Seton Catholic Schools have unveiled plans to construct two new K-8 schools on Milwaukee's south side, a development that marks the first such investment in new educational facilities by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in nearly six decades. The schools earmarked for reconstruction, Prince of Peace and St. Rafael The Archangel, currently contend with outdated buildings that have been deemed beyond repair. The initiative will consolidate the scattered classrooms under one roof, which, in the philosophy of Seton Catholic Schools, is seen as a crucial strategy to mitigate the risk of learning loss during student transitions.

The president of Seton Catholic Schools, Brian Couch, told WISN, "They're really basically beyond recovery. So we made the decision, and we've been working on this concept for those five years in earnest for the last two." The estimated cost for the two buildings is around $23 million. This investment represents not only a structural but also a community upgrade, with particular attention to the underprivileged zones of the city. Archbishop Jerome Listecki was reported by JSONLINE as stating, "These schools are anchors for the neighborhoods," pointing out the deep-rooted connections between education and societal progress in disadvantaged areas.

The building projects are scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026, modernizing the educational landscape of Milwaukee's south side. Each of the schools currently operates in two separate, aging facilities, conditions that will be remedied by the new state-of-the-art composite buildings. Safety features and modern classrooms highlight the essential requirements, the principal of St. Rafael the Archangel School Elizabeth Aviles emphasized. "While we make it a building that is welcoming to students, to have any building that has state-of-the-art, modern classrooms for our students, and most importantly, safety features, is super important to our families," Aviles said in an interview obtained by TMJ4.

 The south side of Milwaukee is excited about the new school buildings, which are expected to improve education and help the community grow. Parents and teachers believe that better learning environments will lead to positive changes. Seton Catholic Schools is committed to supporting student development and improving the neighborhoods they serve with these new facilities.