Mesa, AZ: Autism school gets expansion to service 400 students

Feb 3, 2026, KTAR, Mesa, AZ:  Mesa Public Schools leases vacant space to local private school for kids with autism

Mesa Public Schools is putting unused space at two campuses to good use by leasing it to a local private school that serves children with autism.

Polaris Academy is taking over space at Rhodes and Smith junior high schools, partitioning off a section at each location.

Both venues are under construction and will open to Polaris Academy students in the 2026-27 school year, significantly increasing the private school’s capacity.

As more public schools close around the state due to declining enrollment and budget shortfalls, there are more and more empty school buildings, some of which do not have designated plans. . . .

Nathan Palmer, CEO and co-founder of Polaris Academy, said his school needs space beyond its main campus near Southern Avenue and Power Road, which has just over 100 students. The two leases bring the school’s total capacity to 400 students.

Strom said the partnership provides a space for a section of the Mesa community that may not fit into the typical public school environment.

Palmer said expanding locally offers potential opportunities to collaborate with the connecting schools and help families with kids at both Polaris and Mesa Public Schools.

“The public campus space brings to us what we couldn’t find in the private world, and that’s open land. Private development maximizes use of a space. So, while you can get a decent-sized building, outdoor playgrounds and sports fields are really hard [to find], and sports fields in general are difficult to come by,” he said.