College Ready
“The students are the best portion of my job. They constantly rise above my expectations and perform their very best in difficult subjects like physics.”
Kumkum Bonnerjee,
CRSM Science Teacher
Work Prepared
“I support Cristo Rey because it works. Supervisors report that these students are professional, serious and focused…”
Terry Brady, Retired CEO and President,
Underwriters Laboratories
Committed to Faith and Justice
“I am inspired daily by students who, rooted in faith, rise to confront social injustices through service and prayer. I’ve witnessed this through our students who volunteer, and student-led groups such as Oportunidades Para Todos”
Iris Sanchez, CRSM Campus Minister, 2018 Alumni
Who
we are

422
Current Students

109
Business Partners

100%
Acceptance to Bachelor’s Programs
7 years in a row
1200
Volunteer Hours
CRSM in the News
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Donor Spotlight: Kristen and Mike Watson
When Kristen Watson first volunteered in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in the 1990s, she didn’t know it would set her on a path back home to Waukegan and to Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. Encouraged by her Jesuit brother, Brian Paulson, she joined a junior...
Alumni Spotlight: Fernando Rufino ’21 Returns to Share His Journey
Cristo Rey St. Martin is proud to celebrate Fernando Rufino, Class of 2021, who returned to campus last month to speak with students. A first-generation college graduate, Fernando earned his degree in Sociology from Connecticut College in May 2025 and now works as an...
School News & Updates
CRSM’s Class of 2025 Sets New Records in Retention and School Selectivity
The graduating Class of 2025 has left a mark on CRSM history—not only through their accomplishments but by setting new standards for student success and school excellence. This year’s class achieved a 98% retention rate, an indicator of their commitment, resilience,...
Summer Work, Lasting Impact
The Corporate Work Study Program doesn’t end for existing CRSM students just because it’s summer break. During the summer, our business partners have the opportunity to participate in the Work For Pay program. The Summer Work for Pay program allows our business...
Canvas, Creativity, and Community: Inside CRSM’s Annual Art Showcase
Although CRSM is a very academically driven institution, that doesn’t mean we don’t give students the opportunity to let their creativity shine! The recent Art Show, held in collaboration with The Ragdale Foundation, was a celebration of artistic expression and...
Alumna Lauded as Business “Rookie of the Year”
At 15 years old, Samantha Bahena made a pledge: “I want to be that one out of 10 students in Waukegan who goes to college,” which at the time was the trajectory. The 22-year-old CRSM Class of ’17 grad recently was named “Rookie of the Year,” at Advanced...
Discovering New Pathways: Alumni Scientist Lays the Foundation for Cancer and Other Medical Treatments
Weekdays, Jalyn Jones works in the R & D lab at AbbVie, testing and experimenting with drugs slated to break new ground in complex medical treatments including oncology. The CRSM ’16 grad is especially proud of his “associate scientist,” title because (he’s the...
Admissions
In and out of the classroom, we are committed to students getting to and through college. For five consecutive years, CRSM has been named by the Wall Street Journal as one of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools.”
From soccer and volleyball to theater and volunteering to feed and clothe the homeless, we offer a variety of ways for students to get involved.



























































