Scottsdale Unified School District will close Copper Ridge K-8 School and Laguna Elementary School after the 2026-27 school year, following a 3-2 vote by the district’s governing board Tuesday. The board rejected an effort to delay the decision before approving the closures. The district says the move will save more than $2.5 million as it responds to declining enrollment. The closures follow weeks of consideration and public debate. At a special meeting in September, community members urged district leaders to take more time. One speaker raised concerns about the effect on students who use a Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale program located across the street from Laguna. The district’s review covered options involving seven schools, including six considered for closure and one considered for relocation. Those schools have a combined capacity of 7,194 students, while 3,296 are enrolled. Across the six elementary schools considered for closure, enrollment totals 2,206. The decision also comes amid questions about the process used to develop closure options. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said the district violated open-meeting laws while drawing up the options, but said it could not require a remedy because the committee’s work had already ended. Members of the committee involved in the process told KTAR that financial data and building capacity were not considered when schools were selected for review. Scottsdale Unified closed Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon earlier this year, also citing declining enrollment. School closures have become a response to enrollment declines and budget pressures in other Valley districts as well.