MUSD Unveils Ambitious Border Expansion to Attract More Casa Grande Students

In response to rapid residential growth in Maricopa, the Maricopa Unified School District (MUSD) is proposing a boundary adjustment that would rezone students to align with city limits. This adjustment aims to shift students who are currently designated to Casa Grande schools into MUSD’s jurisdiction, moving them closer to their homes.

“This is about serving students where they live,” remarked MUSD Superintendent Dr. Tracey Lopeman at a recent school board meeting. The proposed change intends to create more accessible educational opportunities as the population continues to rise.

Currently, a section of Maricopa falls under the Casa Grande Elementary and Casa Grande Union High School Districts. Consequently, students in areas near Desert Sunrise High School face commutes of up to 25 miles to reach their assigned schools, despite MUSD facilities being only 1 to 3 miles away.

District projections indicate that upcoming housing developments, particularly in the Cortona neighborhood, are anticipated to bring more than 2,500 additional students over the next ten years. In the next school year, 107 students from this area are expected, with the number jumping to 160 the following year, highlighting the urgent need for boundary modifications. Ironically, Desert Sunrise High School remains outside MUSD boundaries due to historical zoning overlaps with Casa Grande schools.

Dr. Lopeman noted the district’s collaboration with a demographer to assess development patterns and enrollment trends. Their research underscores the inconsistency between city limits and school district boundaries, especially in rapidly growing regions.

“We’re hitting all four of our strategic plan metrics,” Lopeman said, explaining that the initiative aims to harmonize district resources with community needs. This also reflects MUSD’s commitment to supporting local families.

Under Arizona law, the proposed boundary shift qualifies as a “minor boundary adjustment.” This legal process allows for two such instances per district and necessitates majority voter approval from the impacted area, along with endorsements from MUSD, Casa Grande Elementary, and Casa Grande Union High School Districts.

A public forum is slated for May 6 at 6 p.m. in the MUSD board room located at 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. Following this, the MUSD board plans to sign a memorandum of understanding on May 14. The next phase involves gathering signatures for a formal petition due for submission to state and county agencies by November 1.

If all progresses as expected, the newly adjusted boundaries will be implemented by July 2026, coinciding with the opening of a new K–8 school in the Sorento neighborhood, only three miles from the affected area.