MUSD now owns 15 properties after purchase of new high school site

MUSD properties map

With the acquisition of a 65-acre parcel for its second high school, Maricopa Unified School District now owns 15 properties.

Five are undeveloped.

In December, MUSD received $3.54 million from Arizona’s School Facilities Board to buy the Cortona property at the southwest corner of Murphy and Farrell roads near the far east edge of the district.

The SFB is also supplying more than $22 million approved by the state Legislature to help build the school.

MUSD closed escrow on the property Dec. 1, and hydrant flow tests began days later to determine design flow and pressure on the site.

Cortona is the latest in a series of land purchases and donations still in district possession that date back to the 1950s.

Here is a rundown of the properties currently owned by the district:

Maricopa High School
Maricopa High School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

1. Maricopa High School
45012 W. Honeycutt Ave.
45.09 acres

MUSD’s first school site is now strictly high school property pieced together over the years in the name of Pinal County School District #20. The first high school opened in 1955.

Santa Rosa Elementary School
Santa Rosa Elementary School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

2. Santa Rosa Elementary School
21400 N. Santa Rosa Drive
9.12 acres

Donated in 2003 by El Dorado Partners, El Dorado Pecan and Pecan Valley Investments, the site is across from The Duke at Rancho El Dorado. The school opened in 2005.

Pima Butte Elementary School
Pima Butte Elementary School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

3. Pima Butte Elementary School
42202 W. Rancho El Dorado Parkway
8.51 acres

The smallest school lot in the district was donated in 2003 by El Dorado Partners, El Dorado Pecan and Pecan Valley Investments. The school opened in 2005.

Vacant MUSD property Homestead
A vacant property east of West Homestead Drive and North Continental Boulevard in Homestead. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

4. Vacant land in Homestead
No assigned street address
10.86 acres

CHI Construction acquired this property at Homestead Drive and North Continental Boulevard in 2004 from Homestead Village North LLC and dedicated it to MUSD while never transferring ownership.

Maricopa Wells Middle School
Maricopa Wells Middle School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

5. Maricopa Wells Middle School
45725 W. Honeycutt Ave.
23.39 acres

In 2004, MUSD acquired the property from Maricopa Meadows LLC in a special warranty deed. Originally on the high school campus, the school moved to the new site in 2006.

Vacant Property RED south of Placone
A vacant property, south of West Placone Road, between Rancho El Dorado and The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

6. Vacant land in Rancho El Dorado
No assigned street address
12.07 acres

MUSD acquired this property south of Placone Lane between Rancho El Dorado and The Lakes in 2004, signed over by El Dorado Partners, El Dorado Pecan and Pecan Valley Investments.

Vacant The Lakes north of Placone
A vacant property, north of West Placone Road, between Rancho El Dorado and The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

7. Vacant land in Rancho El Dorado
No assigned street address
12.08 acres

Also in 2004, MUSD acquired land north of Placone Lane next to Global Water Resources offices, signed over by El Dorado Partners, El Dorado Pecan and Pecan Valley Investments.

Maricopa Elementary School
Maricopa Elementary School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

8. Maricopa Elementary School
18150 N. Alterra Parkway
11.69 acres

The property was acquired in 2005 by quit-claim deed from Lennar Communities Development. The school opened in 2006.

Santa Cruz Elementary School
Santa Cruz Elementary School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

9. Santa Cruz Elementary School
19845 N. Costa del Sol Blvd.
12 acres

In 2005, Murphy Land Investors LLC granted MUSD the property in a $10 special warranty deed. Originally on the high school campus, the elementary moved to the new site in 2007.

Maricopa Unified School District 20 administration building
Maricopa Unified School District 20 administration building. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

10. Maricopa Unified School District Office & Transportation
44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy.
18.13 acres

In 2008, D.R. Horton and Pulte Home Corp. conveyed property to MUSD via special warranty deed for administration offices and the Transportation Department.

Desert Wind Middle School
Desert Wind Middle School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

11. Desert Wind Middle School
35565 W. Honeycutt Road
22.5 acres

MUSD acquired the Tortosa property in 2006 from Murphy Land Investors through a special warranty deed. The school opened in 2008.

MUSD land in Santa Rosa Springs
A vacant property west of Porter and Iron Point roads in Santa Rosa Springs. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

12. Vacant land in Santa Rosa Springs
No assigned street address
12.05 acres

In 2007, Elliott Homes gifted the parcel of land on Porter Road to MUSD in a special warranty deed, but Elliott continued ownership until 2014.

Saddleback Elementary School
Saddleback Elementary School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

13. Saddleback Elementary School
18600 N. Porter Road
13.31 acres

In 2007, Element H-HVS LLC gave MUSD land on Porter Road. The school opened in 2008.

Butterfield Elementary School
Butterfield Elementary School. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

14. Butterfield Elementary School
43800 W. Honeycutt Road
15.91 acres

MUSD acquired two Honeycutt Road parcels in 2007 and forged them into one for the newest elementary. The school opened in 2008.

The Cortona property on North Murphy Road, where the Maricopa Unified School District will build its second high school. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

15. Vacant land on Cortona property
No assigned street address
65 acres

MUSD purchased property in December 2020 from Maricopa 240 LLC on Murphy Road. It is planned for a second high school.