Amphi School District has put Copper Creek Elementary on the "chopping block"Amphitheater Public Schools is moving toward closing Copper Creek Elementary, one of four elementary schools recommended for consolidation in the 2026–27 school year. The district cites declining enrollment, shifting demographics, and long-standing funding constraints as driving the decision. Copper Creek is the only affected school located in Oro Valley.
Stated reason: Declining enrollment and high operating cost
Copper Creek sits in one of Oro Valley’s most family-friendly neighborhoods, with 955 homes. Enrollment has fallen over the past four to five years and is 299 students. The school hosts a respected special-education program. Parents say the program is excellent, but even that has not influenced the district’s recommendation. District leaders state that Copper Creek is expensive to operate, pointing specifically to its air-conditioning cost.
Students would go to two other Oro Valley Elementary Schools
If the governing board approves the plan in January, Copper Creek students would be reassigned to two other Oro Valley elementary schools: Painted Sky and Harelson. The change would take effect in next year. District transportation routes will be redesigned, and some families may see earlier pickup times, longer travel distances, or consolidated bus stops, as is typical when Arizona districts restructure service. Special-education transportation required by Individual Education Progams (IEPs) would be implemented at the reassigned schools.
Stated reason: Declining enrollment and high operating cost
Copper Creek sits in one of Oro Valley’s most family-friendly neighborhoods, with 955 homes. Enrollment has fallen over the past four to five years and is 299 students. The school hosts a respected special-education program. Parents say the program is excellent, but even that has not influenced the district’s recommendation. District leaders state that Copper Creek is expensive to operate, pointing specifically to its air-conditioning cost.
Students would go to two other Oro Valley Elementary Schools
If the governing board approves the plan in January, Copper Creek students would be reassigned to two other Oro Valley elementary schools: Painted Sky and Harelson. The change would take effect in next year. District transportation routes will be redesigned, and some families may see earlier pickup times, longer travel distances, or consolidated bus stops, as is typical when Arizona districts restructure service. Special-education transportation required by Individual Education Progams (IEPs) would be implemented at the reassigned schools.
Some residents have launched a petition effort to keep the school open
Some residents have launched a petition entitled “Stop the Closure of Copper Creek Elementary — Protect Our Neighborhood School,” urging Amphitheater Public Schools to reconsider closing Copper Creek. On the petition page, parents write that many moved to the neighborhood “in large part because of Copper Creek Elementary,” calling the school “the heart of our community” and noting that it offers safety and independence for families through walking or biking to school. Click here to learn more and sign the petition of you wish.
...while others are concerned about what will happen to the property
Much of the community discussion has focused on what might happen to the Copper Creek campus if the school closes. Some residents worry the property could become neglected or attract inappropriate uses. District management has said the property will be maintained regardless of the final decision.
The proposal has sparked renewed attention to Oro Valley’s outsized role in district funding. According to our estimates, Oro Valley property owners provided an estimated $39.6 million in property-tax revenues in 2024. That is about 47 percent of Amphi’s total, despite Oro Valley having only six of the district’s 21 schools. Oro Valley families also have no in-town Amphi middle school. These students must travel outside of town boundaries. Under the current plan, Amphi would reduce its elementary presence in Oro Valley even as the town continues to supply nearly half of the district’s tax base.
Yet the Oro Valley Town Council has yet to "weigh in"
The Oro Valley Town Council has not taken a position on the proposed closure. The Council has not discussed potential impacts on families, transportation, or community stability. The Amphi governing board is expected to vote in early January, leaving a limited window for town input before decisions are finalized.
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