Kyrene District Plans Closing 9 Schools Across Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee

The Kyrene School District is facing significant challenges due to declining student enrollment, currently under 13,000 from a capacity built for 20,000, prompting a proposal to close eight to nine schools and repurpose one as a gifted academy. The Long-Range Planning Committee has recommended shuttering two middle schools and six elementary schools across Ahwatukee, Tempe, and Chandler, including Akimel A-al Middle School, Colina, Estrella, Pueblo Middle School, Kyrene Traditional Academy, Mirada Elementary, Mariposa, and Norte elementary schools, with the dual language program from Norte moving to C.J. Waggoner. The proposal has led to strong backlash from parents, educators, and community members who argue closures are based primarily on enrollment numbers rather than school performance, program quality, or community impact, highlighting that several A+-rated schools are slated to close. Parent and teacher testimonies at board meetings emphasize the strong community ties and educational excellence threatened by these closures, with efforts such as petitions emerging to oppose the plan. The Governing Board is set to formally consider the recommendations in mid-September, followed by public hearings and a potential vote in December, with adjustments possible after public input. The district stresses that these measures aim to create better-resourced schools and avoid cost-cutting that would compromise student experiences, though the community remains deeply concerned about the long-term effects of these changes.