BASIS Tucson Primary in Tucson | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Arizona Academic Standards Assessment data from Arizona Department of Education, and using 2025 Arizona Science Field Test data from Arizona Department of Education.
Student Growth	9/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Arizona Department of Education.

Posted: January 20, 2026

My daughter has been at this school since kindergarten, and we love it. Her teachers are caring, experienced, and really passionate about what they do. They have high expectations but are always kind and supportive. She enjoys going to school every day and loves all of her teachers. I also really appreciate that the school has PE/Kenpo class daily and Specials teachers who truly know their subjects. Overall, its a wonderful school, and were very happy here.

Posted: January 20, 2026

Posted: May 8, 2025

My child has received tremendous support from BASIS Tucson Primary. As a child who has gone through the foster care system and adoption, his teachers and the support staff were his second family. The adults held him accountable for his behavior and his learning while giving him the love and dependability he needed to grow strong and secure. My child received a first-class foundation for his future education as well as excellent role-models. Thank you, BASIS Tucson Primary!

Posted: May 8, 2025

Posted: December 29, 2024

If your student is special education, this school is a joke. My IEP student went to the school with services, they saw to it that he got the services he was allotted but when the time came to update his goals, they instead removed the IEP with the promise of resources in place that never happened. They are great at making academics so rigorous, students who fail feel like they are not worthy and look at school as an impossible task. Homework is extensive and takes 2-3 hours at least. My kids would come home from school exhausted and would pass out trying to finish homework. Fundraising efforts are invasive, year round, and are incentivized in the classrooms for example, the most student participation gets a pizza party, the most donations gets a movie party, etc. Field trips are $35/ per and are not eligible for financial aid so Id you have multiple kids it can become quite expensive. One year I had one student take 4 field trips and one was at the same time as his other 2 siblings so that was $105 just in one weeks time. Total for the year was $280 (4 trips for one, 2 for 2 other students). Clubs are $150 and are only 6-8 weeks at a time. Recesses are very short (15-20 mins) and lunch (20 mins) is never enough time for my kids to get a good amount of food to feel fulfilled. They also offer a hot lunch program thats fully funded by parents and amounts to about $6-$8 daily. If you cannot pay, packed lunch is the only other option. There have been some really great teachers, but equally as many if not more that are just awful. One teacher ripped up my students art project he was making for his brother just because he kept getting up to talk to a friend during the 30 minutes roundup time before dismissal. Trying to transition out of BASIS has been heartbreaking as every outlet brags about all that BASIS has to offer but it comes with a heavy price tag. I wish I would of known before hand as having to undo the anxiety and stress my children have around academics has been very difficult. My youngest has no experience with BASIS and does not have any of the same issues as the ones who did.

Posted: February 26, 2024

My son started in kinder and all the staff and academics were amazing.

Posted: February 26, 2024

Posted: January 30, 2023

I highly recommend this school if you plan to be involved in your child's education. The teachers have a excellent way of communicating with the parents about their child's assignments and progress during class. You would have to be asleep to not know what is happening with your child's learning.

My experience with the other children and their parents has been nothing but positive. They all seemed kind and genuinely concerned with their child's education. The ones that aren't concerned don't stick around. This isn't a day care , parents need to be continually engaged in their child's education. This school will challenge your child and that's the way it should be.

I was fortunate to receive an excellent private education growing up which my parents had to sacrifice to provide me. This school is better than my private education and is basically free. They do an excellent job keeping the children engaged and school spirit high.
As a parent, I couldn't be happier.

Posted: January 30, 2023

Posted: January 12, 2023

We just started at BTP in August and so far, we couldn't be happier with the school. Our daughter is on Kindergarten. She has homework every night; we knew she would have homework every night before enrolling her. The nightly math homework takes less than 10 minutes to complete. The once per week reading/writing homework takes a bit longer, but can be completed over the course of the week. My daughter's teachers are fantastic. When we have reached out, the teacher responds quickly. Homework is communicated through a communication journal which is used for by all kids in every grade at BTP. Also, homework assignments for all grades are sent via email daily. Our daughter is happy and learns so much. She is in full day kinder, so she also gets to take mandarin, drama, and music. This is a great school!

Posted: January 12, 2023

Posted: March 10, 2022

If you want your child to experience a work like environment K-12 this is the perfect school for you. I do not recommend Basis Tucson Primary to anyone.

Posted: March 10, 2022

Posted: March 26, 2021

Kindergarten has been a nightmare! Teacher does not relay when student's assignments are due, very harsh and this is kindergarten the amount of stress is insane. They will retain a kindergarten , multiple parents have their students retained (it's pretty normal) . Would not even think about sending my son with autism there because of how independent they require each student to be and my son's psychiatrist for the autism evaluation actually was a former Basis employee and said do not even think about! Also, I have gotten numerous druggies coming up to me while dropping my child off the location is sketchy!
RUN!

Posted: March 26, 2021

Posted: June 21, 2017

This school overall was amazing in academics, but when it came down to my oldest being bullied and all staff involved brushed it off and my other child has a learning disability and they told me that they were monitoring him and accommodating him when they weren't. They "tested" him for his learning disability but did not test for the actual disability just his intelligence. So we left and have been much happier. I had really high hopes for this school and we have many friends who are still very happy with it. I hope things have changed since we have left.

Posted: April 13, 2017

My daughter has been at BASIS Tucson since kindergarten, and she absolutely loves it. Her happiness and enthusiasm for learning is really all the proof I need that we made the right choice, but her academic and social growth have both been wonderful as well. The diverse student community is a great fit for her, her teachers have all been engaged and supportive, and the workload is age-appropriate. Most nights she comes home having already done most of her homework, and has only a few minutes of work at most to complete on her own time.

The main reason I was attracted to BASIS was that I wanted her in a school culture that celebrates education and love of learning. Our experience has been exactly what I hoped for.

Posted: March 26, 2016

My daughter is in 4th grade and started going to Basis in 2nd grade. Her teachers have, for the most part, been amazing. And the ones who haven't, have left. This year has been the best so far. My daughter has a desire to do well and now completes her homework (mostly at school during study hall) on her own with very little parental involvement. She is very proud of the level of math she is learning and realizes it's ahead of most kids her age. She has time for extracurricular activities such as Drama and Scouts. We heard so many conflicting "stories" out there but we couldn't be happier that we decided to just try Basis. She's very much looking forward to going to BTN next year. At home, we never pressure her on grades and she's consistently an A student. Basis isn't for everyone but for us it's far exceeded our expectations.

Posted: March 26, 2016

The homework has been consistently manageable. The last two years my student had more homework but the school has worked hard to make time at school for students to complete homework. This year was just right.

Posted: March 26, 2016

It's a topic that's discussed with students. But I believe that this is a trait that is learned from parents who model this behavior.

Posted: August 18, 2015

Our children have been attending BASIS Tucson since kindergarten and 2nd grade. They are now in 2nd and 4th grade, respectively. The teachers have been great. My eldest has gone to student hours for extra help and it's made a big difference when she was struggling to understand certain concepts. The school does not permit in-classroom parent volunteers, but I've found that this works well for my kids because there are fewer distractions from people walking in & out of the room all the time. BASIS Tucson provides a very supportive learning environment. They've taught my kids how to take more responsibility in their own learning & education, how to speak up when they need help, how to organize their cubbies, lockers, binders, etc. In order for a student to be successful at BASIS, though, he/she does need a supportive learning environment at home. So if you want your kid to be able to do homework with the TV on or music playing, that might not work so well. You, the parent, need to take the initiative to contact the teachers if you are concerned about your student's grade in a particular subject. In my experience, I've found the teachers to be very open & helpful whenever I've spoken with them. I have heard parents complain about how their kid got a bad grade in a certain subject, but the parent never brought the concerns to the school and the student never asked for help or went to student hours. Don't blame the school when the school has resources to assist but you never took advantage of them.

Some parents have complained about the strict tardiness policy for the older grade levels. Yes, the expectation is that you're on time and in your seat ready to learn when the class period starts. This means that you have to get your kid to school early so he/she has time to put stuff in his/her locker & get to class. If you are late every single day, then maybe you should reassess the amount of time you allot in the morning to get to school. Don't get mad at the school because of your consistently poor planning.

My 4th grader is able to get most of her homework completed at school and in Late Bird, so when we arrive home, she has maybe at most 30 minutes of work left to do. The school also offers a BOSS camp to help prepare them to transition to a locker, no LET (Learning Expert Teacher). That was a huge help for our child.

Posted: April 10, 2015

Many parents have sent their kids to this school thinking that it will make their kids extremely intelligent just because they are at the school. That is not how it works. You need to work hard and do the assignments in order to succeed here. Almost all kids have the possibility to succeed here, but kids that don't try aren't the kind of people that will be able to get good grades at BASIS. All teachers, even P.E., art, and music teachers have times after school when students can comes to receive extra help. Students that actively seek extra help are the kind of students that will succeed here, not people that do not try. I have enjoyed my experience here and I will continue to go to BASIS, because I know that if I try to work hard, study, and do assignments, BASIS can be a great opportunity for me.

Posted: April 5, 2015

We LOVE BAsis! Our daughter is in Kinder and thoroughly enjoys it. We love her teachers and so far their curriculum. The ONLY thing I don't love about Basis Tucson, hence the 4 instead of 5 stars is the constant emails we get about donating money. I realize the charter school needs more monies, but it becomes quite annoying to get bombarded with these emails when we've already donated supplies and other things and volunteered time, which many times cannot really be broken down to how much financial value it is, but that's the only negative we have so far.

Posted: August 10, 2014

I was nervous about moving my daughter to Basis but I'm SO glad we did! My daughter started Basis last year for 1st grade and loves it! The school does a great job balancing academics and time to play and be a kid. (this was my biggest concern) She did have homework most nights but it wasn't overwhelming. (maybe 20 minutes) This year they have added an engineering class. My daughter is super excited for 2nd grade and so are we!

Posted: June 5, 2014

I have two children that went to BASIS. My experience with BASIS was not pleasant at all. I did not feel the teachers knew how to "teach", they may have been subject matter experts in their field, but they were not gifted teachers. I feel BASIS robs children of their childhood, they do not exercise regularly, there is no nutritious lunches served, and most of the students are socially awkward and are not well adjusted to socially navigate their way in the real world. BASIS concentrates solely on building their reputation, which means test scores. If you don't want your kid to become purely a test-taker then you should go somewhere else. If you don't want your kid to become a one-dimensional conformist who does nothing but homework and is stressed to the point of needing a therapist by the 10th grade, then don't go to BASIS. I simply do not understand how on earth this school could be rated as one of the top schools. As a parent you will have NO input at BASIS. There is no system setup so you can monitor your child's progress. If you love your child, don't do it, you have been warned! Work to make your local school better.

Posted: June 1, 2014

The faculty and administrators at BASIS Tucson need to complete a course of their own that helps them understand the nuanced and complex nature of what it means "To Teach" and what is means "To Learn". At this time, they seem to adhere to methods and pedagogy common over a century ago, albeit more technological advances.

Posted: February 8, 2014

I went to basis from 5-8 grade. It was a great experience with lots of fun in 5th, 6th, and 7th. However, 8th grade was very difficult. I had poor grades, Little to no social life, and I absolutely hated it. On top of everything, I was not able to get into the high school I wanted to go to (university high school or UHS). My personal recommendation to parents and students is to move schools before 8th grade. I wish that someone would have given me this advice. Overall, basis is a great school but 8th grade is very intense.

Posted: January 4, 2014

The post on May 3, 2012 is precisely why Arizona is scoring 48 to 50 in the nation. BASIS is one of the best Charter schools in Arizona, and of course takes pride in ranking and tests score like all other great schools. What school or PARENT wouldn't. My younger children have attended and will attend BASIS, and have learned to critically think, appreciate diversity of our global community, and DO say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Above all, they are really gaining knowledge and not just getting a free ride for attendance and learning the material on the AIMS test. I totally agree that UHS is a terrific school, but the high school also condones self-expression without bias. If all the districts in Tucson and other cities in Arizona were like UHS, perhaps there would not be as many Charter schools to resent.

Posted: January 1, 2014

I am so glad that they decided to add k-4 to the grades taught here. They have a wonderful set up for how the kids are taught. The teachers are all very encouraging and enthusiastic about the children and their education. My son is in 1st grade and a very smart child. He excelled at this school. It's great to see a school that pushes kids to reach their potential and expects 100% parent involvement along the way. We are very sorry that we had to move and are trying everything we can to get back just for this school. Nothing else even comes close to what this school has to offer.

Posted: November 4, 2013

I know many students that entered Basis in 5th grade at an excellent academic level. They played basketball, piano, did swimming too. By 7th and 8th grade these students stopped all extracurricular activities and if they didn't have to repeat the grade or left Basis already, struggled to keep their grades afloat. Basis manages to bring bright, enthusiastic kids to their knees. I am a pushy parent that knows what a good education is all about and does not shy away from challenges. Teachers do what they are dictated to do and don't last more than a couple of years in that environment. They are pressured into conducting student hours during which they simply teach to the test. There is no other way a young child can learn the vast and difficult material designed for a completely different age group. In the end parents will realize that the time and effort they put into this does not return the much expected good education. I am happy the system works for some, but that is just 1-2 kids out of a classroom, who will do very well in any other school anyway.

Posted: October 29, 2013

BASIS is a boot camp on steroids for school. Its hard core and its not for everyone, nothing wrong with that, you have decide what learning looks like to you and the big picture. The school has great components to it and has their noses up in the air because of their test scores. Having high academics is one thing, being able to apply and survive in the real world is another....there is a high attrition rate here and burn out factor. Its a great place for some kids!

Posted: October 8, 2013

BASIS has taught and continues to teach my children problem solving, hard work ethic, intrinsic motivation, internalized high expectations and standards, individual responsibility and camaraderie -- the highly sought after life and employment skills! I cannot thank BASIS enough for these priceless values the school continues to instill in my boys! THANK YOU BASIS!

Posted: October 6, 2013

My daughter attended BASIS last year, it was the most wonderful academic experience she has had in 8 years. This year we are struggling adjusting to a new state and a new school, because BASIS raised the bar, now anything that we compare doesn't even come close to what BASIS had to offer. The teachers were very knowledgeable, super enthusiastic, and motivating. The curriculum being thought to students is exemplary. My daughter was challenged, and her self esteem was uplifted because she knew she was learning the best from the best. This is what all the schools in the US should be like. We miss this school, and I would do anything to have a school half as good as BASIS near my city.

Posted: October 5, 2013

Tons of my son's friends went to this school so I was like why not try it. IT WAS HORRIBLE! There is too much homework! My son starts his homework at 3:30 PM and ends at 11:00PM! I do not recommend this school to any children that want to enjoy their childhood!

Posted: October 2, 2013

BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD SCHOOL, THIS IS THE ONLY WORD THAT I CAN SAY

Posted: September 12, 2013

I can't say enough good things about Basis. People say it's not for every kid. Had we merely looked at our son's performance in the last school he was in, we might have never enrolled him in Basis. He was bored and lackluster about going. He made B's and got by. We put him in Basis in 6th grade and he became a different person. He is engaged in learning and he comes home talking about school, his teachers and his day. He takes pride in his work and he is excelling far beyond what we ever assumed he could do after his last school. He has 30 math problems a day and he completes them in study hall. Typically he has an hour of homework at night. If he has tests then he may choose to study longer. He loves his teachers and he has so many friends and he is happy. He was bullied at his last school by a big kid simply because he is slight in built. This is his 2nd year at Basis and it has never happened once. I fully believe the admin at Basis will not tolerate anything. Also, they have no idle time. 5 min. between classes and no loitering in the halls before or after school. For our son, Basis has been the best educational choice in the world and we are very grateful.

Posted: July 31, 2013

BASIS is fantastic at promoting their product. They are great at advertising and promoting the idea that they have academic prowess by manipulating test results or using research results that are calculated using irrelevant or incomplete information.Most of their student success can be directly related to parenting and what is considered by many to be an elitist system that cuts the weaker student so that test scores aren't negatively affected. TUSD and other public schools have fallen behind in their promotion of their product in that regard. TUSD has some fantastic schools and a fantastic curriculum but they do a very poor job in getting that product in front of the public eye. That being said, I have 3 kids, my oldest attended 8th grade last year at BASIS. While he achieved good grades and I believe he was receiving a good education, he did not enjoy the experience. He happens to be a great athlete as well as being a great student......continued

Posted: July 31, 2013

He did not see a future where he could excel in athletics at BASIS and he said there is no way he could keep up with the homework and still be able to do outside sports during the school year. He also did have a "very heavy" homework load on a daily basis and regardless of what any parent, teacher or administrator, will say here , he did not have sufficient time in class to complete everything without doing it at home. I realize BASIS is very proud of "their " perceived achievements but I urge any parents to read between the lines before sending your kids here. If you think your kid will suddenly excel and be motivated by just sending them to BASIS, think again. The magic starts with you as parents and there are many great academic options in Tucson outside of BASIS....All that glitters is't always Gold.

Posted: July 22, 2013

This is a good school for smart kids who test well, however prospective parents should be aware that part of the reason Basis is ranked so high is that the school uses year-end comprehensive exams to weed out kids who don't test well. What remains are higher IQ students who naturally score well on tests regardless of who teaches them. My son is fortunate to be one of these students, but not all children are. If your child does not shine on tests or is an average student, I'd advise you to think very carefully before sending he or she to this school. Also, although the homework load is similar to our previous (private) school, the number of weekly tests can seem burdensome, particularly if your child enjoys sports or other extra-curricular activities.

Posted: June 23, 2013

I'm in 7th grade and I believe that this school is one of the best I've went to. The teachers here are all amazing in their trade. I know that at times this school gets very tough, but all throughout the year I have been balancing school with Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3 hour not school related soccer practice right after school with the occasional tournaments on the weekend which last all day. Also I'm in chess and I go to a school sponsored chess club on Wednesday with the occasional tournaments on the weekend where I promise that our team wins at least one trophy (I am backed up the numerous trophies that Basis Tucson has of chess on display or stored away because of space issues. On top of that, I have back-to-back 2 hour guitar and piano lessons on Friday. I also want to mention that I do the math of an eleventh grader. Through all this I still am able to get into the top 15% in the honor roll (silver balloon). I believe that 7th grade is hard for some students because in 5th and 6th grade teachers used to hold your hand through the things we learned and were quizzed on, but in 7th grade teachers allowed you to figure out all the knowledge on your own and that's difficult.

Posted: May 18, 2013

I'm in 7th grade and I wanna leave. I've learned a lot but I feel like the workload is not worth the knowledge. By the middle of the first semester, I had to do homework during lunch, in the car, everywhere. By the second semester, I had to either quit all my extracurricular activities or do homework during PE(I chose the latter). If I went there next year, I would be forced to take AP world history in 8th grade. Also in most classes we have quizzes every week, and some of the quizzes require the whole class period and have 20 Mc's and a 5 paragraph essay. Because of the crazy honor roll( recognizes top 15 and 5 percent) and favoritist teachers there is extreme heirarchy based on how "smart' you are. By now i would like even bad TUSD schools better than basis.

Posted: April 27, 2013

RE: Feb 13, 2013 Comments: No, you are correct, my eldest daughter did not take Calculus till 10th grade. And I doubt that your 9th grader was forced to take AP Calculus in 9th grade. We have two children that are in 7th grade. One will take Calculus a year before our oldest did (Maybe like your child) and one is on track to take it a year later than our oldest. Same grade - 2 levels apart. We are grateful this was possible for our situation, but understand that part of this was due to opening the new school and is likely to be the extent of "accommodation" at BASIS. I would not want it to go any further than that either, or then we start sliding down that slope towards teaching towards lower expectations. Excessive accommodation and lowering of expectations for our students performance and ability to learn has hurt our country and local communities. I still believe that BASIS is not for all students, especially if they and their parents are miserable in this environment. However, I do admire kids who have at least attempted the curriculum and put their best effort forward, but maybe still found it too overwhelming. I am thankful for the scholastic opportunity BASIS offers.

Posted: April 27, 2013

My daughter is finishing her third year at the lower school and is excited to attend the upper school next year. Her first year at BASIS was tough - she was used to low expectations and having to do little work to get by. Homework was a struggle for much of the year, but then we found that she was actually working for very little of that time - mostly she was complaining and finding ways to avoid working. Once we addressed the time management issue, she improved. Now she is able to finish most of her homework at school. She has been in involved in extracurricular sports and clubs every year, and has many more friends than she did at her old school. There have been a few teachers we have not been happy with, but whenever I requested a conference they were willing to meet with me and addressed the problems in a satisfactory way. If your child is struggling, you and your child must be the ones to change what you are doing, because this school is not going to make exceptions for your child, or to change what has been a successful model for the majority of the students who go there.

Posted: February 22, 2013

I agree with the parent post dated Jan 31. The only exception, is that I would not give as much credit for successes to teachers, as I would to the students and parents. I do not deny that there are some exceptional teachers at Basis, but some of the teachers In my opinion, conducted themselves in a manner that was less than professional. Our child's safety and well being came first, hence our decision to withdraw our child from Basis. Today our child thanks us and is happier and doing well in a new school. well.

Posted: February 12, 2013

To the Jan 31 response... BASIS for todays 5th graders is much different than BASIS for todays 11th graders. Did your 11th grader take AP Calc in 9th grade? The answer is no because BASIS did not offer AP Calc in 9th grade until this year. I agree BASIS kids are creative and amazing in every way, and so too are the teachers (and parents without whom very few students could survive). But all these positives are DESPITE what BASIS does, not because of it. Some fifth graders enter talent shows, some cry themselves to sleep at night. Stress is high and so is attrition. Some seniors write SRPs, some seniors deflate in nervous anxiety and resentment, burnt out from too many multiple choice tests. I blame the system for the failures, and credit the strength of the students and teachers and parents for the successes. There are two opposing opinions of BASIS, both need to be heard. Ultimately parents and students must decide what is right for them.

Posted: January 30, 2013

As a student of BASIS Tucson North, I can attest to the fact that this is a wonderful school. The rigorous curriculum is superb, and allows students to challenge themselves to a degree unparalleled in the Tucson area. The problem most seem to run into, however, is that the school absolutely does not teach to the lowest common denominator - rather, students who are behind are expected to take it upon themselves to improve their performance. The resources are there for them to take advantage of, in the form of both peer tutoring and teacher student hours. I love every single one of my teachers, and frankly I couldn't have asked for better ones; if me or one of my parents has anything they want to talk about with a teacher, they will find that the teachers are readily available and more than willing to discuss whatever might be a problem, and my teachers are more than willing to help me if I feel that I'm floundering in the new material. Do not, however, expect students here to get free grades, or expect grade inflation - a failing grade is a failing grade, no questions asked.

Posted: January 30, 2013

My son was excited to leave this school and so was the rest of the family. My son was being pushed way too hard! My son stayed after school every day. He even went to school on Saturday s. But to no avail. he received almost all F s in every class. If you expect the teachers to communicate with you...forget it! My son self-esteem was broken. He didn t even get a D for showing up and participating. When I removed my son from the school no-one did not ask why nor did anyone come out to speak with me. I was one of almost 20 parents that removed their children from the school. If I kept my son in this school he would have repeated the same grade twice. (Basis in Washington, DC)

Posted: August 9, 2012

I am a 10th grade student at BASIS say that I am having a wonderful experience. I tried out the traditional public highschool to have that "normal" experience and that was not for me. BASIS provides the BEST teachers in the area who are dedicated to their jobs; I've had teachers stay over 3 hours late to tutor me free whenever I needed help. The classes are challenging but are not impossible if you are willing to do the work. I manage to do 20+ hours of activities every week and maintain straight A's. BASIS is terrific school, but you have to be willing to do the work.

Posted: August 2, 2012

My son has been attending BASIS since 6th grade - and he loves it! His teachers are involved, supportive, and approachable. His studies are challenging - and yes he does have homework, but it is manageable - and nowhere near the 3+ hours reported by some disgruntled parents. More importantly, he has developed a keen work ethic, and we often have delightful and thought-provoking conversations ranging from the current political climate, to the historical - and he loves to discuss what he has learned. Prior to his enrollment, I was worried about his boredom and seeming lack of excitment about his education. No more - he is one motivated kid!

Posted: May 2, 2012

If you just want your child to LEARN and you can let go of the high expectations of straight A's, there is nowhere near 3 hours of homework per night. My daughter is in 7th grade and all she has to do after school is math. Which takes about 1/2 hour because she utilizes the time the teachers actually give them DURING SCHOOL to do her work.The previous post is full of judgments about the way the teachers LOOK (in fact, one of the reasons I love the school - they are teaching that those things DON'T matter). And we all know which teacher you are talking about - one of the most beloved and respected by the students, in fact. Schools are not required to do the Pledge in any state. Also, there is a flag and the Constitution posted on the wall in EVERY single classroom. If that is the most important thing to you, then clearly education is not a priority and BASIS is not for you. If your family has chosen not to take advantage of the MANY extracurricular activities that BASIS offers, then that is on you, not the school. There is no recess in any middle school and they are given 30 minutes for lunch, which is standard.

Posted: May 1, 2012

So happy to see the TRUTH being posted about Basis. This is our third year and realizing what BASIS is really all about. If ALL you want for your kid is ACADEMICS, this is the place for you. Excessive,unreasonable amounts of homework, 3 hours min per night ,and STRESS. NO recess, and BARELY enough time to eat lunch. Not Parent friendly, cant observe/volunteer in any class. There is also a persistant REJECTION of Americanism, no Pledge of Allegiance ( I am fighting for with Dept of Ed right now) LAW..Az State statutes! Teacher and staff self-expression of multiple facial PIERCINGS and TATTOOS more important than emphasis on Education.I realize we are diverse culture, student body, extremely diverse at lower school..We are, Americans FIRST, patriotism, respect, pride and honor for our country, growth of good character ALSO just as important to teach our young kids, Not teachers roll modeling to sit in her chair, not recite, while 5 brave kids stand up to recite the pledge. I just want to throw up..Have one more year to go, on to UHS, where a kid can have a normal, fun and JUST AS challenging education. BASIS cares only about rankings and test scores. THATS IT!!

Posted: April 28, 2012

Even though I know it's very hard to find a good school in Tucson for our children, overall, my experience at this school was not good. On the positive side, the school has a decidedly international flavor, which is wonderful. However, the attraction for many of the international families at the school is a reflection of a system of education which is one they likely grew up with in their home countries. The American approach toward education, for good and bad, tries to emphasize the development of the whole individual, through social activities, athletics, and a system of thinking and learning which develops critical, independent thinking and creative problem solving. Basis does little of these things and, instead, utilizes a system of education more similar to what China has in place and is desperately trying to change because of its almost exclusive emphasis on rote leraning and test preparation. Maybe, as another reviewer pointed out, you can avoid some of the negative socialization at Basis, since the kids are kept so busy with no recess during school hours (at Tucson Lower School) and very little time for lunch, they have very little time to talk to each other at all

Posted: April 26, 2012

I've had two children attend this school and both wanted to leave after a few years. It wasn't that it was too hard, just that they didn't find the school to be much fun. And as a parent I always found the atmosphere there very unfriendly and cold. A really good school will combine tough learning with a nurturing feeling. Didn't get that here.

Posted: April 3, 2012

Three of my children go to this school. We absolutely LOVE it!! I cannot believe how much they are learning. They come home and have such interesting discussions with us, and we feel they are truly being prepared for life. Some people worry about sending their kids to Basis because they definately have to work hard. My feeling is kids need to be taught to work and we have trouble with that in our American culture. Basis provides a way for me to instill work ethic in my kids. They do have sports and a lot of extra curricular activities, however, it isn't like a public school where there is a lot of money for these things. The sports at Basis can't compare to public schools. but the education is so good it is a worthwhile trade.I played four years of volleyball in high school, and it never got me anywhere in life. I would have been better off spending my time studying at a school like Basis. Furthermore, most of the kids at Basis care about school and come from homes where school is emphasized. There is peer pressure to suceed. I like that. My kids have been much less exposed to the moral "junk" they would be getting in public school by going to Basis. We love it!!

Posted: March 30, 2012

BASIS teachers all have Bachelors degree. BASIS teachers stay at school for hours to help students. BASIS teachers are included in at least one extra curicular or an elective. BASIS students have a higher chance of getting into a college. BASIS students have a 100% passing grade on AIMS. BASIS students are able to graduate by eleventh grade due to the advanced curriculum. 100% percent of BASIS students are accepted into four year colleges. BASIS school have been visited by well known colleges (I.e. Harvard, Yale, U of A, etc.) BASIS schools are very well supported by many parents. To sum it all up: Great School ~BASIS Students

Posted: January 25, 2012

This is our daughter's second year at BASIS, and we couldn't be happier!! When we moved to AZ- before we had children, I was told of the state of the schools in Tucson. As a medical practitioner, who often helped to write contracts with TUSD, I learned quickly that this wasn't where I wanted my children to obtain their education. After K-4 in a catholic school, our daughter transfered to BASIS. Yes, they have homework, but not 3-4 hours per night!! She averages 2 hours per night. The teachers and staff at BASIS are outstanding. They all offer several additional hours per week for tutoring if your child has questions and to work on homework. The educators there truly care about my child and have gone the extra mile to provide guidance when needed. Our daughter is not a "brainiac" by any means, but she is achieving great things at BASIS, and we are very grateful for the opportunities BASIS has given her.

Posted: January 23, 2012

What a bunch of hoopla for nothing! You can get the same curriculum at just about any Tucson, Arizona High School that offers 10 or more AP/IB classes. Granted, your kid will still get the 4+ hours of daily homework but he/she will have a much better offering of extracurricular activities. Stop feeding this school's ego.

Posted: October 29, 2011

I have spoken to approximately twenty parents who have their children at BASIS in fifth thru seventh grade and all have commented that their children receive two to three hours of homework per night. This is what BASIS does and weather this is good or bad for any particular student I believe this is for each parent to decide. The previous parent stated that their child did their homework in school to which I respond wonderful , but as one administrator at BASIS told me We try to load them up with as much homework as possible so they will learn how to manage their time. If they have a few minutes in the car riding home or riding to baseball practice they should take advantage of that time and use it for homework or study .

Posted: September 28, 2011

I am so sorry your daughter had so much homework. That means she was wasting the time given in class to work on homework. I have two children at Basis and they rarely have homework. They use that time in class to complete the homework. What did your daughter do with that time? Teachers do this so if your child has a question about the homework they can ask the teacher for help. I wish you all the best.

Posted: September 28, 2011

My daughter was excited to leave this school and so was the rest of the family. If you believe your child should be completing 3+ hours of homework a night in 6th grade then this school is you. If you want a creative child and would like to spend time enjoying and experiencing life with them then this school is not for you. It was a sad day when my child was working longer hours than me. As adults we do not work 10 hour days 5 days a week so why should our children?

Posted: July 29, 2011

Both my sons attended BASIS Oro Valley last year but niether will attend this year. We were very enthusiastic about this school and really wanted it to work but it just wasn't for my kids. We really like the curriculum, but that's about where it ends. Some of the teachers were really good and some were terrible and had NO teaching skills. My younger son's favorite teacher was let go, according to rumor because a wealthy donor parent didn't like him. Basically, if your child fits the BASIS mold then he or she will do very well, but if they deviate from that then forget it. Both my sons are "gifted" so we're told, so it wasn't an issue of cognitive ability. The real issue was their inability to work with kids who learn a little differently. A situation that is common with "gifted" kids. They also completely misrperesented how much homework and busy work the kids get. The get a LOT. My son's were doing 2 hours and more of homework every night which meant they couldn't do anything else in life basically.

Posted: June 18, 2011

If you believe in taking money from EVERYONE, and then selecting a FEW to give them a "rigorous" education -- then hail BASIS! The "Best Schools Rankings" uses a very twisted formula to determine "best" schools -- number of students divided by number of AP exams they take. That's it. No magic or complications there -- no socio-economic factors, no race, no special ed students (wondering if a single BASIS teacher knows even what IEP stands for). It would be interesting (and telling) to see the actual AP scores of the BASIS students -- the formula doesn't care how many 4s and 5s there are. Also, BASIS still believes, in the 21st century, in the 19th century model of lecture-and-test philosophy. The world has changed in the past 100 years, but education hasn't. BASIS is nothing but a TUSD school (like UHS) for the select few, paid for by the rest, but closed to the rest. American Dream 2.0.

Posted: April 22, 2011

Our daughter is in 6th grade and finishing her first year at the new Basis Oro Valley. We are very pleased with the school overall. Yes there were a few minor issues with communication but the OV Boosters newsletter fills in what the schools and your child may not. Really great involved and concerned teachers, challenging pace with lots of extra help (if needed). Parent involvement can be as much or as little as you want. I totally disagree with many previous remarks about different issues, especially the lack of creativity- art history class, music and drama, puppet troupe, improv....lots to choose from- electives and after school clubs!! Actually more choices than she has time to do or she would have done even more! No there weren't any field trips for her class, except for the upcoming project week, but that is not so important to me or her. Lots of extracurricular social time with several dances throughout the year, several plays and even operas, parking lot party, talent show....You get out of the school what you want- a little or a lot. We got a lot packed into our first year there and my daughter is looking forward to next year, we wouldn't dream of going anywhere else.

Posted: April 22, 2011

100 miles. That's about how far we go every day, round-trip, for both my kids to go to BASIS Tucson. This is our second year "commuting" to both the middle & high school. The national recognition/test scores/curriculum --- what drew us to BASIS Tucson. The dedication of the teachers, the openness of the administration to listen, the willingness of everyone to "chip-in" to contribute to our students' well-being as a "whole-child" --- what's keeping us here. Last year, my high-schooler had the choice to go to another prestigious school nearby, but he wanted to stay. This year, my middle-schooler complains that I pick him up from school too early, because he would rather go to his English teacher's after-school hours. (Apparently, many others feel that way as his classroom always seems to be full and by the way, that teacher is not obligated to hold after-school hours EVERY day.). Lots of other wonderful reasons to be here. Maybe not for everyone, but for us, the 100 miles is worth it!

Posted: April 21, 2011

Not only does this school have excellent teachers and a challenging academic program but you know for sure that the staff is functioning as a great team when you call the school and the principal is answering the phones!

Posted: February 27, 2011

I've been a student at basis for the past four years. When I first got there, I thought it was a great school. However, now I honestly hate it. The administration has let the fame get to their heads, and is no longer focusing on the students, but is instead focusing on the student's test scores. If you would rather have an academic life then a social life, then this is most definitely the school for you.

Posted: February 20, 2011

As a BASIS student, I would say that this school is appropriate for any kid who wants a proper education. There are very little schools that can give you as much support and knowledge as BASIS does. Again, this is a BASIS student writing, and I absolutely love the school.

Posted: May 21, 2010

Recently relocated to Arizona, I have learned much about certain school districts. My 4th grader started school & noticed that the work matched those in California when she was in 3rd grade. Moved her to charter school which offered something new. Moms told me about BASIS. Researched, read, visited, toured the school, met faculty, examined sample class courses & schedules. Impressed. This school is definitely not for every child, especially if the child(ren) do not have support at home to go over homework. Daughter will start BASIS 2010, she has been mentally prepared to work hard. She wants to go to UCSD like her sister & sees her sister studying all the time. Life isn't free nor easy & finishing college open many doors. Promotions, raises, bonuses are earned by hard work. My job is to guide my kids towards a bright future and BASIS seems to share the same vision.

Posted: April 13, 2010

I have one child at BASIS in fifth grade and since he has been there he is a changed person. Before he began, at his public school, he was bored, bullied, and completely miserable. Since his transfer to BASIS, his learning has progressed at an incredible rate we never knew was possible. He has never been happier.

Posted: April 11, 2010

Posted: March 21, 2010

My kids are being pushed way too hard! Teachers are so strict! Sure, teaching skills are great! But no recess, no field trips, no nothing! Kids learn at their own pace, not what these stuck up teachers tell them to!

Posted: March 13, 2010

We are currently attending BASIS Tucson. It has been a phenomenal experience. There are amazing teachers and educationally rigorous classes. While attending BASIS we have been given the tools to excel in many subjects, that are not typically necessary until a student has reached college education. Overall, it has been a very inspirational for our future ambitions and dreams as young adults. One of the best schools anyone could ever attend, we strongly recommend it to any aspiring students.

Posted: March 2, 2010

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Posted: September 15, 2008

#	Name	Type	City	State	Overall Rating	Distance
1	Crow Creek Townhomes	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tucson	AZ		1.3 mi
2	Austin Point	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tucson	AZ		8.6 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Allegro	Tucson	AZ	2 mi
2	Reid Park and Zoo Area	Tucson	AZ	2 mi
3	Artistic District	Tucson	AZ	2.5 mi
4	Foothills	Tucson	AZ	5.9 mi
5	Old Spanish Trail/Harrison Area	Tucson	AZ	8.6 mi

BASIS Tucson Primary

Tucson, AZ 85716

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BASIS Tucson Primary

Tucson, AZ 85716

School Ratings

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