Phoenix district votes to close 2 schools, including campus for immigrant students

PHOENIX – The Alhambra Elementary School District voted Thursday night to close two Phoenix schools this summer due to low enrollment and budget concerns.

The district said it will save $1.4 million each year with the closure of Valencia Newcomer School and Choice Learning Academy.

Valencia Newcomer was created in 2018 to meet community needs by offering a place for immigrant and refugee students to learn English and integrate into the school system before moving to a typical school. As of this week, it had only 22 students. As a transitional school, the enrollment is fluid compared to other campuses.

Its closure opens up the building at 3802 W. Maryland Ave. for an expansion of the neighboring Global Academy of Phoenix.

Choice Learning Academy will be consolidated with Westwood Elementary School, turning Westwood into a K-8 location. CLA currently has 377 students.

The CLA building at 5330 N. 23rd Ave. would be open to uses such as family resource centers, health services centers or alternative learning centers.

 KTAR News 92.3 FM’s David Veenstra contributed to this report.

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