One of the fastest-growing school districts in Arizona is hoping to see passage next month of a nearly $200 million bond that will pay for the construction of two new schools, while also upgrading facilities across the district.
The Queen Creek Unified School District is based in the southern Arizona city of Queen Creek, which has experienced a population explosion in the last two decades.
That explosion has taken the city from 4,300 residents to now nearly 60,000, largely made up of people moving from Phoenix, which is nearly 40 miles to the northwest.
A reporter for the Phoenix New Times visiting the city last fall observed: “It’s hard to miss the signs of rapid growth. Brand-new shopping centers overtake your view as you enter the town. Construction crews and road closures herald new housing developments and infrastructure improvements.”
That population growth is reflected in the number of students enrolled in the district’s schools: up from just over 7,000 in the fall of 2016 to the current 12,600. District officials are forecasting that by 2024, total student enrollment will be nearing the 17,000 mark.
Not surprisingly, at least nine elementary, middle, and high schools in the district are either currently operating at 90% operational capacity or are expected to reach that point by the fall of 2023.
As planned, the bond will also fund upgrades to athletic facilities, as well as cross-district security upgrades.
By Garry Boulard
