A South Phoenix high school once named in honor of labor activist Cesar Chavez will now move forward under a different identity after district officials formally approved a new name this week.
The Phoenix Union High School District governing board voted Thursday to rename the Laveen-area campus Cactus Canyon High School, concluding a months-long process that drew significant community attention and debate.
District leaders first initiated the change earlier this spring after allegations of sexual misconduct involving Chavez resurfaced in a widely circulated investigative report. Board members said at the time that the district wanted to create distance from the controversy while allowing students, families and local residents to help shape the school’s future identity.
As part of the transition, the school temporarily operated under the placeholder title “Champion Circle High School” while the district collected feedback and reviewed suggested replacements from the community.
Several names emerged as finalists during the selection process, including Laveen High School, Sierra Estrella High School and Champion Community High School. Ultimately, the board selected Cactus Canyon High School as the permanent replacement.
The district’s decision mirrors similar actions taken elsewhere in Phoenix in recent months. In March, Phoenix City Council members unanimously approved the removal of Chavez’s name and likeness from municipal properties throughout the city.
The renewed scrutiny followed a New York Times investigation that included allegations from former colleagues and activists, among them Dolores Huerta, a prominent labor organizer who accused Chavez of abusive behavior.
Since then, city officials have moved quickly to phase out Chavez-related tributes. Crews removed ceremonial street signs bearing his name along Baseline Road, while signage at Cesar Chavez Plaza was covered shortly after the report became public. Phoenix leaders also changed the name of the annual March 31 observance from Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day in an effort to emphasize agricultural workers rather than a single historical figure.
