A long-standing academic tradition nears an end in Waukesha County; St. John's Northwestern Military Academy is working on new changes for the next school year and beyond.
The all-boys school will expand to offer co-ed classes with girls. Parents are still processing this change but they say they believe in the school, faculty and staff will continue to do a tremendous job.
President Dr. Jack Albert Jr. told TODAY'S TMJ4 this is a big win for the kids.
“I’m very excited about this, I change is I think is healthy,” Albert said. “We think it is unique, we think it’s important that this culture be bonded together, shooting for the fall of 2018.”
Grades 7-12 will become co-ed, after the school board voted to approve the change last week.
“The kind of programming we offer to young men we believe is important for young ladies,” Albert said.
Albert said declining enrollment over the last four to five years at St. John's is another reason the school decided to make the change. Expansion in enrollment will help sustain academic success for all.
Maria Doria, a mother of a 14-year-old cadet, said she was shocked at first but Doria believes girls should have the same opportunities. She just doesn't want her son distracted.
“I figured that it was going to come eventually, we just didn’t know when,” Doria said. “(He) still needs to focus on his studies and still needs to perform as well as he has in the last year.”
Albert said this new change could mean a possible expansion into a junior military college. They've already received an application for next year from a female student.
