Peoria USD teachers, students react to proposal that would close two schools

PEORIA, Ariz. — As a new semester and budget cycle begin, Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) officials are proposing a “realignment plan” that would shutter two elementary schools and transform a local high school into a grade 7-12 campus.

The proposal, which district leaders describe as a data-driven strategy to “steer” rather than react to demographic shifts, aims to address a significant gap in facility use. PUSD currently has the capacity to serve nearly 47,500 students, but enrollment has dipped below 37,000. This leaves nearly 23% of the district’s space unutilized.

“The master plan is not a closure plan, but a realignment plan,” district officials stated, emphasizing a desire to move the district forward despite budget constraints.

Under the phase one proposal, Kachina Elementary, which is operating at only one-third capacity, and Pioneer Elementary, which has seen a decrease of over 200 students, would close their doors.

The restructuring would trigger a domino effect of student reassignments:

• Kachina students would move to Canyon Elementary.

• Pioneer students would move to Foothills Elementary.

• Seventh and eighth graders from Kachina, Pioneer, Canyon and Foothills would all move to Cactus High School, which would be repurposed to serve grades 7-12.

• The Peoria e-Campus would close to K-8 students but remain open for high schoolers.

• Specialized programs, including SUCCEED and ARISE, would be relocated to other campuses.

For staff members at impacted schools, the district plans to use an “involuntary transfer list.” Officials said they will attempt to place affected employees in their requested locations, provided they are qualified for the open roles.

The district, which currently oversees 13 preschools, 33 K-8 schools, seven comprehensive high schools and two alternative/online programs, said it can no longer maintain its current footprint.

While phase one is slated for the 2026-27 school year, officials warned that Phase Two is not an option, but a necessity. The second phase will involve further closures and discussions regarding the sale of land intended for future school sites.

The proposal has sparked intense debate. During a board meeting that lasted over three hours, some community members expressed anger over the failed budget override that preceded these cuts.

“Superintendent Summers and the entire board supported the override. Don’t blame them,” said one retired PUSD teacher. “Blame the people that did not vote.”

Conversely, some staff members expressed excitement about the new 7-12 model at Cactus High, though some students raised concerns about the social dynamics of having 11-year-olds on the same campus as 18-year-old seniors.

The Governing Board is scheduled to vote on the closures on March 12. Before then, the district has scheduled several opportunities for public feedback:

• Governing Board Meetings: Jan. 22, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26.

• Community Forum: Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at Cactus High School.

• Digital Feedback: A window for online input is currently open on the district website.