St. Dominic Regional High School Faces Deadline for 2026 Reopening

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St. Dominic Regional High School in Lewiston, Maine is facing a deadline on Monday to meet enrollment and fundraising goals in order to reopen in the fall of 2026 as an independent school. The school previously announced plans to reopen in the Peck Building downtown after being closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. A final decision on whether the school will open as planned will be made by the school board on Tuesday evening.

Why it matters

The potential reopening of St. Dominic Regional High School is significant for the Lewiston community, as the school has a long history in the area and its closure was a major loss. The school's independence from the Diocese also represents a shift in how the institution will operate going forward.

The details

St. Dominic Regional High School needs to enroll at least 50 students and raise $900,000 in new donations by March 16th in order to unlock an additional $500,000 matching gift. If these goals are not met, all current enrollment deposits and donations since January 2026 will be refunded. As of late February, the school had 33 students enrolled for the upcoming year.

• The deadline for St. Dominic Regional High School to meet its enrollment and fundraising goals is March 16, 2026.
• The school board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 to review the final enrollment and fundraising numbers and make a decision on the school's future.

What’s next

The school board will meet on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 to review the final enrollment and fundraising numbers and make a decision on whether St. Dominic Regional High School will reopen as planned in the fall of 2026.