St. Augustine Prep unveils $49 million elementary school on south side
St. Augustine Preparatory Academy unveiled a new $49 million elementary school on Milwaukee's south side Tuesday, showcasing a major expansion as school leaders also discussed plans for a new north-side branch on the former Cardinal Stritch campus.
About 730 students in kindergarten through fourth grade are expected to start school this week in the new building, which can eventually hold up to 900 students as the school plans to admit more students. Across the street in the older building, about 1,100 students are expected to attend middle and high school.
With the capacity to eventually serve a combined total of about 2,400 students at both buildings on the south side, school leaders said it has become the largest single-campus school in Milwaukee.
What is St. Augustine Preparatory Academy?
St. Augustine, also known as Aug Prep, is a private Christian school that receives tax-funded vouchers rather than tuition for the vast majority of its students, who come from lower-income families. Students qualify for vouchers if their family's income falls under certain levels.
The school was founded by Gus Ramirez, longtime CEO of local manufacturing company Husco. Profits from Husco created the Ramirez Family Foundation, which has backed the school and financed the bulk of the new elementary school. The foundation also funds Christian schools throughout Central America. Ramirez's daughter, Abby Andrietsch, runs St. Augustine, and her children attend the school.
Ramirez envisioned this expansion when he first opened the school in 2017. It began with 560 students and has grown each year. The school carries a waitlist of over 200 students, school leaders said.
Where is the new Aug Prep elementary school?
The new elementary school is across Harrison Avenue from the school's first building, at 2607 S. Fifth St., a few blocks south of Lincoln Avenue and just west of I-43.
Before beginning construction, the school had to clear a block that previously had 33 properties, including family homes, by persuading all the owners to sell. The school hired VJS Construction Services to facilitate the purchases.
What's in the new school?
The new building is 123,000 square feet with a performing arts center that seats 600, a gymnasium, and a rooftop that features a garden and play space.
The school also has a team of eight social workers and a new on-site therapist.
What is planned for the Cardinal Stritch campus?
Ramirez now has his sights set on a new campus of St. Augustine on the former Cardinal Stritch campus, which his foundation purchased this summer for $24 million.
He said he hopes the campus will be able to host summer programming as soon as next summer, with school beginning as early as fall 2025.
The school will start with grades kindergarten through third grade, and sixth through 12th grades, he said, and eventually expand to serve all grades.
Ramirez said the expansion to Stritch was made possible because lawmakers increased voucher amounts by over 20% for this school year, which means more sustainable funding for the school. Schools in the voucher program will receive about $12,800 for each older student and $10,300 for each younger student.
Andrietsch said St. Augustine spends about $11,000 to $12,000 educating each student, and has always made up the difference with private donations.
Ramirez said the additional funding means the school can expand without needing to fundraise as much more to cover the education costs for more students. The costs of purchasing and renovating the campus, however, are being covered by the Ramirez Family Foundation and other donors, he said.
Contact Rory Linnane at rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @RoryLinnane.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Photos: Inside new St. Augustine Prep elementary school in Milwaukee
