Here’s which Phoenix-area schools are and aren’t requiring face masks

PHOENIX – To mask or not to mask?

That’s the question for Arizona administrators after Gov. Doug Ducey rescinded a statewide mandate for face coverings at public K-12 district and charter schools.

Ducey’s April 19 executive order allows schools to continue requiring face masks for students and staff on campus, but it’s no longer a state requirement.

Masks had been a must in Arizona schools under executive order since the fall, when instruction resumed following a March 2020 shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some districts have already announced plans to lift their mask mandate, including Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest district.

Others have scheduled board meetings to address the issue and are keeping their mandates in place at least for the time being.

Here’s the latest on what we know about the status of face mask mandates in Valley schools, with links to announcements where available:

Lifting requirements

• Higley Unified School District
• JO Combs Unified
• Mesa Public Schools (May 3)
• Pima Unified School District

Keeping mandate

• Avondale Elementary 
• Balsz Elementary
• Buckeye Elementary
• Buckeye Union High School
• Cartwright Elementary
• Chandler Unified School District (masks are optional outside only for pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, 7-12 for PE classes outside)
• Coolidge Unified School District
• Creighton Elementary 
• Fountain Hills Unified School District
• Fowler Elementary
• Gilbert Public Schools District
• Glendale Elementary School District 
• Glendale Union High School
• Laveen Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• Osborn Elementary
• Peoria Unified
• Phoenix Union High School
• Roosevelt Elementary
• Scottsdale Unified
• Tempe Union High School
• Tolleson Union High School
• Union Elementary

This list will be updated as more information becomes available.

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