Liberty schools update attendance boundaries as new school opens

Loretta Zumbro Elementary School is set to open in August 2025, offering a K-8 program with a capacity for about 850 students.

To accommodate the new school, the Liberty Elementary School District has adjusted attendance boundaries.

The new campus, at the northwest corner of Lower Buckeye Road and South 183rd Avenue, will roll out its grades in phases: Pre K-6 in the 2025-26 school year, seventh grade in 2026-27, and eighth grade in 2027-28.

The new boundaries may effect students attending Blue Horizon, Liberty, and Las Brisas Academy campuses.  After reviewing six different boundary options, the district selected a plan that shifts the Vista De Montana community from Blue Horizon Elementary to Loretta Zumbro.

The new boundaries will extend from Citrus to Jackrabbit, East to West, and from Buckeye to Yuma, North to South.

Dr. Edward Sloat, LESD’s director of research, explained the district considered factors such as enrollment projections, facility capacities, and community impact when selecting the final boundary option.

The proposed boundaries were shared through community meetings, the district website, and social media channels. Following these discussions, the LESD board approved the sixth option.

“Before we began the process, we reviewed the governing board policy to ensure we followed the appropriate steps,” stated Dr. Stephanie Mohorne, LESD’s assistant superintendent of Human Resources and Student Services. “Now that the boundaries have been approved, we can begin the process of looking at planning for student enrollment, hiring staff, and student programming.”

As part of the planning process, LESD is encouraging families to take advantage of Arizona's open enrollment policy. Since Arizona is an open enrollment state, parents may apply for their child to attend any public school in the state, as long as there is classroom space available. This policy allows families to choose schools based on program offerings, teaching philosophy, extracurricular activities, or proximity to work or home.

For students wishing to transfer to Loretta Zumbro or other Liberty schools, LESD's open enrollment program requires parents to submit an application each year. Applications must be completed individually for each student, and approval is based on school enrollment, grade levels, and special programs.

Parents must submit applications for returning students by March 15 for the following school year, with decisions communicated by April 1. Transportation to open-enrolled schools is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. 

Visit liberty25.org for more information on Loretta Zumbro Elementary School and the district's open enrollment program.