Construction of Wrightson Ridge, the newest K-8 school in the Sahuarita Unified School District (SUSD), is progressing well and is over halfway complete. The new 80,000-square-foot school, which is possible due to the successful passing of a $20 million bond approved by the voters in 2016, is located southwest of Copper View Elementary school in the Sahuarita Town Center, on land donated by the Rancho Sahuarita Company.
The district has announced plans for opening. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will begin attending the new school in January of 2019, while sixth, seventh and eighth graders will remain in their current school before starting at the new school in the fall of 2019.
Current Anza Trail School Assistant Principal, Shelly Lizardi, will be the principal of the new school. The mascot for the new school will be the “Roadrunners” which was announced at a special celebration back in May.
The new school is designed designed by Swaim Associates Architects, which is the same firm that designed Copper View Elementary. The full campus includes six buildings, along with soccer, baseball, and softball fields and tennis courts. The new school will also have a bus loop road, which allows buses and parents’ cars to be kept separate.
It is anticipated that there will be room to accommodate 530 elementary students and 250 middle school students at the new school.
The new school is a welcomed addition for the district, many of whose schools are already at or near capacity. This fact, along with other critical needs of teachers and students, caused voters to approve the bond in 2016.
Dr. Valenzuela, Superintendent for SUSD, spoke of the new school saying, “Our community’s beautiful new school building, Wrightson Ridge K-8 School, is currently on track to completion later this fall. Additionally, we’ve appointed the principal, identified staff, drawn attendance boundaries, selected colors, and picked a mascot. We’re very excited to open the doors for our students in January. This amazing project is only possible through the generosity and sacrifice of our local community, and I extend my sincere gratitude.”