Confronting steadily declining enrollment across its 39 schools, Gilbert Public Schools administration may ask the Governing Board to close Pioneer Elementary School by the end of this school year.

If the plan is approved, Pioneer’s approximate 268 students would be divvied among surrounding elementary schools to shore up their student population and utilize now-empty space.

Schools throughout the East Valley are seeing enrollment declines as a result of various factors – including a steady drop in the birth rate, housing unaffordability for young families and competition in the form of charter and private schools.

And as those numbers fall, empty space in buildings increases.

Closing schools allows districts to not only increase space utilization rates in those that remain open but al

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