Work Conquers All

Corporate Work Study Program

The signature component of Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School is the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). Through this innovative program, students pay for a portion of their education, gain real-world work experience, and realize the relevance of their education.

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General Info

Principal: Matthew J. Torano

Grade Levels: 9-12

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The signature and differentiating component of Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School is the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). Through this innovative program, students receive a private, college preparatory education, while gaining invaluable real-world work experience from leading corporations and non-profit organizations in the Tampa Bay area.

The Corporate Work Study Program provides our students with the opportunity to develop professionally through entry-level jobs at an assigned company. Students work five full days each month with our Partners, who are committed to enriching the lives of our students via coaching, mentoring, and supervision. Academic courses are scheduled in cohorts ensuring students never miss class, and Cristo Rey transports students to and from school to the partner work site. Our distinctive approach to education equips students with the knowledge and skills to transform their lives through rigorous academics, four years of work experience, and support to and through college.

Learn More

To learn more about our Corporate Work Study Program and become a CWSP Partner, please contact:

Maria E. Vaca, Ed.D.
Vice President, Corporate Relations

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) work?

The Corporate Work Study Program contracts with companies to fill entry-level positions at the Partners’ places of business. The Corporate Work Study Program coordinates schedules with Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School so that each student is available one full day (approximately 7 1/2 to 8 hours) each week plus an extra day every fourth week without missing any classes. Students are placed in teams of four and assigned to Partner positions. The team of students “job share” the position for the year.

Do all students go to work?

All Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School students must participate in the Corporate Work Study Program(CWSP). The CWSP is a component of the college preparatory curriculum, and it offsets the majority of the cost of student tuition. Students earn their wages and assign 100% of their earnings to pay for their education. By working for you, they can attend a private school that is academically rigorous and prepares them to be among the first in their families to attend college.

How old must a student be to participate in the Corporate Work Study Program?

All students must be 14 years of age before they begin work for a corporate sponsor. The U.S. Department of Labor has granted Cristo Rey a provision allowing our 14 and 15-year-old students to work under strict guidelines. Students are allowed to perform office tasks, including clerical work, but no manual labor.

Are there any limitations to having employees under the age of 18 in our office?

Each prospective applicant for Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School and Corporate Work Study Program is interviewed to determine if they have the maturity and work ethic to work in a professional setting. Students who are accepted to the school participate in an intensive Summer Business Training, which prepares students in the areas of technology, business etiquette, dressing for success, accuracy, communication, and business ethics, to name a few.

We ensure that our students have the professional and technical skills needed to be successful on the job. We maintain regular contact with company supervisors to provide training or coaching for our students as needed. In the rare case that a student is not working out, we develop a performance improvement plan. If a student is not a good fit for the job, they are replaced with a different student. In performance evaluations, more than 90% of the students are rated as “Meeting Expectation” or higher

What type of jobs do students perform at the worksites?

Typically, all students perform similar entry-level clerical duties: answering phones, sorting and delivering mail, scanning and faxing documents, data entry, filing, running office errands. Often, students prove capable of additional duties and take those on after some time. For example, students who work in clinical hospital atmospheres often assist nurses, greet patients, and help with paperwork.

Do students get paid directly?

No, the money that is paid by the Partners goes directly to the CWSP and not the students. The money then funds the students’ education. Partners have the opportunity to hire students over school breaks. Money earned during breaks is not covered during the academic school year and goes directly to the students.

Do students choose where they go to work?

After evaluating each student’s skill level and interests, and the skill sets needed by our Partners, the CWSP staff determines where students are placed for employment.

We have important documents in our office and are concerned about confidentiality?

We drive this point home to students during Summer Business Training. Topics such as handling confidential documents and understanding the importance of these documents are part of our Business Ethics courses. We have long-term job partners in the fields of law, banking, and healthcare, in which confidentiality is critical. Our students also participate in any required confidentiality training at their place of work.

Benefits of CWSP

Benefits to Businesses

Reliable, Successful Workers

Cristo Rey students have a 97% daily attendance rate and 93% “meet or exceed expectations” on performance evaluations completed by supervisors.

Diverse Talent for the Future Workplace

Cristo Rey schools are creating a 21st-century pipeline of skilled, minority workers that Corporate America can employ.

Giving Back

What better way to give back to the community than by mentoring and cultivating tomorrow’s workforce? Cristo Rey schools and the Cristo Rey Network® national office provides marketing opportunities for participating companies to promote their community support initiatives to all their stakeholders.

Benefits to Students

Financial Aid

CWSP provides a stable source of revenue to fund school operations. All CWSP earnings are applied towards student tuition, covering the majority of the cost of students’ education.

Real Work Experience

Cristo Rey Network® students work real jobs in law, finance, healthcare, technology, marketing, university, and many other professional offices. Students develop and hone social and technical skills.

New Horizons

Cristo Rey students are introduced to future career possibilities. They also apply classroom lessons to their workplace experience, making clear the relevance of their schoolwork. Successful business leaders are role models

2019-2020 Corporate Work Study Program Partners

Become a Partner

If you are interested in becoming a Corporate Work Study Partner and hiring CRT students to work for your organization, please fill out the form below.

Our CRT Corporate Work Study Program students are:

“Eager to work, good phone manners, flexible with changing work priorities.”

“Hard working, very committed and professional.”

“Always smiling and in a good mood. Very responsible and well mannered.”

Earned by Students in 2018-2019

AP courses offered

Student Body Enrolled in AP Courses

Students Enrolled

Get In Touch

Location: Mary Help of Christians, Inc.
6400 East Chelsea Street
Tampa, Florida 33610

Telephone: (813) 621-8300

Email: info@cristoreytampa.org

School Hours: M-F: 7:30am - 4:30pm