MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — When Saint Joseph High School opens in Martinsburg next school year, they’ll do so with two unique partnerships.
High school level courses will be back on the campus for the first time in more than 50 years.
Ahead of the 2025-2026 school year, they are making plans for curriculum that will include collaborations with both Shepherd University and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (CTC).
Deacon Pat Michel is the head of Saint Joseph High School:
Michel was a guest on Friday’s episode of Panhandle Live. He says the collaboration will allow SJHS students to take college-level courses, participate in hands-on career training, and explore creative pursuits as part of their high school experience.
He talked about some of the advantages the collaboration can bring:
As to whether collaborating with outside entities will change the mission of the private Catholic school:
Deacon Michel says there are already five teachers on board, and they will have a staff member available to shuttle the students to classes outside the school, which will be housed in the historic building across the street from the current Saint Joseph School:
The current plans call for the high school expansion to begin in the 2025-26 school year with the enrollment of students in 9th and 10th grades. SJHS could eventually integrate some of the athletic programs currently offered at the middle school level, including basketball, volleyball, or cross country, according to Michel.
Deacon Michel says with the closing of nearby Catholic high school St. Maria Goretti in Hagerstown, the new Saint Joseph High School will fill a need. At the first open house for SJHS December 5th, more than 30 families stopped in. Deacon Michel says with the Hope Scholarship making private school a viable option for some families, the current St. Joseph School, which caters to pre-k through 8th grades, gained 70-80 students directly linked to the availability of Hope Scholarship funds for tuition.
In a press release announcing the collaboration, Shepherd University President Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, who attended the old Saint Joseph High School before becoming a student at Shepherd College [University] said, “Each of these educational institutions share a commitment to the success of our students,” Hendrix said. “We also believe that education should inspire students to explore their potential and prepare them for a world of possibilities. There’s no better way to accomplish that than exposing them to the innovative educational programs available at Shepherd and Blue Ridge.”
As part of the collaboration, “SJHS students can access fine arts programs, music, theater, and more through Shepherd, while Blue Ridge CTC lets students explore career paths with on-the-job training,” according to the press release from Shepherd University.
“High school is the perfect time to explore what you love and where you want to go,” said Blue Ridge CTC President Dr. Pete Checkovich. “This partnership ensures students can do that in a supportive, structured way that prepares them for success — whether they choose college, a career, or both.”
Saint Joseph School strives to be a “Catholic educational institution dedicated to academic excellence, character formation, and faith-based learning,” according to the press release announcing the collaboration.
