The ParadiseValley Unified School Board made the decision to shut down three schools by the end of the academic year due to a decrease in enrollment.

Effective July 1, 2024, Sunset Canyon Elementary, Desert Springs Prep Elementary, and Vista Verde Middle School will be closed.

According to the board members who approved the closure of the schools, this was a difficult decision for them to make. However, they believe it to be a financial responsible one after experiencing a decline in enrollment of hundreds of K-6 students over the past two years and anticipate this trend to continue due to the city’s lack of growth.

It has been suggested that the provision of state vouchers for private schools and the issue of unaffordable housing are contributing to the decrease in enrollment.

Parents and teachers expressed their disappointment with the decision stating it will be a huge hit to the community.

According to the school district, they will assist in relocating students from their current schools to newly approved schools within the designated boundaries. Additional details on the closures and revised boundaries can be accessed through this link.

At the affected schools, there will be no teacher layoffs. The district is also actively assisting in relocating all teachers to other schools.

According to reports, there were discussions about shutting down Hidden Hills Elementary School in the district, but it was ultimately not chosen for closure on Thursday. The superintendent stated that they plan to conduct more research on the effects of closing the school and will reconsider their decision at a later time. At this point, there is no specific timeline in place.

The district estimates that with closure of each school would result in a savings of $600,000.