SOUTHWEST DETROIT – It’s a big day for seniors at Detroit Cristo Rey High School — especially for one standout student whose academic journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
To celebrate National College Decision Day, more than 70 Cristo Rey students gathered at the Detroit Athletic Club to proudly reveal where they’re headed next — and what they plan to study.
Since opening in 2008, Cristo Rey has maintained a remarkable 100% college acceptance rate. This year, that legacy continues in spectacular fashion.
Kaylee Razo, a graduating senior, had her pick of some of the country’s most elite institutions—Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Notre Dame, and Georgetown. She was accepted to all of them, each with a full-ride scholarship.
In the end, Harvard captured her heart, not for the name but for the experience.
“There was something about the vibe of Boston, of Cambridge,” said Razo. “It really hooked me and really made me interested in pursuing a career there, pursuing an education there, and getting to know all the people that make the institution an amazing place.”
Razo’s path to Harvard wasn’t just paved with impressive test scores. It was shaped by her family’s immigrant story and her personal mission to make a difference.
Raised in a small fishing town in Mexico, Kaylee says access to education once felt like a distant dream.
“So for me to even dream of going to college felt really unfeasible at times,” Razo said. “And it felt extremely inaccessible.”
She plans to pursue a pre-law track and eventually become an immigration attorney.
She aims to help families like hers navigate the system and find opportunities in a new country.
Cristo Rey’s Director of College Counseling, Pauline Weber, says Kaylee’s success is the product of persistence and a school model that supports students every step of the way.
“So we just make sure that before they miss out on any opportunities, they’ve opened the door, and they have access to them,” said Weber. “So, 100% college acceptance in every single one of our classes since the first class in 2012.”
One of the cornerstones of Cristo Rey’s success is its Corporate Work Study Program, in which students work one day a week in professional settings, gaining real-world experience and helping to pay for their private Catholic education.
It’s a model that builds confidence and independence, and it’s been life-changing for students like Kaylee Razo.
“If you behave like everyone else, you’re going to be like everyone else,” Kaylee said. “If you want to go to Harvard, you have to stand out. You have to do what nobody else is doing.”
Razo is ready to take on the Ivy League — and the world- with passion, persistence, and a crimson hoodie.
