MILWAUKEE — St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, commonly referred to as Aug Prep, opened the doors of its $49 million elementary school to more than 730 students this fall.

The new, state-of-the-art building is located on South 5th Street, a few blocks south of Lincoln Avenue and just west of I-43.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Aug Prep opened the doors of its $49 million elementary school this fall

  • The elementary school will serve more than 730 students this school year; about 92% of students are Hispanic or Latino

  • The foundation that runs Aug Prep recently bought the former Cardinal Stritch campus for $24 million. They plan to create another Aug Prep elementary, middle and high school on that property

  • The goal is to have the school up and running by fall 2025

The building can hold up to 900 kids in kindergarten through fourth grade.

 

Aug Prep’s middle and high school building, which serves more than 1,000 students, is just across the street.

“Aug Prep is home to us,” said Widalys Rivera, who works as an instructional assistant in a kindergarten class.

Rivera, whose own children go to Aug Prep, started working as a secretary at the middle and high school six years ago. Aug Prep invested in her education and is helping pay for her to get bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching.

“This place has become a place where me and my family can grow,” said Rivera, who is from Milwaukee’s Southside. “I don’t think we would have had this opportunity anywhere else.”

Approximately 92% of students at Aug Prep are Hispanic or Latino. The school is private and Christian. It’s backed by donors, and it receives tax-funded vouchers rather than tuition for most of its students who come from lower-income families. There’s also a long wait list to get in.

“The fact that they can go swimming in the swimming pool, and have the gym right here, and a beautiful field to play in,” said Rivera. “It’s amazing opportunity, and it’s wonderful for this community."

Kelsey Brenn also works for Aug Prep. She said Milwaukee Police data shows the neighborhood around the school has seen a 43% drop in crime since the middle and high school first opened in 2017.

“We have sports going most evenings,” said Brenn. “There are people around. This has become a vibrant community. We believe we can positively change the whole area.”

Brenn said she hopes they will have the same positive impact across town on the North Side, as the foundation that runs Aug Prep recently bought the former Cardinal Stritch campus for $24 million. She said they plan to create another Aug Prep elementary, middle and high school on that property. The goal is to have the school up and running by fall 2025.

“We really want to continue to expand our reach to students all over our community,” said Brenn.

For Rivera, the school represents help and home. Going forward, she said she hopes to bring those same things to all the children she teaches and works with at Aug Prep.

“The need is there; you can see it anytime you drive around the city,” said Rivera.

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