Published on May 25, 2022
Maricopa's newest high school, set to open for the first day of classes on July 21, held a ribbon cutting ceremony earlier this week. Speakers on hand for the event were members of the Chase Building construction team, Principal Marlene Armstrong, and Superintendent Dr. Tracy Lopeman. This beautiful campus was constructed with innovative technologies and offers career academies and college preparation courses which will set its curriculum apart as well as prepare students to meet the economic needs of the future. Attendees at the event were then privileged to learn of an additional surprise waiting for them. A second groundbreaking ceremony took place on the northwest side of the school for Phase 2 of the Desert Sunrise construction project. This second phase includes additional sporting facilities and classrooms such as a football stadium, track and field complex, baseball and softball fields with additional parking. The football field and 9-lane track complex will have bleachers for spectators and a field house with locker rooms containing weight and training facilities for the athletes. As with many sporting facilities, a restroom and concession facility will be provided for spectators watching the games. Phase 2 will also include an addition to the student services building. The addition will include a media, lecture, and commons area for continued education and support. Once complete, the campus will span 165,000 sq. ft. The addition of this campus also signifies a landmark moment for the growth of the city as a whole. The east side of Maricopa is expanding quickly, with thousands of new homes either under construction or just around the corner. The high school and the businesses that follow will support this growth and help alleviate congestion on the west side of the city. “If folks in Maricopa haven’t been out here, it won’t be long before they have a reason to be! This will be a very vibrant locale in the city of Maricopa and we’re very excited to be in on the ground floor," said Dr. Tracy Lopeman, Superintendent of the Maricopa Unified School District. Check out the exclusive interview with Principal Marlene Armstrong below for more information.