BASIS Tucson

I have been going to BASIS for years and one thing has become apparently clear to me during that time, BASIS is not a school for the weak, the timid, or the insecure. The students and teachers are on a level most of the parents can't even understand and a student's voice is key to the educational journey. If you are considering BASIS, I advise you assist your child in anyway you can, but overall, their education MUST be their decision at all times, if they want to leave and have a valid reason to, they should be allowed to. Though BASIS is a wonderful resource for hard-working, gifted students, it isn't for everyone, and that needs to be taken into consideration.
—Submitted by a student

Basis is a good school but there is little time for family and sports with the amount of homework .I personally feel there is so much competition between kids and that is sad after all it is a good school and all the kids should be awarded for hard work my daughter is in 7th grade and she had done 3 years and now very burned out i dont know about 8th grade i wnat her to havea life also and by the way i think hard work is good but she is only 12 and we are both lawyers we just want our kids happy
—Submitted by a parent

Basis is a good school my son is in 6th grade and for the last 6 months i have been concerned about the science part .Today he arrives home with letter saying basis made a mistake and has been teaching the wrong sylibus .My son is upset and we are also it the school year is nearly over and we feel we have wasted all this time not happy father here what now
—Submitted by a parent

I have been going to BASIS for several years and those years have been the highlight of my education. People think that if you go to BASIS you have no fun on the weekends and you dont have life but you do and a great one at that. At BASIS they teach you to be organized and try your best. Great Teachers and Faculty members working hard to make sure the students suceed.
—Submitted by a student

this school is to tough and the kids never have any fun they r always working and the schoolis way on the academic side and children need a well rounded school
—Submitted by a parent

I have several students at BASIS school and while I know they are learning a lot which was not happening through TUSD I see them headed for burn out. There is no joy in learning and discovery. I fear we are creating a school of depressed over achievers .
—Submitted by a parent

Basis is a great school. It is my thrid year here, and I'm loving it. The teachers are very supportive and if you have a problen, they won't stop helping until it is solved. I would recommend Basis to any parent. The teachers are great and so is the cirriculum. Plus, its a shame other schools don't give you this kind of an education. When you get into 9th grade, you start learning calculus! Its a great school.
—Submitted by a student

In retrospect, I hardly feel like spending the past 6 years at BASIS has robbed me of anything, in any way. Although I did miss out on many of the traditional aspects of high school, it is to be noted that BASIS, in fact, is not a traditional high school. . I would definitely recommend this school to any parents who want to see their children getting the best education possible and to see them have the opportunity and ability to succeed.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a senior at BASIS and to no small degree, I owe who I am to this school. Yes, it gets stressful. Yes, the workload is heavy. But the support is amazing. The teachers are not only well-educated and talented, they are caring. They see their students as individuals. The student body itself is the most diverse and unified one I have encountered. If one is willing to put in the hours, the benefits reaped will be great.
—Submitted by a student

Basis is solely academic - their program includes a phenomenal classical education, however there is not much soul there. I don't agree that parents are involved, or even invited to do more than help them raise money. The school rigidly requires all students to take the same curriculum, so very bright children feel stifled, just kept busy. There is not a respect for the individual, so kids learn to be obedient but not to think for themselves. It likely develops successful white collar workers, however it does not seem to us to be a leadership development school. If the same curriculum were provided with kindness and flexibility this would be a truly great school. Their motto on a recent brochure said 'we don't get good students, we make them.' They have the blank slate view of children, which creative and self-assured kids and their parents find a bit off-putting.
—Submitted by a parent

Ive noticed that some others don't like Basis because they think it pushes their student so hard; let me tell you this, it only pushes them to hard, but let me tell you this, it doesn't push kids that hard at all, its just all about the attitude, if a kid doesn't want to learn, they will have a cruddy time at Basis, it just all depends on how they think about learning. Some kids don't want to learn, and parents send their kids to a better school than what they were at before, expecting their child to do better in school than before. Ill tell you what, that is not the truth, Basis is not a correctional facility, and isn't meant to help kids get their act together. so please, dont send your kid here unless you think they can take alot of work, and still like it. -A Student
—Submitted by a student

This school is great if your child does not need to be taught. If your child is an excellent test taker and memorizer than this school is great and the school will love your child. It will increase their numbers for AP. If your child actually needs to be taught the school will not do it. They will just encourage your child to hate school!
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been here since sixth grade. He is now in seventh grade. He has been happy here and feels proud to be learning at such a high level for someone his age (Latin, Chemistry, Physics, Algebra!). He was a poor student last year when he first started and Basis worked hard to teach him how to be a pretty good student. Their standards are high, but I believe most kids, even 'average' students will rise to the occasion.
—Submitted by a parent

Curriculum is excellent on paper and my child was notably learning at an accelerated pace, however, she became quickly depressed as the academic demands quickly killed her joy of learning. She had to quit being a little kid and learn to work like a grad student... It was really sad. Teachers were not helpful and the rigid 'office hours' were only useful for non-working parents. Communication between school and home was terrible. The school was not 'warm' and I was not allowed to drop in to visit without an appointment. There were also a ton of hidden fees for everything the school 'offered', that left those of lower SES excluded. Finally, there was a terrible air of snobbery among the student population in general. The cliques were ruthless and learned quickly that money and status 'set them 'above' the rest'. Sorry... I didn't think it was worth it.
—Submitted by a parent

this is a great school.it challenges you as well as encourages you.i went here 2 years ago and i learned more in one year than i had in about three or four years at a public school.very friendly students and staff.i just wish that it was bigger and that there was a school lunch.lots of homework and rotating classes but an excellent school.
—Submitted by a student

Im a 7th grade student at BASIS, and I love it here. It's challenging, and the teachers are wonderful. The students are really kind also.
—Submitted by a student

i go here and its great! we are all smart and on the same level of learning. i would reccomend this school to everyone!!!
—Submitted by a student

Basis school is great. My daughter is in 5th grade and she is so very happy. The teachers are fantastic my girl tells me she has learned more in 2 months than she did in 5 years at public school. I was worried she would miss her friends but she has totally shocked us very very happy I would not change anything the leadership at the school is 100% the children are very happy and excited about school. If I was you go and check it out the school is great. Go Basis
—Submitted by a parent

Basis Tucson is a great school. My son is finally being challenged as well as encouraged. The teachers are fantastic and I have to admit he is a better person since he started this year. A++
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been a big improvement over the expensive private school where our child went to previously. It does sort of indulge in 'extreme academics' but our kid is learning so much and is much happier here so far. Maybe there's a method to all this.
—Submitted by a parent