Yet another Arizona school district has decided to close campuses due to a decline in enrollment. The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board has approved the closure of Kachina Elementary School and Pioneer Elementary School.
In a presentation to the governing board on March 12, Superintendent KC Somers said the district has the capacity for 47,473 students and a current enrollment of 36,659.
"And even when facilities are underutilized, we know that they still require utilities, maintenance, staffing and capital investment,” Somers said. “So as enrollment has declined and while facilities have remained static, we must consider a range of possible responses."
The two campuses will close at the end of the school year. The district says the move consolidates enrollment in a central area and allows staff to better support students at the surrounding campuses.
At the same meeting, the board also approved the resignation of Somers, effective June 12, 2026. Somers has been appointed as Superintendent in the Eagle County School District in Colorado.
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