Peoria Unified School District approves closure of 2 elementary schools

GLENDALE — The Peoria Unified School District approved the closure of Kachina and Pioneer elementary schools after the 2025-2026 school year.

The district’s governing board unanimously voted in support of the closures at Thursday night’s meeting.

According to the district, the closures are a result of low enrollment and a $21 million projected budget shortfall. Pioneer, which is located near 63rd Avenue and Greenway Road, has 419 students. Meanwhile, Kachina, which is located near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road, has 263 students.

Peoria Unified currently has 42 schools serving more than 36,000 K-12 students.

What will Peoria Unified closing the two elementary schools do?

The closures will move students in sixth grade and below to Canyon and Foothills elementary schools. In addition, it will change Cactus High School to a 7-12 campus to allow for room for the middle schoolers at the two closing schools.

Action regarding the potential closure of Peoria Unified’s E-campus schooling option was tabled.

This comes as the district is projecting a loss of around 1,000 students per year over the next two years. That’s $5 million in state funding lost per 1,000 students.

Peoria Unified’s budget increase request was also denied by voters in the November 2025 election. That means the budget will face a $33 million reduction spread out over three years.

The district has been receiving feedback from parents on the closures for months.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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