Chandler High to Expand Cafeteria to Ease Crowding
Chandler Unified School District plans to enlarge the high school's cafeteria using $8 million from a November 2025 bond.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Secondary Education
Chandler Unified School District plans to expand the cafeteria at Chandler High School, which is more than 30 years old and too small to serve every student. Voters approved an $8 million bond in November 2025 for the project, which was redesigned after construction costs rose.
Why it matters
The cafeteria cannot currently accommodate all students at once, so the expansion aims to give students more room to eat during the school day. Because the original plan was changed due to costs, the scope of the final project is shaped by the bond funding available.
The project is funded by an $8 million bond approved by Chandler voters in November 2025, and construction is estimated to take nine to 12 months. The source does not state a final project cost beyond the bond amount, and the district's January start date remains a hope rather than a confirmed schedule.
The players
Chandler Unified School District
The public school district serving Chandler, Arizona, which is leading the cafeteria expansion plan at Chandler High School.
The details
The plan expands the existing cafeteria and converts part of the covered outdoor space into indoor seating, along with a kitchen renovation and additional seating. Construction costs forced a redesign of the original project, and the district has said there is no plan to close the campus during construction.
Timeline
November 2025: Chandler voters passed an $8 million bond for the cafeteria project.
January 2026: The district hopes construction on the cafeteria can begin.
Nine to 12 months: Estimated length of construction once it begins.
Season Trajectory
The project follows the pattern of Arizona districts using voter-approved general obligation bonds to fund school facility upgrades. The cost-driven redesign shows how a fixed bond amount can narrow the final scope of an aging building's renovation.
Students at Chandler High School will eventually have a larger cafeteria with more indoor seating, though the school will remain open during the work. Families in the Chandler area can expect the project to be financed by the $8 million bond approved by voters rather than by new tax increases in the source.
The takeaway
Voter-approved bonds can fund long-overdue school upgrades, but rising construction costs can force districts to scale back their original plans. Watch for the district's updated timeline as construction approaches.
What happens next
Construction could begin in January 2026 if the district proceeds on its current timeline, with a nine to 12 month build to follow.
Further reading
For more on how schools in the area are handling facilities and student services, see Secondary Education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by abc15 Arizona.
