The Washington County Board of Education will hold public hearings to consider proposed school boundary changes for the 2027-28 school year, a plan that would redistribute students from Desert Canyons Elementary to both Little Valley Elementary and Bloomington Hills Elementary. The board scheduled the first hearing for Monday, December 14, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. at 121 West Tabernacle in St. George.
Proposed Boundary Adjustments
The proposed boundary adjustments, which the Washington County School District announced in a public notice on October 29, 2026, aim to reorganize specific areas within the district. According to the notice, the changes target the White Dome area and an undeveloped area east of Hamilton Drive.
Under the proposal, homes located in the White Dome area south of White Dome Drive—specifically east of River Road, south of White Dome Drive, north of Southern Parkway, and west of Lansky Drive—would be moved from Desert Canyons Elementary to Little Valley Elementary.
Additionally, the plan would move homes in the White Dome area north of White Dome Drive, spanning from River Road to the White Dome Nature Preserve, from Desert Canyons Elementary to Bloomington Hills Elementary. The district also proposed moving homes in the undeveloped area east of Hamilton Drive, north of the Southern Parkway to the rear property boundary of homes on Malitosh Way, to Little Valley Elementary.
Public Hearing Schedule
The district is also looking ahead to future developments in the area north of Malitosh Way. While the undeveloped area east of the White Dome Nature Preserve and north of the homes on Malitosh Way, extending to 4150 South, currently has no students attending any of the three affected schools, the district noted that future homes built in this area would be zoned for Bloomington Hills Elementary.
To participate in the process, the Washington County School District has scheduled a second hearing for Monday, January 11, 2027, at 4:30 p.m. to continue receiving public comment on these proposed changes. The hearings will be held at 121 West Tabernacle, St. George, UT 84770.
Current School Enrollment
The proposed shifts come as school officials manage enrollment across the district. Data from the 2024-2025 school year shows Desert Canyons Elementary had a total enrollment of 670 students. The school, located at 3101 E Rimrunner Drive in St. George, reported a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.62, with 32.49 full-time equivalent classroom teachers.
In contrast, Bloomington Hills Elementary, located at 919 E Brigham Rd, reported an enrollment of 417 students for the 2026-2027 school year. The school's staff includes one principal, one counselor, and 23 teachers. According to the Utah State Board of Education's Data Gateway, the school's student population for the 2026-2027 school year includes 70 kindergarteners, 55 first graders, 55 second graders, 96 third graders, 72 fourth graders, and 69 fifth graders.
Demographic and Economic Data
The demographic makeup of the schools reflects the diversity of the Washington County area. At Desert Canyons Elementary during the 2024-2025 school year, 519 students identified as White, 86 identified as Hispanic, 38 identified as having two or more races, and 12 identified as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Other reported ethnicities included 8 American Indian/Alaska Native, 8 Black, 7 Asian, and 1 other.
At Bloomington Hills Elementary for the 2026-2027 school year, the student population included 277 Caucasian students and 92 Hispanic students. The school also reported 29 multi-race students, 7 Asian students, 7 Pacific Islander students, 4 American Indian students, and 1 Black student.
Economic and educational support needs also vary between the institutions. At Desert Canyons Elementary, 137 students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch programs during the 2024-2025 school year. At Bloomington Hills Elementary, 48% of the student population is identified as economically disadvantaged.
Public Participation Details
The Washington County School District has stated that maps of the proposed boundary considerations are available on its official website. For individuals requiring special accommodations, including auxiliary communicative aids and services, during the hearings, the district requests notification to Darin Thomas at (435) 673-3553 at least five working days prior to the meeting.
