St. Augustine Preparatory Academy marked the start of construction on its new north side campus at the site of the former Cardinal Stritch University. The Milwaukee academy, known for its rigorous education, aims to extend its reach to an additional 1,020 students from kindergarten through 12th grade with this expansion. According to FOX6 News, the 43-acre space is privately funded through donations amounting to $100 million and is expected to welcome students by fall 2026.
Matt Miller, St. Augustine Prep's president, expressed the fortuitous nature of the expansion, saying, "This was a surprise when, unfortunately, Cardinal Stritch was forced to close their doors," and adding that it became an opportunity "to offer more to the north side of Milwaukee, to the North Shore suburbs," as reported by FOX6 News. The new campus is set to quickly transform into a hub for education, boasting state-of-the-art sports fields, gyms, and other facilities designed to substantially to improve the educational landscape.
In a simultaneous reveal, WISN highlighted the competitive nature of St. Augustine Prep's current operations, noting the school received over 3,500 applications for just under 2,200 seats at its South Campus for the 2024-25 school year. Gus Ramirez, the co-founder of Aug Prep, envisions the new campus as "a place where students from different backgrounds learn with and from one another in a top-rated school."
The former Cardinal Stritch University campus will undergo significant transformation to include STEM labs, music and fine arts spaces, and extensive athletic facilities, as reported by the Journal Sentinel. Officials estimate that the school will launch in fall 2026 with over 300 students and gradually expand to fulfill its capacity over the course of seven years. Additionally, the plan outlines a commitment not just to academic excellence, but also to student wellness, with the inclusion of facilities aimed at promoting college readiness and healthcare services for students and families.
