After months of construction and anticipation, Alma Farrell Innovation Academy is ready to open its doors.

Maricopa Unified School District will celebrate the grand opening of the nearly 100,000-square-foot campus Monday, according to a press release. It marks the completion of one of the district’s most ambitious projects and the official launch of Arizona’s first K-8 work-based learning school.

The campus is designed to introduce students to careers and industries beginning in kindergarten through hands-on projects and partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Rather than waiting until high school to explore career pathways, students will be exposed to a variety of professions throughout their elementary and middle school years while continuing traditional academic instruction.

The district broke ground on the school in May 2025, calling it an investment in Maricopa’s future. A year later, governing board members unanimously voted to name the campus after former Superintendent Alma Farrell, recognizing the longtime educator’s role in guiding the district through years of growth and expanding educational opportunities.

“Our responsibility is to make the world a little bigger for every child who walks through our doors,” Superintendent Tracey Lopeman said. “Imagine a kindergartner meeting an engineer, an entrepreneur, an artist, a scientist and a pilot for the very first time and realizing, ‘I want to do that someday.'”

The campus also adopts Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce model, where teams of educators collaborate to personalize learning through project-based instruction.

The invitation-only ribbon cutting begins at 10 a.m. Monday. Students and staff will begin the school year later this month.