Construction of a 90,000 sq. ft. college preparatory school, a Catholic Jesuit secondary school, to serve young men and women from the Austin neighborhood and surrounding communities of Chicago’s west side.

Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School (CTK) is a Catholic Jesuit secondary school (grades 9-12). The school utilizes the Cristo Rey model to serve young men and women from the Austin neighborhood and surrounding communities of Chicago’s west side.

The Cristo Rey model seeks to provide quality college preparatory education to urban young people who live in communities with limited educational options. Member schools utilize a longer school day and year, academic assistance, and counseling to prepare students with a broad range of academic abilities for college.

In the spring of 2006, the Chicago Province Jesuits and the Midwest District Christian Brothers sponsored a feasibility study to thoroughly assess the need and interest in a Cristo Rey model school in the Austin neighborhood.

Based on the strong support for a Cristo Rey model school in the community, the Chicago Province Society of Jesus developed a plan to build a 90,000-square-foot high school in the Austin neighborhood.

The school allows economically disadvantaged children/students the opportunity to participate in a corporate internship program where students are placed in internships in Chicago area businesses: serving a dual purpose of allowing students to earn 75% of their tuition while providing them an opportunity to gain experience in a real-world work environment.

The school is constructed to LEED standards and qualifications with a green roof. The roof includes a grass turf exterior surface which helps to reduce global warming. Also, new windows are constructed of steel clad to help reduce heating and cooling costs for the gymnasium.