By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Vail Unified School District is asking parents for input regarding the future of the Vail Academy and High School.
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Dwindling enrollment numbers have led district leadership to consider changes to the school’s structure.
Vail Unified Superintendent John Carruth told 13 News that enrollment at the elementary level has been stable, and there has been increased interest at the middle school. However, interest in the high school is waning, with only 100 students expected to enroll next year.
“What is currently happening at the school, especially on the high school side, isn’t sustainable,” Carruth said.
Carruth said one reason for declining interest from high school-aged students is that the district now has more options.
Declining enrollment comes at a cost, and school district leadership mentioned that the district lost millions of dollars over the last few years due to being under-enrolled.
To find a solution, the district formed a focus group of teachers, administration and parents who recommended options to ensure Vail Academy and High School’s longevity. The options include keeping the K-12 format with reduced high school programming, transitioning into a K-8 school, or a K-10 school.
The development comes as districts across southern Arizona have closed or announced plans to possibly close several schools. Most cite the same reasons: declining enrollment and funding issues.
- Tucson Unified, the largest district in southern Arizona, has been flagged as high-risk, and Pima County Superintendent Dustin Williams has said that could mean school closures. Governing board member Val Romero said the district may need to shutter up to 17 schools to fix its budget problems.
- The Amphitheater School District has closed four of its elementary schools — Copper Creek, Donaldson, Nash, and Holloaway,
- The Sierra Vista Unified School District on May 12 voted to consolidate Village Meadows with Pueblo Del Sol Elementary. The district has already voted to close Joyce Clark Elementary and move Town & Country Elementary to the campus. The current Town & Country campus will be renamed Clark Community Campus and will serve as the district’s support offices.
- The Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind has already announced it was closing its Tucson campus and moving to the old Copper Creek campus in Oro Valley. Some parents of visually-impaired students have expressed worry about their kids being forced back into public schools, mainly Tucson Unified, as the Copper Creek campus would not offer the same services as the Tucson campus did.
During a town hall meeting for Vail Academy and High on Monday, parents and students expressed frustrations over the possibility of changing the school.
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“How do we support the community of these incredible students who go out of their way that do these incredible things, and tell them, you’re going to have to find your place at one of the other high schools?” one parent asked.
Another student said taking away the opportunity is “like ripping away the opportunity for students to go to high school (there).”
Carruth said the district is very early in the process and nothing has been decided.
The superintendent said he understands many might be worried about the possibility of change, and the district wants to continue hearing feedback from the community.
“I wish I could just wave a wand and make it go away. All we’re asking is to invite people in and be a part of that process,” Carruth said.
Carruth said these changes could take effect in the 2027 to 2028 school year, but nothing has been decided yet. Discussions, like the town hall, are expected to continue through the upcoming school year.
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