Chandler Unified plans to add 2 more schools by 2021

PHOENIX – Chandler Unified School District is looking farther down the road than Tuesday’s start of the school year, voting to buy $25 million worth of land to build two schools.

The suburban Phoenix district’s governing board approved purchase of about 73 acres near Gilbert and Brooks Farms roads at a special meeting last week.

At least one elementary and one high school or middle school were to be built in the third-largest district in Arizona.

According to minutes of the meeting some in the community said they were worried about the possible impact to their neighborhood, wanted to know what the schools would look like and asked the board to “consider other creative options rather than build another high school.”

Administrators said about 3,000 students were expected to be enrolled in the district by 2028. They also said they would share the design of the campuses with the public.

The district oversees 48 schools that offer traditional academies, STEM, classes for gifted and honors students, advanced placement courses, college prep and early college programs. About 47,000 students attend the schools.

The East Valley Tribune reported the elementary school could be ready by July 2020, while the high school likely would open in July 2021.

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