Kyrene School District votes to close 6 schools as enrollment declines
Facing declining enrollment and funding, the Kyrene School District Governing Board voted to close six schools over the next two years.
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PHOENIX – Facing declining enrollment and funding, the Kyrene School District Governing Board voted Tuesday night to close six schools over the next two years.
Kyrene currently has 25 elementary, middle and K-8 schools that serve students from Tempe, Chandler, Guadalupe, Ahwatukee and the Gila River Indian Community.
The board considered plans with eight, six or five closures before the final decision. It approved the six closures with a 5-0 vote. This was after a model suggesting five schools be closed failed with a 2-3 vote.
- Kyrene de las Manitas (K-8)
- Kyrene de la Estrella (K-5)
- Kyrene de la Colina (K-5)
- Kyrene Traditional Academy (K-8)
- Kyrene del Pueblo (6-8)
- Kyrene Akimel A-al (6-8)
How much is Kyrene School District enrollment falling?
The Kyrene School District currently serves 12,000 students across a system built for 20,000 kids. Furthermore, the district is projecting a loss of more than 1,000 students over the next five years.
With state education funding tied to enrollment, the district said the decline would result in a $6.7 million budget deficit if it didn’t act. The closures will save the district an estimated $5.8 million a year.
Declining enrollment is a growing problem for public school districts across the Phoenix area. Earlier this month, the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board voted to close and repurpose two campuses due to enrollment and budget concerns.
Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.
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Comments
5 Comments
Meanwhile charter schools flourish and grow why because they do a better job at teaching the 3 R's.
People are getting married later and having fewer kids. Young families are more likely to buy houses in places they can afford like Buckeye or Queen Creek. Makes sense that some of these schools in older established areas are closing.
My two kids, along with a niece and nephew we helped raise, all attended Kyrene Schools, K-8.
Great schools that served the community well.
No complaints here!
Interesting to note...
two of the schools closing run nearly parallel to the 202--the freeway that was never supposed to be.
Something about the citizens of this area makes them susceptible to overlooking the obvious.
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