The College Counseling Office works with students and their families throughout all four years Cristo Rey Jesuit, guiding them through every stage of the college journey - not only preparing seniors for the application process, but also helping preparing freshmen, sophomores, and juniors build the habits, skills, and confidence they’ll need before senior year. Across all classes Semester One, students are taking meaningful steps forward as they learned more about themselves, explored new opportunities, and buildthe foundations for success after graduation.

Led by Director of College Counseling Reina Garcia '07, the team worked with freshman first semester to set the tone early. As part of their Friday Training days, freshmen also have rotating sessions with College Counseling, Social Emotional Counseling, and Campus Ministry. In these Friday sessions, freshmen learned how GPA works, how to calculate it, and how to use a new “OnTrack” program to understand the college process from a ninth-grade perspective. These sessions also emphasized self-advocacy by encouraging students to ask questions, seek support, and recognize that college planning begins long before senior year.

For sophomore and junior students, the department hosted an engaging parent meeting to educate families about the importance of summer enrichment programs and activities. Junior Miranda M. and her mother shared Miranda’s experience at a recent summer program at Carleton College. Their story helped families better understand both the challenges and the long-term value of students reaching beyond their comfort zones. "It was helpful for parents to hear from another mom that she was nervous to let her daughter leave home at a young age, but how much Miranda loved it and learned from it," said counselor Isabel Hernandez '16. Miranda's story made a difference, as six juniors have submitted applications to the competitive Thrive summer program!

Throughout Semester One, College Counseling hosted more than 60 college representatives, giving students direct access to a wide range of colleges and admissions perspectives. A group of 10 seniors also had the opportunity to participate in a special visit to the University of Dayton, where they joined with students from our Cristo Rey sister school in Boston to connect and learn about the college experience from fellow Cristo Rey alumni.

The Class of 2026 has already demonstrated strong momentum in the application process. Out of 120 seniors, 90 submitted a total of 270 early action applications! As of mid-January, seniors have submitted 1,425 total applications and have already earned 503 acceptances. And we are especially proud to celebrate early achievements: Diego C.’s Early Decision acceptance to Washington University in St. Louis, and Xotchil P.’s acceptance to the University of Notre Dame! 

In addition to supporting our current students in their journey to college, Manager of Alumni Support Amy Bustos '17 focuses on seeing our alumni through their college years. Over first semester Bustos visited our college alumni on 17 campuses. The team sent care packages to alumni enrolled at institutions like Cornell and Georgetown, which were met with warmth and joy from alumni. In December, the team hosted the Class of 2025 back to campus for a Holiday Reunion with more than half the class in attendance! This year, more than $60,000 in emergency funding was provided to ensure alumni could remain focused on school during unexpected challenges, helping students stay on track academically and personally. These touchpoints reinforced for our Cristeros that the Cristo Rey community remains a source of support and encouragement long after graduation.

Mayra Gradilla, Principal

Semester One at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School was filled with meaningful moments of growth, many of them unfolding quietly in the everyday life of our community rather than in a single defining event. One clear sign of this growth is our 97% average attendance, a reflection of our students’ commitment, strong family partnership, and a school culture where students want to be present. Showing up matters, and our students did so day after day with intention and purpose.

Beyond the numbers, we saw students growing in confidence and finding their voices. Our freshmen, in particular, settled in quickly. They participated actively in class and freshman training, asked thoughtful questions, practiced their elevator pitches, and began advocating not only for themselves but also for their peers. One especially memorable moment came when a senior confidently asked the CEO of McDonald’s, “With all the new technology advances like AI being added to restaurants, what is one part of the McDonald’s experience that you believe technology should never touch because it needs genuine human connection?” The question stopped the room and reminded us of the power of curiosity, courage, and thoughtful presence.

We also witnessed growth beyond our campus. Students navigated the CTA to and from their job placements downtown, building independence, responsibility, and confidence as they balanced academics, professional commitments, and real-life skills.

These moments of students speaking up, supporting one another, navigating new responsibilities, and showing up ready to learn may seem small on their own. Together, they tell the story of Cristo Rey Jesuit. They reflect a community where students are known, supported, and challenged to grow academically, personally, and socially. As we close Semester One and begin Semester Two, we celebrate these everyday victories and the steady growth they represent. Our students are not only learning. They are becoming the confident, compassionate young People for Others we hope them to be.