The Kyrene School District governing board has approved a sweeping plan to close six schools over the next two academic years, a move district leaders say is necessary to address shrinking enrollment and a looming budget shortfall.
The unanimous vote came Tuesday night after months of public discussion and multiple scenarios presented to the board. Members weighed options that included closing five, six, or eight campuses before ultimately settling on a six-school plan, rejecting a narrower proposal that would have shuttered fewer sites.
Three schools are scheduled to close before the 2026–27 school year: Kyrene de las Manitas, Kyrene de la Estrella, and Kyrene de la Colina. Another three campuses—Kyrene Traditional Academy, Kyrene del Pueblo, and Kyrene Akimel A-al—will follow ahead of the 2027–28 school year.
Kyrene currently operates 25 elementary, middle, and K–8 schools serving families across Tempe, Chandler, Guadalupe, Ahwatukee, and the Gila River Indian Community. District officials say the system was built to serve roughly 20,000 students, but enrollment has dropped to about 12,000 and is projected to decline by more than 1,000 additional students over the next five years.
Because Arizona’s school funding is tied directly to student enrollment, the district warned that inaction could lead to a $6.7 million budget deficit. The approved closure plan is expected to save approximately $5.8 million annually once fully implemented.
Community members, including parents and students, have voiced strong emotions throughout the process, urging the board to consider the long-term impacts on neighborhoods and school culture. District leaders have said they will continue working with affected families to manage transitions and determine how closed campuses may be repurposed in the future.
Kyrene’s decision reflects a broader trend across the Valley, where other districts are confronting similar challenges tied to declining enrollment and rising costs. Earlier this month, the Scottsdale Unified School District also voted to close and repurpose campuses under comparable financial pressures.
More information about the district’s long-range planning and enrollment data can be found on the Kyrene School District website at https://www.kyrene.org.
