San Miguel High School (Tucson, Arizona) Explained

San Miguel High School is a private Catholic and Lasallian college and college preparatory school located on the south side of Tucson, Arizona, United States. It is a member of the Cristo Rey Network of work-study schools.

History

San Miguel High School opened in 2004 to assist capable students from families of limited means to prepare for college. It follows the Cristo Rey work-study model, whereby students work in businesses five days a month to earn 40% of their tuition.^[2] In its first nine years, the school had 492 graduates, all of whom were admitted to college. Current enrollment is 296, with 71 on the staff. About 97% of the students are Hispanic.^[3]

Academics

A total of 24 credits are required for graduation, as is participation in the Corporate Internship program. Four credits are required in English, mathematics, religious studies, and science; three in foreign language and social studies; and one in visual/performing arts and in academic skills/literacy.

Corporate partners

There are currently over 100 corporate partners that employ San Miguel students as part of the national Cristo Rey Network Corporate Work Study program.^[4] Videos are available on various aspects of the San Miguel experience.^[5]

Student activities

All students make a daylong retreat in each of the first three years and in the senior year a three-day Kairos retreat.^[6] The school also offers a five-day border immersion program, El Otro Lado, for students and staff to become informed and to strengthen their Christian perspective on the US-Mexican border problem.^[7] Athletics:

• Women's
  • Cheer
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Volleyball
• Men's
  • Baseball
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Soccer^[8]

Clubs:

• Rocketry
• Robotics
• Student Government (Freshman Council, Sophomore Council, Junior Council, Senior Council, and Executive Council)
• El Otro Lado
• Yearbook
• School Choir
• Ambassadors
• Honor Societies (National Spanish Society, National English Society, and National Honors Society)
• Environmental Club
• Bahay Pag-asa
• Racing The Sun
• Baking
• KINO Teens
• Aquaponics
• Lasallian Youth
• Liturgy Choir
• Student Ambassadors Program

Additional school facts

• 42% of families in the area earn less than $25,000 per year
• half of the adults in the area do not have a high school education^[9]
• 80% of students qualify for free lunch.^[2]
• 80% of students are the first in their families to go to college.
• 63% of students attend a four-year university or college.
• 72% of San Miguel graduates have either graduated from college or are persisting in college, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Report 2015.

Further reading

• Kearney, G. R. More Than a Dream: The Cristo Rey Story: How One School's Vision Is Changing the World. Chicago, Ill: Loyola Press, 2008.

External links

• Partners - Cristo Rey Network
• "Fr. John P. Foley honored with Presidential Citizen's Medal"
• Boston Globe - "With sense of purpose, students cut class for a day"
• Cristo Rey featured in Washington Post column by George Will
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - "Success of Innovative Urban Catholic School Sparks Major Investment"

Notes and References

1. Web site: NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement . 2009-06-23 . NCA-CASI . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033455/http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/ . April 29, 2009 .
2. Web site: FAQ – About Us – San Miguel High School. www.sanmiguelcristorey.org. en. 2018-01-12.
3. Web site: School Profile – Academics – San Miguel High School. www.sanmiguelcristorey.org. en. 2018-01-12.
4. News: San Miguel High Students Impress In Sports & Journalism. Cicala. Paul. 2018-01-08. en. 2018-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180109180849/http://www.kvoa.com/story/36875835/san-miguel-high-students-impress-in-sports-journalism. dead.
5. Web site: Video Gallery San Miguel High School. www.sanmiguelcristorey.org. en. 2018-01-08.
6. Web site: Campus Ministry - Mr. Meyer's Lasallian ministry and education pages. www.onelasallista.info. 2018-01-08. 2018-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064253/http://www.onelasallista.info/Home/campus-ministryly. dead.
7. Web site: Home – El Otro Lado – San Miguel High School. www.sanmiguelcristorey.org. en. 2018-01-08.
8. https://www.sanmiguelcristorey.org/apps/departments/?show=ath Athletics. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
9. News: Students get academic, real-world training at San Miguel High School. Inside Tucson Business. 2018-01-12. en.