To honor members of the Saint Dominic Regional High School class who thought they would graduate a Saint but didn’t, the new head of school plans to offer a commencement ceremony this spring to celebrate the Class of 2026. 

The high school in Auburn was closed abruptly last spring by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. Since then, a group of supporters started their own effort to bring the high school back by raising money for the faith-based school and hope to reopen in the Peck Center on Main Street in Lewiston. 

If the school raises enough money to open in the fall, Claude Berube, the head of school, wants the high school’s first event to be a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026, who as juniors last year had planned to graduate from the school in 2026. 

“I want to give an opportunity to the Class of 2026 who missed their senior year to celebrate with their families, friends, the teachers and classes,” Berube said of the voluntary event.

There’s still about $800,000 to raise before March 16. On March 17, the board of directors will assess its goals and obligations, said Berube, a St. Dom’s alum who was hired in January. The new high school is nearing its minimum enrollment of at least 50 students.

St. Dom’s high school tuition will be $14,500, with opportunities for scholarships, Berube said.

The new St. Dominic’s Regional High School will not be associated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland or any other diocese, as it was previously, but will remain faith-based.

A proper graduation ceremony will rely on whether or not the school opens in the fall. If it doesn’t, Berube said leaders of the effort will still offer a celebration for the class, it just might not be a formal graduation ceremony with diplomas. 

“The decision to close the former St. Dom’s happened very, very quickly, and the juniors, sophomores and freshman had to find other schools to attend in the area,” Berube said. “There was a lot of hurt with that.”

Berube posted the news on St. Dominic Regional High School’s official Facebook page, where he was met with gratitude from parents and former students in comments on the video. 

Many shared stories about their children, most of whom were looking forward to graduation, then heartbroken when they found out the school would close. Most thanked his efforts.

School enrollment dropped to 137 when the high school closed in 2025.

“I think the voice of everyone who has been through St. Dom’s is to do what’s right. That’s what we try to do every day as a St. Dom’s community. We try to do what’s right and I think this is the right thing to do,” he said.