BASIS Scottsdale

Losing 7 teachers , or 16% of staff for next year. This place needs to retain its teachers for the sake of the children. Why with all of the stipends paid to the teachers for the students high test results can't they keep their staff. Reason is, ...... stress, and overwork..... Please make sure your kids can withstand this relentless environment.
--Submitted by a parent

Our daughter is now in 7th grade and switched from Rancho Solano after the 4th grade. Although Rancho is highly rated as a private school, the curriculum is not even close to the quality and rigor of the BASIS system. Also, at BASIS, it's not important if you drive a fancy and they DON'T do cliques. Yes, the 1st year was an adjustment. However, as our daughter got accustomed to the workload and expectations, she's taken on the responsibilities of studying and achieving on her own. The peer pressure is positive in that she now wants to and does compete with the other kids and at a very high level. This is NOT a school for the faint of heart. They do not coddle parents or students. They are very up front about expectations. If the parents are not willing to ensure the parents' and child's focus is on education, this is not the right place. Yes, you'll find some time for extracurricular activities, but not until you've firmly established some sort of routine and understand the hours needed for studying. We don't know any other school's students who have had (and comprehend) two years of Latin, two years of Physics, Biology and Chemistry, and are in Pre-Calculus in 7th Grade.
--Submitted by a parent

My son just started attending Basis this year. The administration is wonderful. You feel like you are attending a much smaller school than it is. We couldn't be happier. He LOVES all of his teachers. They make learning so much fun. They learn a lot but he surprisingly does not have to study too much. The teachers teach them during class and are available after class if he needs more help. It has given him an amazing independence in his studies and he is exceeding. I can't believe that this school is free. I agree that this school isn't for everyone but if your child wants to learn this is the place to go. Thank you so much Basis!
--Submitted by a parent

BASIS has been a fantastic school for our two children (grades 5 and 7). The academic standards are better than any private or public school. The teachers are enthusiastic and are willing to make sure that their students learn the subject at hand -- they will stay late, come in early, or set up special student hours. I believe the school is not for everyone -- but it IS for those who value a top-notch education and make academics a priority. Kudos BASIS for continuing to EDUCATE our children!
--Submitted by a parent

The school has gone through a lot of changes. My son went to Basis from 5th grade to 8th, now he attends what I believe is the best private high school in Arizona. He was accepted with flying colors because of the extraordinary foundation built and study skills he learned at Basis. He now enjoys perfect marks in class that would make ANY parent smile. Don't hate the player hate the game! Life is what we make of it and being a public charter school they are a God send. You would be lucky, as I was to have your children attend Basis Scottsdale! Education is the only gift you can give your children that no one can ever take away.
--Submitted by a parent

The decision parents make in selecting a school that will challenge their child and prepare them for further academic success has to be made both with an open mind and with a clear understanding of who their child is. My daughter is bright, works hard, and genuinely craves the accelerated academic challenges that Basis offers. In short, Basis is a superb match for her, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunities this school provides. In contrast, she doesn't sing and has no interest in acting, so it would have made no sense for us to have sent her to a performing arts school. This is, in my mind, a fairly common sense process of matching my child's strengths, interests, and motivation against the environment we placed her in. In reading the reviews from parents that clearly didn't make that realistic assessment - can and will my child perform in this environment - I am simply amazed. The Basis curriculum, and a comparison with other schools, is readily available; it's common knowledge that Basis kids are years ahead of their peers in other schools. If that isn't a good match for your child, don't blame the school for your decision to send them there. The failure is yours.
--Submitted by a parent

Beware, this school will remove reviews that are negative, mine was removed. The admin is not interested in input from parents/teachers. They expect students to clean up cafeteria, no janitor on staff, what next? No wonder there is turnover of teachers year after year, the environment is prison-like. Don't buy into the sales pitch of this school!
--Submitted by a parent

Last time I checked, colleges don't look at a school's teacher turnover for admittance or scholarships. They look at test scores. And Basis excels at test scores and educating students as well as national rankings. I am a fourth year Basis parent. The methods used at Basis are not always logical, intuitive or follow what other schools do. But the Basis schools have the track record of AIMS scores, AP scholars, and national rankings to back up their methods. Basis is not for every child, but the school works with the kids to give the children lots of chances. However the child and the parent need to be willing to work hard to succeed. We have never found the workload "overly demanding" ~ my son has found it challenging. He never spent 5-6 hours a night on homework. Basis had taught my son the organizational, study and test taking skills that he needs to succeed in school, career and life. If teacher turnover and longer "meet the teacher" nights are your priority, Basis is probably not for you. If your priority is getting a great education while learning study skills and getting the test scores for colleges and scholarships, Basis may be a great fit for you and your child
--Submitted by a parent

We have two wonderful kids in Basis. Before Basis we had them in three different private schools and I can tell you that it is no comparison To Basis. We are all so lucky to have a school that can provide our kids the challenge that they need. The kids, parents and school have to work as a team to make it work. Basis is not for everyone, I don't remember reading it anywhere that it states that. This school is for kids who are driven. What is worry with that? Basis is not perfect but what is? Are you? It is perfect for those who's up for the challenge and that can take it. My two kids may or may not go through High School, but one think for sure is that we are grateful our kids have a solid foundation. Thank you Basis and all the teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

In response to why care if BASIS retains teachers...if they are paying teachers bonuses from the Master Teacher program why would they want to leave? Such a high turnover there's got to be something. No not all the math tests are the same. Our friend's kids were struggling with tests, and when compared with my kid's test, most of their test questions were the same degree of difficulty as my kid's extra credit questions. Luckily my kid's teacher was the head of the department(and one of the few great teachers there). The teachers may be the best in their field, but if they can't communinicate their knowledge to students then they aren't very effective teachers. Kids need teachers, not experts. My child was eager to learn and loved school until she spent a few years at BASIS. We are considering counseling to undo the damage that was done by the highly stressful and overly demanding work load-not curriculum, work load. No child needs to spend 5-6 hours nightly on homework after 7 hours in the classroom. Public schools aren't that great either, and I agree tenure needs to be done away with, but there are other options, and I think there are several options that are better than BASIS
--Submitted by a parent