Cristo Rey St. Martin College Preparatory School: Promoting a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Abstract

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Preparatory (CRSM), a school with a unique educational model, has built a culture of accountability and student achievement. Founded in 2004 with a mission of serving “young people of limited economic means,” the school had a rocky start. It was plagued with student failure, high teacher turnover, and a total lack of accountability on the part of both students and teachers. In 2008, a new principal, Michael Odiotti, was hired to turn around the school. During his early years as principal, Mr. Odiotti faced many challenges, including poor academic results, lack of discipline, the threat of bankruptcy, and insufficient employers to support the school’s work-study program. By 2018, the school had overcome some of these obstacles, and its metrics were exemplary. The question CRSM currently faces is how it can bolster a new culture of continuous improvement to avoid complacency while continuing to push accountability to achieve even greater results.

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

2024 Sage Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Resources

Exhibit 1: Old vs. New Facilities

SMdP Exterior

An image shows an outside view of a building labeled “St. Martin de Porres High School.” Few cars and two vans are parked outside the building along the road. A fence separates the parking area and road.
CRSM Exterior

An image shows the outside view of a building labeled “CRISTO REY ST MARTIN COLLEGE PREP”. Several pavement markings are on the road outside the building. A board with label “3106” is visible through a glass door of the building.
SMdP Hallway

An image shows a narrow hallway crowded with students. Several bulletin boards and charts are stuck on the right wall of the hallway and few doors are on left side.
CRSM Hallway

Image shows a high school hallway crowded with students. Students are using the lockers and racks on either side of the hallway. Few teachers are guiding the students. Label “05406” is on one wall across the hallway.
SMdP Classroom

Image shows a group of students smiling and seated inside a class room. Several books are on their desks. A white board, few stickers, and a holy cross are seen behind them. A laptop is open on the desk in front of them.
CRSM Classroom

An image shows a teacher (with hands stretched on either side) teaching to his students in a class room. A white board and a holy cross are on the wall behind him. Classroom has a glass ceiling and glass doors.
SMdP Assembly

Three men and four women are addressing hundreds of high school students seated before them in a room. A sticker on the wall behind reads “One SMdP.”
CRSM Assembly

A formally dressed man is standing on a podium addressing hundreds of students listening to him in an auditorium. Two flags are kept on either side of the speaker. Trees outside the room are visible through the glass side wall.

Exhibit 2: CRSM Corporate Work–Study Program

Heading of the image reads “CWSP Jobs.” Number of jobs is plotted along y-axis with a gap of 20. Years are plotted along the x-axis with a gap of 1 year. Information from the graph is given as a table below:

Year

Number of jobs in CWSP

Actual

90% Paying Goal

Total jobs

‘04–‘05

19

21

24

‘05–‘06

32

32

35

‘06–‘07

39

39

43

‘07–‘08

42

50

55

‘08–‘09

47

52

57

‘09–‘10

37

52

58

‘10–‘11

41

54

60

‘11–‘12

39

54

61

‘12–‘13

47

65

72

‘13–‘14

64

74

83

‘14–‘15

78

82

91

‘15–‘16

84

88

98

‘16–‘17

87

91

101

‘17–‘18

87

91

101

A line graph shows the actual jobs, paying goal and the total jobs in CRSM by Corporate Work–Study Program.

Source: Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep.

Exhibit 3: College Enrollment Rate

Heading of the graph reads “% of graduates who enrolled in a 4-year college or university.” Percentage of enrollment of students is plotted along the y-axis and the years are plotted along the x axis. Values from the graph are given in the table below:

Year

Enrollment of students in universities (%)

‘07–‘08

23

‘08–‘09

31

‘09–‘10

26

‘10–‘11

55

‘11–‘12

58

‘12–‘13

63

‘13–‘14

63

‘14–‘15

64

‘15–‘16

74

‘16–‘17

82

A line graph shows the percentage of graduates enrolled in a college or university for years 2007 to 2017.

Source: Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep.

Exhibit 4: CRSM College Completion Rates

Percentage of students completing the course is plotted in y-axis and the years are plotted along the x-axis. The information from the graph is given as a table below:

Years

Percentage of AA completion (%)

Percentage of BA/BS completion (%)

Class of ‘08

14

17

Class of ‘09

7

22

Class of ‘10

3

23

Class of ‘11

3

41

Class of ‘12

7

44

Class of ‘13

7

58

A line graph with two curves shows the percentage of students who completed their undergraduate (AA completion and BA/BS completion).

Source: Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep.

Exhibit 5: CRSM AP Data

Heading of the graph reads “Total Number of AP tests scoring 3+”. Number of students is plotted along the y-axis and the years are plotted along the x axis. Information from the graph is given as a table below:

Years

Number of students scoring 3+ in AP tests

‘10

14

‘11

27

‘12

15

‘13

29

‘14

24

‘15

22

‘16

78

‘17

86

A line graph shows the number of students scoring above 3 for years 2010 to 2017.

Source: Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep.

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

2024 Sage Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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