Thousands of students file out the double doors across 26 campuses located in Surprise, El Mirage and Youngtown. The Dysart Unified School District has more than 23,000 students enrolled in the district, with more schools and students on the way. 

The School Facilities Oversight Board predicted a 1.71 percent increase in students enrolled in the 2025 Fiscal year with continual positive growth over 1 percent in the next several years after. 

With $10.3 million dollars awarded from the state from the School Facilities Division for the 2023-2024 academic year, projects such as roofing for several elementary schools, an updated intercom system at Willow Canyon High School, and several other facility maintenance projects.

The continual maintenance in established schools requires Dysart to look for other ways to fund facilities, extracurriculars and parks rather than rely solely on federal funding.

As the district grows, the relationship with the city will continue to support Dysart. The city provided everything from striping on roads, traffic safety cops and a new Emergency Medical Training Career Technical Education program at Valley Vista High School. 

Students from any four of the high school campuses can attend the program. Currently, Willow Canyon High School is the only other school in the district with a CTE medical program that accepts students from other schools.

“Students tend to choose their high schools based on their interest. There are some students that even attend the EMS program at Valley Vista High School even if they are not a student there,” said Renee Ryon, Director of Communications and Public Relations at Dysart Unified School District.

Although the high schools have increased in size in the past year for high schools, land for elementary schools is easier to acquire. Shadow Ridge High school had 2401 students in their 2022-2023 school year which was 40 more students than in the 2021-2022 school year. 

According to Kevin Shipman, Planning Administrator at Dysart Unified School District, they are more willing to donate 15 acres for primary education rather than 55-65 acres for a high school.

It is required for spaces to be dedicated to essential facilities, such as schools, drainage and parks. 

“As Surprise develops, preschools are necessary. It would be nice if a preschool was offered at each elementary school,” said Michelle Garcia, Kindergarten teacher at DUSD.

The government only provides money for new schools, after a district is full. According to Ryon, if there is space in another school within the district, it is encouraged for the district to rezone or bus students to the schools with available spacing. 

According to the Dysart website, the district receives 43% of its funding through property taxes and bonds on their website, with 47% of the funding provided by  the Federal government. 

Every few years, the community votes on a bond to help schools with facility maintenance, program enhancements and other needs. A press release on Sept. 18 from the district informing community members about a bond committee that is looking for members as they prepare for the next election cycle. 

“They still have extra curricular clubs, they still have specials, things like art and music. In that sense, they are getting the same education piece, the staffing just changes a little bit. But not in the classroom,” Ryon said.

Most of the growth within Dysart is seen in the northern and western parts of the district due to housing developments being built in the past three to five years according to Shipman.

“We are seeing a small decrease in established areas, but exploding along the edges,” said Shipman.