St. Louis Public Schools opens $1.2 million cosmetology wing at Clyde C. Miller
The new facility includes the district's first barbering program and is part of a larger push for a $200 million bond measure.
By Liam O'Connor ·
St. Louis Public Schools students will gain access to a new cosmetology and barbering facility at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy as early as the spring semester. The Midtown high school hosts the district’s first barbering program and a renovated cosmetology wing that cost $1.2 million to build.
The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Friday, shortly after the Board of Education voted to close nine schools and reduce the size of the district’s magnet school program. The event marks the next phase of the district’s Future Ready SLPS plan, which includes a proposal to ask voters for a $200 million bond measure in the spring.
The district used the final funds from Proposition S, a $160 million bond measure approved by voters in 2022, to pay for the new wing. Superintendent Berry stated that the project demonstrates the district’s commitment to investing in students, aiming to show the community that previous promises were fulfilled before asking for additional funding.
Voters in the St. Louis area approved most school ballot measures during the Nov. 3 election, providing millions of dollars in new funding to local districts. Clyde C. Miller is set to become the primary center for career and technical education, while its magnet high school program will phase out by 2030.
The Missouri Board of Education must grant final approval for the wing next month. When the programs launch in the 2027-28 school year, they will offer 90 spots to students from across the district. Currently, 26 students are enrolled in the courses for this academic year. Students will take buses from their neighborhood high schools to attend classes at Clyde C. Miller.
The cosmetology program was previously located at Beaumont High School in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood. It moved to Clyde C. Miller after a tornado in May 2025 damaged the original building. The new classrooms feature stainless steel workstations with large mirrors, hair washing stations, and dryers, mimicking the setup of a standard hair salon.
The cosmetology track is a two-year program, while the barbering track lasts one year. Students can earn their licenses by passing state exams and enter the workforce upon graduation. Ronda Williams, a special education teacher at the school, assists with the cosmetology courses. She noted that the free certification is valuable for students who may not attend college for four years, particularly those entering the workforce who might not be able to afford tuition.
Juniors Imani Lacy and Kahnyah Simpson are taking cosmetology for the first time this year. Lacy expressed surprise at the quality of the new facilities, stating she had never seen equipment of that scale before starting the course. The district plans to use the spring ballot issue to fund further renovations and potentially reopen previously closed schools in north St. Louis.
