Deer Valley Unified to consider building 2 new schools

Two years after opening a new elementary school, Deer Valley Unified School District will consider building two new district schools.

At its Tuesday night meeting, the district governing board is scheduled to vote on the School Facilities Oversight Board’s recommendation to include in the district’s Capital Plan a new high school by 2029 and a K-8 school by 2032.

“Each September, the School Facilities Oversight Board requests a Capital Plan to assess eligibility for state funding for new school projects. The district hasn’t qualified for funding in two decades, but recent developments suggest potential eligibility in the future,” the agenda item, submitted by Deputy Superintendent Jim Migliorino, explains.

A report from the contracted demographer, the item further notes, will offer insights on expected student enrollment changes, which won’t be available until after October. Since the fiscal year 2025 Capital Plan is due by Tuesday, Oct. 1, district administration is asking the governing board to approve it at this time.

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 inside the DVUSD Governing Board Room, 20402 N. 15th Ave., in Phoenix, and is also streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel.

Deer Valley Unified last opened a new school when Inspiration Mountain Elementary debuted in fall 2022 near 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. Inspiration Mountain is a K-6, with infrastructure in place for future expansion to a K-8 campus.

District administration is anticipating major housing developments planned for north Peoria, north Phoenix and north Glendale that are expected to yield “significant” increases in Deer Valley Unified’s student population.

Among those is the high-profile Biscuit Flats/NorthPark development, which will be adjacent to the $40 billion Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing  Co. fabrication campus in north Phoenix.

Currently vacant, the undeveloped parcels are south of Carefree Highway, west of Interstate 17, and north of State Route 303 in Phoenix. Estimates range from as many as 9,000 residential units to as many as 20,000.

As comparison, Census data show Anthem features more than 9,000 residential units.

Infrastructure work could start in 2025.

Some of the other developments the district is tracking include Aloravita (1,472 units), Copperleaf (411 units), Middle Vistas (228 units), Union Park (977 units), Verdin (1,250 units), and Paseo Heights (294 units).

All developments will be within the DVUSD boundary.