Wednesday, December 01, 2010

BASIS Chandler

Have you heard about BASIS?  This Tucson (also in Scottsdale and in Oro Valley) charter school has received national attention, was named #1 high school in America by Newsweek, and was listed in U.S. News & World Report's top 20 American high schools. They are opening a school in Chandler (at Cooper and Chandler Blvd.) next fall, and there is an information session tonight at San Tan Learning Center (my son Sam's school) at 6:30.

You might not believe me, maybe since I've never said anything about it before, but I have wasted a lot of time, energy and tears researching public, private, and charter schools here in Phoenix. Some of my kids (the super smarty, high energy, easily distracted boys; Jane seems to do well wherever she is) don't fit easily into a regular classroom, so I've had to find alternative programs (and even consider homeschool. But nobody wants that. There is a reason I changed my major from Elementary Ed to History and became a librarian). At the moment, I've got two kids in a Mesa public school Montessori, and another has just moved into a gifted classroom at a charter school.

I don't know if this BASIS school (which will start in 5th grade and go through high school) will be too intense and high pressure, and I know our public high school (Highland) is one of the best in the state, but I figure, it can't hurt to check it out!

What have you heard? Do you know anyone that attends BASIS?

Maybe I'll see you there tonight?

BASIS Info Night
Wednesday, 12/1
San Tan Learning Center
Gilbert, AZ  85296
6:30pm - 7:30pm  with Q and A to follow



Below is a trailer for a Two Million Minutes documentary about BASIS school.

3 comments:

Amber said...

I wish we had moved to Gilbert like I wanted to, instead of N. Phoenix which is better for hubby's commute. Dang! The way you described your kids sounds a lot like mine. I had researched a ton about Mesa/Gilbert public/charter/private schools b4 we moved. I was sold! And then the commute from Scottsdale south killed that plan. I'd love to hear more, and if they have any plans or sister sites in N. Phoenix/Scottsdale areas.

Beeswax said...

There is already one in Scottsdale! You should check it out.
I just got back from the meeting and the curriculum sounds fantastic.

Dana said...

Yes the one in scottsdale is near the Mayo clinic on Shea at Scottsdale Mountain. I was just there last week. I hear the kids come home with 2.5 hours of homework each night. Is that correct? If so sounds like a TON of work for the parents!