Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning

1460 E Horne

School District

Edkey Inc. - Sequoia Choice Schools
Grade

K-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:111
Type

charter

School Map for Edkey Inc. - Sequoia Choice Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 21, 2016

While I love the idea of this school - the flexibility, individualize learning, the community college class option - the execution in no way lives up to the potential. I truly wish we had a had one of these five star experiences people are writing about. Every step from orientation to choosing classes to getting responses from teachers or administrators has taken days to a week or more, when they say they'll respond in a day. While waiting for responses, of course, everything is backing up. For instance, we were given the wrong email address, had to wait for tech support- now they tell me just to mark him absent for the first week even though it isn't his fault he couldn't log in. With all of these problems, I asked for a new advisor. Twice. Eight days and yet another email later, he finally got a new advisor assigned...who is off for the next few days. Six weeks in, the new advisor just informed us my high schooler wasn't given the state mandated class for education/career planning...which would have obviously been extremely helpful when choosing classes. And then there are the teachers. While some are good, others are terrible- unclear assignments, incorrect answers, and a love of wasting time. While we have had one apology for the numerous, ridiculous number of balls this school has dropped, it does not make up for the frustration and absurdity of the last couple of months.
Submitted by other on September 04, 2014

I am a current student at Sequoia Choice AzDL and would like to take the time to encourage anyone who is looking for a school to attend Sequoia Choice. The teachers are engaged and understanding, and always willing to help me with my studies. I have never found a school more satisfactory than Sequoia.
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2014

Do you notice the huge gaps between the high and low ratings given to AZDL (Arizona Distance Learning)? There are a few reasons for this. As a general rule AZDL is an amazing school for people that want their children to learn at home. They do have some great courses for online and at-home learning K-12. You will find though, that you will succeed best if you are self motivated. Some of these people have never tried learning at home and when they do, they see how hard it is and blame it on the school. It can be a lot of work on your part (me AND my kids). This is not a scandalous school. Will you be given a wrong password at some point? Maybe. Does this mean the whole school is incompetent? No. Call the teacher! If you find a class is not for you... don't take it! Keep communication with the advisers and instructors and you can have an amazing schooling experience at home. They have some amazing and flexible schooling options like: they pay for college for HS students, pay for outside tech courses, partner with schools like Williamsburg Academy in UT, etc.
Submitted by parent on November 26, 2013

I found out that the home program is different than a lot of the site schools in "Sequoia Choice." On here, it all looks like the same school. I think "AZDL" is the home program, and I know Arizona has given it a B grade for this past year. That seems about right. I guess this is higher than most online schools, and most of them got Ds. We have always liked the staff in the home program, who can really work with your needs the best. OUr student just got a big 4 year scholarship for college, and we've been with them for almost 3 years now.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2013

I give this school one star because there is no lower score. This school is disorganized. The instructor gave us the wrong password to access instruction online. I had enrolled them for summer school and we never received our text books. This semester I requested information three times and was not given access to testing materials until it was too late to complete them to turn in. I repeatedly asked what was needed to turn in and my emails were ignored, then a day before it was all due I was emailed a form letter list saying to "send what we have completed" now. My children are straight A students and they were failed by the instructor and the curriculum. Lesson plans are unrealistic, in order to complete the daily lessons it would take eight or more hours a day per subject. They were obviously written by someone with no teaching experience whatsoever. I cannot warn you strongly enough to stay away from this school. In 2009 they were involved in a financial scandal providing state funded curriculum to a private Christian school which turned around and charged parents tens of thousands of dollars a year. Worst school and completely unethical. Stay away!
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2013

My son is graduating today after being enrolled in the distance learning program for two years. We found the program to be great and a wonderful match for his leaning style. He will graduate tonight and has already completed his Associates in Science degree. What a great jump start he will have when he begins university in the fall. His advisor and others at AZDL were very helpful and always communicated with us quickly and effectively. It is a great school!
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2013

This school was given a D several years in a row by the AZ Dept of Education for a reason. I have had 3 children in this school. Two of them were in the high school program and 1 in the elementary program. My oldest refused to continue in the school because it was so bad. My other two I withdrew after numerous errors on the part of the school. They actually had an entire class fail a final because they tested on material the kids were never "taught". It is virtually impossible to fail a final at this school since the questions are directly from the chapter tests and the kids can bring the answers as long as they are handwritten. According to one of the teachers, this school takes the dregs of the school system that have nowhere else to go and makes it as easy as possible for them to pass. Yet the DOE still gives them a D because the school isn't teaching these children anything and they are failing the state and federal tests. It's harder to pass when you can't have the answers written down in front of you. There isn't enough space to list all the problems with this school. If they get a D again this year they will be closed down. I feel bad for their few good teachers.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2012

As a parent of a former student I am glad I found Sequoia Choice on this website. My daughter is a former student who is now a college freshman. During her high school years she completed 44 college credits. She will be able to graduate from college in 2.5 years. Her success can be shared with the great teachers and advisors at Sequoia Choice. She was only able to start college at such an early age because of her strong educational foundation.
Submitted by other on July 23, 2012

This is one of the worse schools. There test scores are extremely low and do not take interest or set it up when the students are far below on state standards. It takes days, weeks, and months to get information from the school when requested and re-requested. They have no way of ensuring that the student is doing the school work in elementary. The school is about profits and not education.
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2011

every student and parent are treated as though this is your own personal school. So flexible to educational, physical and emotional needs. The teachers are special and kind. they customized your childs grade level around the childs needs and speed. this is my daughters second year, I am so excited that, at 7th grade, she is taking college courses and I don't have to deal with bully's anymore.
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2009

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