St. Paul Arlington High to close this summer after all

St. Paul School officials said Friday that not enough current juniors have signed up to attend Arlington High School next year, so the program will close this summer.

Earlier this spring, the district proposed ending the high school program at Arlington, and moving those students to other high schools in St. Paul. But after hearing vocal opposition, the district offered a compromise to let current juniors attend Arlington next year as seniors.

That deal was contingent on at least 150 students signing up. District spokesman Howie Padilla says only 66 did so by the enrollment deadline.

"We were really prepared for it to go either way, so we're going to do our best to help those students transition into their next school," said Padilla.

Those juniors will now be placed in the school they identified as their second choice.

The Arlington building will still be used next year. The program at nearby Washington Middle School will move into the Arlington space this summer.

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