelphia, Class of 2016 Georgetown University, Class of 2020
10 YEARS
Esthela draws inspiration from her mother, her Mexican heritage, her faith, and her desire to uplift the voices of others. This is evident through her work at The Bridgespan Group, as the firm consults globally on economic mobility, global development, public health and so much more. Her experiences have shaped the way she understands adversity, not as a limitation, but as a source of strength. “Cristo Rey taught me that your inner power doesn’t just come from your immediate circumstances,” she said. “It comes from your response to adversity and from having a community truly invested in your potential.” Her journey reflects the lasting impact of a Cristo Rey education: giving students the skills to pursue what comes next and empowering their confidence to recognize the power already within them.
Esthela credits Cristo Rey Philadelphia with giving her a strong foundation for both college and her early career. She was heavily involved in extracurriculars during high school, participating in Mock Trial, Cross Country, National Honor Society, and Slam Poetry. Our rigorous coursework, AP classes, and supportive | 22
HORIZONS AT CRISTO REY As an extension of Cristo Rey Philadelphia’s mission, Horizons at Cristo Rey provides a place for our students to learn and exposes them to various experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Horizons served 91 children in grades K-6 this summer! While our six-week summer program provides a central hub of instruction, our year-round programming provides additional connection and learning for our students. While we relocated to Mercy Career & Technical High School during construction on campus this past summer, our program remained a place for our children to grow while learning skills they could utilize both in and out of the classroom. Horizons, intentionally structured to combat summer learning loss, prepares our students to return to school each year ready to reach their highest potential. We partner with local organizations to deliver hands-on curriculum and extracurricular experiences. Whether it be through one-on-one instructional coaching in both Reading & Literacy and Mathematics, engineering projects in STEMSpark, swim lessons at KIDSFirst Swim School, or the introduction of FitMoney’s financial literacy curriculum, our students experienced measurable growth over the course of six weeks.
91 Number of Students in 2026 Summer Program
7:1
To read more about the incredible impact of Horizons at Cristo Rey Philadelphia, please see the enclosed Summer 2026 Horizons Impact Report.
Student to Teacher Ratio
TIME SPENT ACROSS SIX WEEKS
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30
45
9
12
12
Hours of Mathematics
Hours of Reading & Literacy
Hours of STEMSpark
Hours of Social-Emotional Learning
Sessions of Swimming
K-6 Graders gained
K-1 Graders gained
2-6 Graders gained
8
11.1
8.1
Weeks of Growth in Mathematics*
Weeks of Growth in Early Literacy*
Weeks of Growth in Reading*
* This data represents Horizons Greater Philadelphia’s regional growth of students across four Horizons sites.
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MISSION FUNDING Thanks to the continued support from our network of donors, foundations, corporations and organizations, Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School is fortunate to have maintained a strong financial position in fiscal year 2026. FISCAL YEAR 2026 • Fundraising Revenue
$ 11,256,610
• Work-Study Contract Revenue
$ 2,489,700
• Philanthropically Funded Work-Study Revenue Total Revenue
$
1,318,500
$ 15,064,810
Please note that the above shows pre-audited figures. Final audited figures are available upon request.
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CRISTO REY PHILADELPHIA
PRESIDENT’S
HORIZONS
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ADVISORY COUNCIL
ADVISORY BOARD
Michael Moran Retired Managing Director Towers Watson Chair
Andrew Hope Counsel & Shareholder Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Carol Rooney Retired Director SEI Financial Services Chair
Brandon Andres Partner KPMG
Steve Jannetta Partner Morgan Lewis
Lise Ashton Volunteer Horizons and Cristo Rey
Christie Archbold Senior Vice President of Accounting AdaptHealth
Paul Kallmeyer Retired Deputy General Counsel UnitedHealth Group
Keshema Davidson Co-Founder & CEO Early College Charter School of Philadelphia
Jonathan Blauvelt Vice President of Finance Enterprise Holdings
Robert Sean Lawlor Head of Public Markets SEI
Ian Swedish Partner CCS Fundraising
Jake Brown Regional Vice President, Transportation NFI Industries
Joe Manion Vice President, Finance for Strategic Initiatives Essent US Holdings, Inc.
Eleanor Davis Trustee School of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania
Steve Tazza Chief Investment Officer Private Family Office
Priscilla Connolly Co-Founder Cristo Rey Volunteers
Steve Morris Financial Planner PFG Advisors
James Gallagher, PhD President Emeritus Philadelphia University
Fr. Brian Zumbrum, OSFS Assistant Principal & Director of Activities Salesianum High School
Lindsey DiGangi Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company
Caroline Packer Vice President Goldman Sachs
Kerry Henkels Mother of 4 Children
Robert (Rip) Collins Retired CEO TEC Services Chair
Charlie Herrin President of Technology, Product & Experience Comcast
Steve Delaney Partner Deloitte Vice Chair
Fr. Jeremy Hiers, OSA Vocation Director Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova
Sr. Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM, EdD President Villa Maria Academy High School
Anthony C. Stevenson, EdD Director of Human Resources Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Secretary
Meg Howley Executive Director The Howley Foundation
John Scheffey President & CEO Core States Group
Ken Kind President van Ameringen Foundation
Thomas A. Shoemaker President & CEO Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School
Peter Blommer Retired CEO Blommer Chocolate Company Bryan Carter President & CEO Gesu School Ruby R. Chandy CEO Lumina Advisory Services Fr. Peter Donohue, OSA, PhD President Villanova University Peter Ernst Executive Director McCausland Foundation Christopher J. Fazio Founding Partner Attolon Partners Fr. John Fisher, OSFS Pastor Our Mother of Consolation Parish Lisa Flynn Co-Chair Malvern Preparatory School Capital Campaign
Jim Lawson Partner & Managing Director Russell Reynolds Associates Juan Lopez Senior Strategic Advisor Independence Blue Cross Bill McKernan President Ignyte Insurance Sr. Mary McNulty, IHM Principal St. Francis de Sales School Jibreel Murray ’16 Senior Fixed Income Investment Officer Haverford Trust Pat O’Brien Founder & President MK2 Marketing LLC Mark Parker Executive Vice President, Head of Banking Operations TD Bank Group
Fr. Donald F. Reilly, OSA, DMin Prior of St. Thomas Monastery St. Thomas of Villanova
Robert Fahey Retired Executive Vice President CBRE Stephen Gleason President Kairos Real Estate Partners Corinne Good Vice President, Tax Berwind Corporation
Dave Poniatowski Principal Ernst & Young George Rafferty Retired President of Corporate Partnerships Cencora Connor Topper Vice President, Investments Dunne Manning Holdings
Peter Ernst Executive Director McCausland Foundation
Ken Kind President van Ameringen Foundation Denise Silvers Special Projects Manager Early College Charter School of Philadelphia Denise Young Retired Principal School District of Philadelphia
Michael Harris Retired Senior Vice President Almos Corporation
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