FAQ's for Students & Families

1. Is there an age requirement for students?
   Yes. Students must be at least 14 years old to work for a corporate job partner.
   
   
2. Do all Cristo Rey Atlanta students go to work?
   Yes, all students are required to participate in the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). Through CWSP, students fund the majority of the cost of their education, in addition to acquiring valuable work experience and skills.
   
   
3. What are the advantages of the Work Study Program for students?
   Through the Work Study Program, students earn a significant portion of the cost of their education. In addition, students learn the value of work, and acquire real-world contacts, experience, and skills that will help them through college and beyond.
   
   
4. Does the work schedule interfere with students’ academic studies?
   No, schedules are structured so that students can work without missing class. Cristo Rey Network schools conduct an extended day format (the Cristo Rey Atlanta school day lasts from 7:25 am to 4:00 pm) and an extended school year so that students may complete a full class schedule and fulfill the requirements of a college preparatory high school while working.
   
   
5. Will students get to choose where they work?
   No. Students are evaluated by Work Study Program staff, who then assign student teams to job sites, taking into consideration both the skill-level required for the job and the particular interests and skills of each student.
   
   
6. What kind of work will students do?
   Most students perform entry-level clerical work. They answer telephones, maintain files, sort and deliver mail, scan and fax documents, perform data entry, and create documents with Microsoft Office. Specific job descriptions differ on a partner-by-partner basis. Students are expected to meet or exceed the level of professionalism and dedication demanded of their adult colleagues at the work place.
   
   
7. How are students prepared for their Work Study jobs?
   All incoming freshmen and transfer students attend a rigorous five-week summer Business Training Institute (BTI) before beginning their first corporate work assignment. Returning students attend an intensive three-week refresher course at the beginning of the school year. Students also receive ongoing feedback and training from employers and the CWSP staff throughout the school year.
   
   
8. Who supervises the students at work?
   An on-site supervisor at the Job Partner company will guide and support students at work. Cristo Rey Atlanta CWSP staff will coordinate with on-site supervisors to provide the necessary guidance, training, and care that students need to succeed in the workplace. All disciplinary actions are conducted by CWSP staff.
   
   
9. Can parents directly contact the company where their child works?
   No. All communications to Job Partners are made through the CWSP Office at Cristo Rey Atlanta.
   
   
10. How do students get to work each day?
    Cristo Rey Atlanta provides transportation for all students to and from their job placements.
    
    
11. When do students work?
    A team of four students shares one full-time job. Students rotate their schedules, each working five full days every four weeks. Work days are scheduled Monday through Friday. The program runs concurrently with the Cristo Rey Atlanta school year, from mid-September through late May. During the year, students work according to the Job Partner's calendar, except for the following holidays: Christmas Break, Thanksgiving, February Break, and Spring Break.
    
    
12. Do students get paid directly?
    No. Job Partners pay an annual fee to the Cristo Rey Atlanta CWSP office for each team of 4 students. This fee is then applied directly and proportionately to each student’s tuition costs. Students may have the opportunity, however, on a partner-by-partner basis to work during school holidays and in the summer, in which case Cristo Rey Atlanta’s CWSP office will process the payment, and pass on the earnings directly to students.
    
    
13. Is there a dress code?
    Yes. All students are required to wear their school uniform to work, and must adhere to the dress code at all times. The dress code includes: a professional and groomed appearance, dress shoes, and a button-down shirt, blue blazer ad school tie.