In March, Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) leaders joined community partners, elected officials, students and industry collaborators to celebrate the official groundbreaking of Estrella Vista Academy, the district’s newest and most ambitious high school campus to date.
Held at the southeast corner of Dysart Road and Alamar Boulevard in Avondale, the ceremony marked the beginning of construction on what district leaders say will be the largest high school in the West Valley and potentially the largest in Arizona. The future-ready campus is designed to serve approximately 2,400 students and will open in phases beginning in fall 2027 for incoming freshmen and sophomores.
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The ceremony began with the presentation of colors and the national anthem performed by Tolleson Union High School District JROTC students, followed by a spirited performance from the TUHS Mariachi group.
Among those in attendance were TUHSD Superintendent Jeremy Calles; Governing Board President Steven Chapman along with Governing Board Vice President Devin Del Palacio and Members Dr. Elda Luna-Najera, Miguel Ortega-Romero and Leezah Sun; Avondale Councilmember Gloria Solorio; Phoenix Raceway Track President Latasha Causey; NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez; and representatives from project partners DLR Group and CHASSE Building Team.
Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race and the winner of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Mexico, joined the celebration in recognition of the school’s partnership with Phoenix Raceway. The collaboration will help shape Estrella Vista Academy’s signature automotive technology and motorsports program.
“This project represents an extraordinary moment for our district and for the entire West Valley,” Calles said. “Estrella Vista Academy will not only be the largest high school in our district, but one of the most innovative. Our goal is to provide students with an exceptional education in a state-of-the-art environment that prepares them for the future. This campus will truly be a point of pride for our community.”
The 65-acre campus will be intentionally positioned as both a learning hub and a community cornerstone within Avondale’s rapidly growing residential corridor. The school’s location also allows direct proximity to key transportation routes and regional industry partners, further strengthening opportunities for career-connected learning. Designed by Phoenix-based architecture firm DLR Group and constructed by CHASSE Building Team, the campus emphasizes modern, student-centered learning environments. Traditional hallways are replaced with collaborative zones designed to foster teamwork and interdisciplinary learning, while outdoor courtyards and amphitheaters integrate natural spaces into daily campus life. Classrooms will connect to those shared collaboration spaces to allow students to move fluidly between independent study and group-based projects that mirror real-world problem-solving environments.
The architectural concept behind the campus, known as the “confluence of currents,” symbolizes streams of ideas and cultures merging into unified learning spaces. Outdoor pathways and gathering areas reflect this design philosophy, reinforcing the campus’ role as a cultural anchor and educational hub for the surrounding community. Project leaders say community engagement played a key role in shaping the design.
Construction partner CHASSE Building Team also emphasized the long-term impact of the project.
“Tolleson Union High School District has always been intentional about creating opportunities for students, and Estrella Vista Academy reflects that vision in a big way. From aviation and automotive technology to culinary arts, fine arts, and traditional academics, this campus brings an incredible range of programs together in one place,” said Barry Chasse, founder of CHASSE Building Team. “DLR Group did a remarkable job translating the district’s ideas into a design that connects learning, career pathways, and collaboration across the campus. When this school opens, it’s going to set a new standard for what career- and college-ready high schools can look like.”
Estrella Vista Academy will include specialized facilities for career and technical education, student collaboration zones, outdoor learning environments and spaces designed for community events and gatherings.
The school’s partnership with Phoenix Raceway will provide unique opportunities for students interested in engineering, automotive technology and motorsport-related careers.
For Tolleson Union High School District, the groundbreaking of Estrella Vista Academy is not simply the start of a new campus. It is the beginning of a new chapter for thousands of future students who will walk its halls in the years ahead.
“This school belongs to the Tolleson community,” said Chapman. “It represents an investment in the next generation and reflects the belief that every student deserves a place that inspires them to learn, grow and succeed.”
