Academy of Tucson High School

From a student who doesnt really care about the staff or has no favorites. This school is hard for students who are not to good at math, in all classes they hold you to an expectation that only few can hold. The electives are very few but they claim they offer just as much as a public school which is true to a point, the school offers art, choir, adv womens choir, guitar, and musical theory, these are the actual in class ones with teachers, the rest are offered through the online class by byu independent study but still those are limited and not that great. Now the teachers they pick favorites, when it comes to discipline their reall is nothing they do they just give you a 30 min lunch detentiion DONT SEND YOUR CHILD HEAR
—Submitted by a student

Contrary to the previous comment, the principal of the high school motivated and gave my daughter a sense of direction which changed her view of school and today she is successfully working her way through college. The fine work of the principal and faculty at the Academy of Tucson changes lives for the better. I am truly blessed to have found such a wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are good.......the principal needs to be replaced. He speaks down to students, is rude to select students and does not encourage them to do well as much as puts them down if they struggle.

I have one child that attended the middle school and did pretty well so we sent them to the high school. This school is a huge contradiction! Some kids are held to different standards than others. Some kids can wear inappropriate clothing right in front of staff and not get in trouble. Some kids can display affection in front of staff and also not get in trouble. Very unprofessional!!! Rumors spread so easily through staff and kids. My child feels so unwelcome at this school. Be very careful about sending your child to this school!
—Submitted by a parent

I have two boys going to AOT and both of them came from another charter school that was a very poor school. Both of them have been struggling and AOT High school has been helping them out. My oldest is in !!the grade and he has improved but needs a little more help and they are helping him a lot. My youngest is in (the grade and he is still struggling and we made an appointment to meet with the teachers. We found out where he is struggling and they are helping him a lot. I have nothing bad to say about this school. I have looked at other charters school and nothing compares with AOT. This is the best decision we have made for our two boys. I do know that I will never put them in public schools again. Thank you AOT.
—Submitted by a parent

My older son is graduating this year. This has been one of the best high schools for him to attend. I am well pleased with the education he has received. My middle son is going there next year as a sophomore. My regret is that he did not start his freshman year at AOT. If he had, he would've been on track with the classes taken at AOT compared to the other charter high school he's going to.
—Submitted by a parent

Academy of Tucson is an Excellent school!! The staff and administration really care about the students. This is a high school that really prepares it's student for college. My daughter feels very comfortble going to the teachers for any help she needs. The teachers are available before and after school to tutor or help students. I am so glad we found thas school to send my daughter to!!
—Submitted by a parent

My children will not be returning to this school. In the last couple of years the 'college prep' of this school has taken a 180 degree turn. My older children received a much better education in a much better learning environment than my younger ones did. My younger children came up through the AOT middle school were not prepared for high school and struggled. Then the high school moved a couple of those middle school teachers up so they received more of the same. Teacher turn over is very high at AOT. One teacher was outright hostile to my child. The rules of the school are not enforced for all children. Certain children are allowed to break the rules and dress codes. It is a shame that it is not what it once was as I had planned on all my children going there.
—Submitted by a parent

The Academy of Tucson High School truly has the interest of every student at the top of their list. As a parent of a student who was struggling to graduate, they made every extra effort to make sure my child graduated with his class. The dedication of the teachers and staff was wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

I am an alumnus of Academy of Tucson high school, and I have nothing but good things to say about it. The teachers are professional and knowledgeable; I received a great education and have gone on to do good things with my life. I in particular am grateful for the presence of Maura Wahl, who has helped me through many a tough time, and on top of being a fantastic teacher has also been a great mentor. I have no bad things to say about the Academy of Tucson.

My child has been at the Academy of Tucson High School now for 4 years. He has recieved an outstanding education. He has enjoyed the small campus size and we as parents are kept very abreast of the happenings on the campus. I would highly reccomend this school to any parent of high school students. The teachers and administration are outstanding and very professional and highly qualified.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been involved with this school for years and am very pleased that at long last my own child is now in high school and can go forego the nightmare experience of huge classes and second-rate teachers, both of which are unfortunately now the norm in larger high schools. At the Academy of Tucson, every student is known to every teacher there are 170 students in the school, and a staff of 14 and although it often is in the nature of the teenage being to seek out trouble and to collude against the powers that be, this teacher-student ratio makes such activities much more difficult than on a 3000 person campus. The teachers know when someone is sliding; they know when someone is trying their hardest. In short the school s emphasis on academics is exactly what I have always wanted for my son, and what I have
—Submitted by a parent

Parents/students/staff need to understand that this highschool fills a niche in the community....one for students to have small classroom sizes, the opportunity for individual instruction and the opportunity to participate in sports while having little or no skills, and a 'rigorous' college prep curriculum. If you are looking for a school with a gymnasium with a retractable dome, classes with 30 students, and/or more of a social situation, then the school probably isn't the best choice for you or your child. Sure the school may not be the most visually appealing, but it has a great cohort of teachers and a fascinating student body, which can't be said about most schools around here.

this is not a good school for students they are not getting a good enough education and the school does nothing to resolve violence, sex, or drugs. They turn a blind eye on everything and the kids get away with everything and that isn't right.
—Submitted by a parent

I would have given this school five stars, because it was a wonderful institution for the years my kid went there, but they really do pile on the homework and it leads to student burn out. Some of the other disciplinary measures are too punitive as well, such as automatic detention for poor grades. My kid received detention for a grade that was erroneously recorded, but the brass was inflexible. That said, the school really does prepare the student for success in academics.
—Submitted by a parent

i love the academy of tucson! this is my second year there and im enjoying it alot. i love all my teachers and if im ever struggeling they are willing to stay after school and help out. the one thing im not so crazy about is the after school detention. i realize how it may work out but it takes time away from students and from teachers. the electives are limited but its still a good school. my opinion is the school size is great and compared to like rincon or any other tusd schools is its small and exciting. i never feel out of place there and i have many friends who feel the same way as i do. sure the school could use more sports.
—Submitted by a student

Great academics and teachers, but the principal has not got a clue what the kids are up to. She seems to have 'favorites' and looks the other way when they are inappropriate. Very inconsistent discipline and she has neglected to contact parents on issues that demanded parent involvement.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended the Academy and for the first 2 years it was great. I didn't like the fact that the electives were limited (next to none) and that art is the same class each year, just repeated. If you take Spanish you can take 4 years but if you take the only other language offered, French, you can only take 2 years. At the end of sophomore year he had a GPA of 4.0. Junior he went down hill. Very important: if the teachers like your child, they will do well. If they do not, pull your kids and let them finish someplace else, they will not graduate.
—Submitted by a parent

As a grandparent, I would like to say that this high school is giving my grand child a good solid education. The main focus is on academics but they have a full sports program and several clubs. The campus is safe and well taken care of. I highly recommend this school for parents looking for a great high school.

No clubs and severly lacking in athletics. The school doesn't have any fields and looks like a dentists office.
—Submitted by a parent