St. Mary's Will Open Trade School in 2028
The Blessed Santiago Miller School of Trade and Technology will open in Saint Paul to provide career-focused high school education.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Secondary Education
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St. Mary's University of Minnesota will open the Blessed Santiago Miller School of Trade and Technology in 2028. Located at 650 Palace Ave., the new high school will offer students pathways to industry credentials and apprenticeships.
Why it matters
The university is launching this initiative to address shifting educational, workforce, and societal needs in the region. Ninth-grade students will have the opportunity to earn college credits through the university curriculum.
The school will be situated at the St. Francis de Sales campus at 650 Palace Ave. and the St. James campus at 496 View St., with funding provided by a restricted gift from anonymous donors.
The players
St. Mary's University of Minnesota
A private Catholic university based in Winona with existing campuses in Minneapolis and Rochester.
Mary Spring
She serves as the director of Secondary School Initiatives for the university.
James Santiago Miller
The school is named in his honor following his death in 1982.
The details
The school is named after James Santiago Miller, who died in 1982, and will be supported by an advisory council providing expertise on skilled trades. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for direct employment upon graduation by integrating practical industry training.
Timeline
1982 marks the year of death for James Santiago Miller.
October 12, 2026, was the official date of the university announcement.
2028 is the anticipated opening year for the school.
Culture Shift
This project reflects a growing national trend where higher education institutions partner with secondary schools to address specialized labor shortages. It marks a departure from traditional high school models by integrating industry-specific apprenticeships directly into the academic core.
Local families will gain a new option for high school education that specifically emphasizes technical training and apprenticeship readiness. The school's launch will also repurpose the St. Francis de Sales and St. James parish campuses for community educational use.
The takeaway
The project illustrates the increasing integration of higher education resources into vocational high school training programs. Families should watch for future advisory council updates regarding specific trade certifications that will be offered at the campus.
Further reading
Learn more about local learning initiatives in the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Twin Cities.
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