BASIS Ahwatukee

10210 South 50th Place

School District

Basis Charter Schools INC. (91339)
Grade

4-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

charter

School Map for Basis Charter Schools INC. (91339)

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 March 11, 2024

My two eldest daughters graduated (2019 and 2021) from BASIS - both had been there since it opened several years ago. I cannot wait until the next two are old enough to attend (soon!). The education cannot be beaten - both my daughters received full scholarships to a prestigious (non-AZ) Honors college. They felt well-prepared for their college years in terms of knowledge, study skills, and time management. One is now getting her PhD in Neuroscience, and the other is on track to get her Master's in Biology. They enjoyed the BASIS extracurricular activities - everything from the dances to philanthropy opportunities and varsity sports to the various clubs. The connections they made during their BASIS years extend to even now - those kids still connect in person whenever they are in town, make plans to travel the world together, and provide a strong support structure even from a distance. In addition, the girls are both still in contact with several teachers who continue to provide encouragement and social-emotional support. BASIS was (and will be again soon) the absolute best choice for our family.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2024

Our family has been attending Basis Ahwatukee since the inaugural year approx 10 years ago. I have graduated 2 children with 1 more child to go. Both of my graduated children when onto college (Barrett at ASU and Engineering). I have 1 special needs child. The community at this school is outstanding. - it's a smaller school so there is a real opportunity to get to know the staff and develop relationships with them. And, when needed, ask for special help - whether it be a preferred parking spot for a new driver or weekly check-ins to keep the student on track. It was difficult coming back from covid and my child needed that extra help and weekly checkins were created. The curriculum is difficult but it helped to challenge and grow my children. The college counseling is at an individual level and a part of the class schedule every day (for seniors) and comes at no additional cost. The class helps to navigate testing, applications, FAFSA, letters of recommendations - pulling everything together. Would definitely recommend if you have chidren who enjoy being challenged and enjoy learning.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2024

Great school with rigorous curriculum with the exception of a big playground. The Boosters organization is fantastic and teachers too.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2023

Lot of burden on kids .. Please get advice from the other parents before getting admission
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2022

Fantastic school with a rigorous curriculum, it will definitely help your child to succeed at any college and more generally in life! I have a child who was at Basis Ahwatukee for a number of years and has graduated from this school, so I have seen a full circle by now. In fact, my child says "it was a best decision to send him to this school," because it opens so many doors later in life. Also, don't think it is all about test-taking, it is NOT. I personally was amazed at how much even after only a year at Basis my child was able to surprise me with truly interesting scientific facts on a number of subjects (be it Greek history, cosmology and formation of stars, or physiology). I guess the "downside" is that it became much harder for me to claim that "I know better." Of course, I would still say that the school is not for everyone, for one you child has to be motivated to learn and may need your help on the way, there is some turnover of teachers as they like to move from school to school within the Basis system. Also, the school is lagging in high-school sport programs. But still it is a great school with very good teachers.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2022

Our daughter loves Basis Ahwatukee. She is in an early grade and has adjusted well from her previous school where she was bored. The curriculum is (truly) rigorous, and goes fast with a significant amount of material covered, but the teachers are supportive and there is a large amount of effort put into helping students get the help they need to succeed, and also a large amount of effort in the early grades in helping students 'learn to learn' - teaching them to be organized, showing them how to take useful notes and how to study in a productive way. All skills that will help these kids all the way through college and beyond. There is a good amount of homework, but generally our daughter finishes most of it in 'late bird' after school. She also enjoys the after school clubs - in her previous school they often seemed like 'advanced babysitting', but here she is really enjoying them and getting a lot out of them. I read a review below about bullying and asked her about that, she said that there was none that she had seen, and that there was no tolerance for it from the teachers either. I don't know whether Basis would work for every child, but our daughter is thriving there.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2019

Academically it is a good school with the exception of writing. If you transfer from Basis many credits won’t transfer. The school lacks good management of its students in classrooms and large groups which makes learning harder. There is a bully mentality at this school. As a parent of a Student maintaining a 4.0 at Basis they were a constant target for other students and the teachers are ill equipped to deal with anything and administrators turnover so quickly they are not well qualified to manage a school.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2019

Absolutely terrible. The leadership lacks a level of professionalism and has me question the integrity of the teachers. As long as your child is doing academically fine, they applaud you. But if you’re child is doing average, they could really care less about the student.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2018

OFF THE CHARTS!!!!!My child's mother's response to this school at Meet the Teacher Night this year was "I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!"As a final note if you are thinking of sending your child here I will say this.... This school / curriculum is NOT for the FAINT OF HEART so if you can not fully support your child and are really just sending your child "to school" this is not the place for them. "What It Takes To Be #1" is a famous talk by Vince Lombardi (who the Super Bowl Trophy is named after) and he says in that speech that in order to be #1 you have to "appreciate the grind" and to succeed in this environment best to know up front that it is a grind but am amazed at the things my child is learning and how well she is soaking up all the knowledge.A++++++ and then some and I really only stopped to fill out this questionnaire since I saw one category regarding academic progress as not a 10 and have to say the people who gave that rating quite frankly most likely did not understand what I see as their responsibility as a parent to help their child succeed in this extreme environment (which I would liken to 1st tier college engineering courses to say the least). If you are going to send your child here, it is for an academic education (and yes they have a drama department, etc.,. for some outlet each day), but it is not for a student who really is more of an athlete and wants to spend hours each day playing a sport, etc.,. instead of focusing on academics. This school is not for everyone but after looking at every school in the area and then some we landed on this school (with our child's "buy-in" knowing that it would be difficult), and I could not be more pleased from top to bottom with what I genuinely see as an unmatched academic environment / curriculum as was also agreed on by US News & World Report as both the # 1 education and also FULL WELL KNOWING the # 1 most difficult education which I am sure it is from a very up front and personal perspective.Again, A+ to the infinity power.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2018

Absolutely excellent. We are so grateful for our years at BASIS Ahwatukee and the exemplary curriculum. My son is more than prepared for college next year and even more important, he has the choice of many, wonderful learning experiences the world over. Education is freedom and BASIS is the best, possible "basis" we could have found to prepare him. It's most definitely not the school for every student. It's a school for accelerated learning at a fast, focused pace towards college preparedness. Students are guided along a path to graduate with "High Honors". By Junior year they have the credits required for graduation. Some choose to enter college a year early, while others stay and take Capstone courses while embarking on a college-level Senior Research Project which includes an internship as well as a final presentation of their research findings. A whole class is devoted to college counseling, college selection, applications and essays during their senior year. BASIS is a school in a league of its own. The fact that a private school education is available as a charter school, is a gift any parent should fight to get for their child. For their self-confidence and for their future.
Submitted by other on July 24, 2018

A fellow alum's review may serve as a better explanation as to why BASIS Ahwatukee is terrible:"BASIS Ahwatukee is a cog in a giant machine, a mechanism focused on its reputation/results, depending on the hard work of students. I am a junior at BASIS Ahwatukee, and I am in the honor roll, but time and time again I have seen the administration antagonize my fellow peers and friends, whether it be for unacceptable grades- below a 3.0 GPA is sacrilege to staff and students alike- or improper behavior. I cannot blame them, though; all businesses must focus on their reputation. I have finally lost my patience because BASIS has victimized someone with whom I am very close. I am unable to stand aside and watch as BASIS tears its students apart through pressure and the sheer workload of its curriculum. The school acts as if it is renowned and flawless in design, but it is not. If I could turn back time, I would leave. I can't wait to graduate and pursue a college education that will fulfill my ambition and pursuit of knowledge. Parents, if you disregard this message for its negativity towards a school you are interested in, that is understandable, but please take from this a warning: if your child transfers out of BASIS during their high school career, the school will charge you for all of the AP courses your child took while attending the school. In addition, your child will have limited control over what credits they are able to transfer to their new school and is barred from receiving any sort of recommendation letters from teachers at BASIS."
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2017

How would you rate your experience at this school? - Terrible...I moved from one BASIS to other BASIS ‘none’ of the staff know full information on any particular topic. 1.AP Credits - 8th grade AP course are considered as high school credit – this is one of their biggest marketing point saying the student will be higher in education when compared to other schools – catch is “ONLY” if you graduate from BASIS (??, don’t miss the catch) , a SURPRISE for me after being in their in campuses for 3yrs, fighting for the credit from past 1.5yrs where I was pushed back and forth between BASIS schools and also through the current school that we need to move to, now someone from school says "you never spoke to me to get the correct information" - meaning, every individual staff at school has different information?? why wasn't I transferred to THIS person, when the others doesn't know the actual information from past 1.5yrs? Parents please be aware of understanding the credits you get or will be transferred to a different school even though you take AP classes all through. 2.Moving out information - moved out of this school one day before the trimester ends and did not get any credit for the whole trimester (in 10th grade) and this was never informed when my transfer application has been submitted in the school. (School staff doesn't know, or don't want to tell as we are moving out of BASIS??? (we have informed about moving 10days prior to our move)3.Deposit Money $300 - I did not get the deposit of $300 in full, received only $180 when I was moving out and was told that they charged me for AP Physics exam. But the whole year when I want to take the AP Physics exam I was told that I am not eligible to write and they already picked first 3 students to write that. Then where is my money?? Money was not returned to me because of an exam that I was not eligible to take in the first place?? Response for this is - materials were ordered at the beginning of the school year, so the money had to be deducted - ROFL I could go on and on… But enough said, student’s life is a TIMEPASS for these people. They don't really CARE about anyone's future except their business. ... I REGRET every day to be in this school and to screw up my 3yrs of high school.BRAVO BASIS!!!
Submitted by student on December 18, 2016

BASIS Ahwatukee is a cog in a giant machine, a mechanism focused on its reputation/results, depending on the hard work of students. I am a junior at BASIS Ahwatukee, and I am in the honor roll, but time and time again I have seen the administration antagonize my fellow peers and friends, whether it be for unacceptable grades- below a 3.0 GPA is sacrilege to staff and students alike- or improper behavior. I cannot blame them, though; all businesses must focus on their reputation. I have finally lost my patience because BASIS has victimized someone with whom I am very close. I am unable to stand aside and watch as BASIS tears its students apart through pressure and the sheer workload of its curriculum. The school acts as if it is renowned and flawless in design, but it is not. If I could turn back time, I would leave. I can't wait to graduate and pursue a college education that will fulfill my ambition and pursuit of knowledge.Parents, if you disregard this message for its negativity towards a school you are interested in, that is understandable, but please take from this a warning: if your child transfers out of BASIS during their high school career, the school will charge you for all of the AP courses your child took while attending the school. In addition, your child will have limited control over what credits they are able to transfer to their new school and is barred from receiving any sort of recommendation letters from teachers at BASIS.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

The amount if homework for a 5th grader is huge. It is not true that the average time is 2.5 hours. The student who tries really hard and is successful seats with his homework whole evening till 9::00 p.m. There is no differentiation in homework for the average student and the one who is in the top 5% of the grade level. Before choosing this school for your child, please consider this first.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2015

I have been very impressed in how my daughter is continuing to develop a sense of responsibility about her school work. We started here in the 4th grade and have had nothing but great experiences with the teachers and staff. - parent of a 5th grade student
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2015

Teaching should be done in class room rather than giving the topics to kids and ask them to learn themselves or ask them to get the helps from their parents. Also it is very important to intimate the parents if the kid is not performing well in the class as soon as once they notice it. Overall the teachers and administrators don't understand the change happening to the kids physically or mentally. I noticed many intelligent and bright kids were lost their happiness in Basis and they are in the stage of getting spoiled because of the attitude of the teachers/administrators.
Submitted by parent on July 21, 2015

From assisting in the adjustment from public to BASIS to the teaching and enthusiasm of the teachers and staff, I could not be happier.
Submitted by student on July 12, 2015

My classmates and teachers are like family to me. Everyone is extremely supportive and encouraging.
Submitted by other on July 06, 2015

The teachers, especially upper school teachers, are ineffective teachers who show immense favoritism and most of them don't even know what they're teaching or how to teach. The upper school chemistry and Spanish teachers are the only great teachers in upper school.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2015

This is one of the best schools in the East Valley. Challenging school environment , well disciplined kids and excellent teaching staff.