Construction crews are scrambling in the East Valley to build new schools and complete at least $223 million in renovations in time for the start of the school year. In the Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert and Higley districts, nine new schools are under construction.
Meanwhile, renovations such as painting, carpeting and parking lot improvements are under way in every district. Among East Valley districts reviewed by the Tribune, the Scottsdale Unified School District is spending the most in major renovations — $180 million in improvements to four of its five high schools.
Changes coming to East Valley schools:
Apache Junction Unified School District
Four Peaks Elementary School, 1755 N. Idaho Road; new school will replace the existing one, opens fall 2007, cost $9.4 million
Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive; 14 new classrooms, opens in August, cost $6.5 million
Mountain Shadows Educational Center, 2805 S. Ironwood Drive; new building with a cafeteria, opens in August, cost $700,000
Desert Shadows Middle School, 801 W. Southern Ave.; new building with media center, science lab, study area, opens in August, cost $2.3 million
Chandler Unified School District
Ryan Elementary School, 4600 S. Bright Angel; opens in August, cost $10 million
Chandler Traditional Academy - Independence Campus, 1405 W. Lake Drive; opens in August, cost $7.8 million
Perry High School, 1919 E. Queen Creek Road; opens fall 2007, cost $55 million
Satellite transportation and maintenance complex, 1919 E. Queen Creek Road; opens in August, cost $3.6 million
Basha High School, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive; 17 new classrooms, opens in August, cost $5.6 million
Santan Junior High School, 1550 E. Chandler Heights Road; 10 new classrooms, opens in August, cost $2.4 million
Navarrete Elementary School, 6490 S. Sun Groves Blvd.; 10 new classrooms, opens in August, cost $1.8 million
Willis Junior High School, 401 S. McQueen Road; new heating and cooling units to be complete in August, cost $2.3 million
Weinberg Elementary School, 21221 S. Val Vista Road; receives four modular buildings, opens in August, cost $300,000
Gilbert Unified School District
Highland Park Elementary School, 230 N. Cole Drive; opens in August, cost $7 million
Fifth high school (yet to be named), 1300 E. Germann Road; opens August. 2007, cost $15 million
South Valley Junior High School, 2034 S. Lindsay Road; 20 additional classrooms in a new wing, opens in August, cost $4.3 million
Islands Elementary School, 245 S. McQueen Road; remodeled kitchen, health office, copy room, front lobby and new playground equipment, opens in August, cost $1.5 million
Mesquite Elementary School, 1000 E. Mesquite St.; 6 new classrooms to open in August, construction on new wing will continue throughout school year, cost $7 million
GPS Traditional Academy (Neely Campus), 321 W. Juniper Ave.; new white boards, exterior doors, remodeling of kitchen, health office and front office, cooled drinking fountains installed on playground, opens in August, cost $1.9 million
Patterson Elementary, 1211 E. Guadalupe Road; modernize bathrooms, new ceilings, opens in August, cost $2.7 million
Higley Unified School District
Cortina Elementary School, 19680 S. 188th St.; opens in August, cost $10.6 million
New district offices, 2935 S. Recker Road; opens in August, cost $3.8 million
Chaparral Estates Elementary School, 3380 E. Frye Road; opens August 2007, cost $11.4 million
Williams Field High School, 2076 S. Higley Road; opens August. 2007, cost $32 million
Mesa Unified School District
Salk Elementary School, 7029 E. Brown Road; 14 additional classrooms, opens March 2007, cost $2.1 million
Stevenson Elementary School, 638 S. 96th St.; 14 additional classrooms, opens March 2007, cost $2.1 million
Mountain View High School, 2700 E. Brown Road; 26 new classrooms in a separate building, new science lab, opens November. 2006, cost $4.5 million
Red Mountain High School, 7301 E. Brown Road; new building to house the Biotechnology Academy with four classrooms and two labs, opens in November, cost $2.1 million
Scottsdale Unified School District
Arcadia High School, 4703 E. Indian School Road; two new classroom buildings will open in August. 2006, old circle was demolished this summer and will be reconstructed by August. 2007, new gymnasium by August. 2008, cost $42.1 million
Chaparral High School, 6935 E. Gold Dust Ave.; replace modular buildings with permanent classrooms, replace main classroom, renovate auditorium, gymnasium and media center, opens August. 2009, cost $47.2 million
Coronado High School, 2501 N. 74th St.; replacement of almost all classroom buildings, opens summer 2007, cost $45.2 million
Saguaro High school, 6250 N. 82nd St.; renovate gymnasium, auditorium, classroom buildings, cafeteria and media center, opens August. 2009, cost $45 million
