How do Cristo Rey Network schools define “economically disadvantaged”?
Cristo Rey Network schools seek to serve urban young people who are among the 37 million Americans living in poverty. In general, Cristo Rey schools recruit students who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program. These young people are from families with incomes that are less than 185% of the federal poverty level. All applicants to Cristo Rey schools complete financial aid forms, which allow each school to know the family income of each student. The Network schools follow a formula in which admitted students must come from families whose per capita income is no greater than 75% of the median per capita income of the city where the school is located or the nation, whichever is higher.
