About Us

OUR MISSION

Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, Alabama, combines academic rigor and a corporate work-study program to empower students from economically challenged communities to graduate high school prepared to persist in college and flourish in life.

A Member of the Cristo Rey Network

Holy Family High School was founded in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, by the Congregation of the Passion in 1943, and faithfully served the community for more than 60 years. In 2007, Holy Family High School joined the Cristo Rey Network and became Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School. But what does it mean that we are a Cristo Rey school?

The Cristo Rey model is an innovative combination of rigorous academics and real-world corporate work experience which provides students from economically challenged families the tools needed to persist in college, flourish in life, and break the generational cycle of poverty. The first Cristo Rey school--Cristo Rey Jesuit High School--in Chicago, IL opened in 1996 under the leadership of John P. Foley, S.J. The success achieved there inspired educational leaders across the country to apply the model in other cities, and within five years other Cristo Rey schools began to open across the United States.

​Today, the Cristo Rey Network is the only network of high schools in the country that integrates four years of rigorous college preparatory academics with four years of professional work experience through the Corporate Work Study Program. Comprised of 38 Catholic, college- and career-preparatory schools that today serve 12,000 students across 25 states and collectively claim more than 18,000 graduates, the Cristo Rey Network delivers a powerful and innovative approach to inner-city education that equips students from families of limited economic means with the knowledge, character, and skills to transform their lives.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statement

Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ, who welcomed all people and emphasized the inherent dignity of every human being. Diversity means promoting diversity at all institutional levels and actively seeking to diversify our student body, faculty, and staff. Equity means addressing issues of inequality and promoting fairness within our school and the wider community. Inclusion means opening our doors and hearts to students, families, and staff of all backgrounds, recognizing that our community can only be enriched when we embrace a tapestry of cultures, traditions, and perspectives. We believe that every individual is a unique creation of God, deserving of love, respect, and the opportunity to flourish in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Commitment to Title IX Compliance

In accordance with Title IX, Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School does not discriminate on the basis of gender or sexual orientation in any of its programs, including recruitment, admissions, or services. HFCR is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. All individuals who work, teach, and study within this community are expected to contribute positively to the environment and to refrain from behaviors that threaten the freedom or respect that every member of our community deserves.

Click here to View HFCR's Title IX Policy & Procedures