Sky Islands High School in Tucson | Military Town Advisor

Posted: February 11, 2024

My son attended the first half of his freshman year at this school, and in the beginning we were all hopeful and excited because it seemed like a great concept and inclusive school on paper. By the end of the first month of school in September 2023 the problems began. First off there is almost zero engagement with the parents, no orientation week for freshman or parents to get to meet the staff or learn how grading is done. In September the previous head of school fired the special education director with no cause and 6 teachers staged a walk out (mind you there were only 8 teachers to begin with) which ended with 1 teacher fired and the head of school on permanent leave. The special education director returned for 2 weeks then quit. The art teacher wasn't teaching art and quit, office assistant quit, English teacher quit ( eventually they were replaced). It wasn't until November that a new head of school was hired. The students to this point were not being given grade level work to do and still zero communication with parents. Every single change that happened I found out thru my student. The kicker and final straw for our family was our son was directly threatened by another student seeming to threaten a school shooting. We were not called by the school nor did they notify law enforcement, I called them and the head of school appeared visibly annoyed that I reported it. We have removed our son, and several of his friends have also been removed from the school due to safety concerns. There is no security system, no resource officer and we were told about the threat by our son who called us not the school. There is a lack of experienced leadership in this school, I believe the teachers try their best and do care about the students however their efforts fall short. The only truly positive thing is the school lunch is amazing and healthy, my son couldn't stop saying how good it was. The education director however is truly amazing and did a great job holding things down till a new head was hired. However the lunch is not enough to make up for the lack of academic short comings, revolving door of staff and the head of schools callus handling of a very real threat made that make this school a awful choice. Don't expect much from the school board either, they are generally MIA for everything.

Posted: May 29, 2023

I went to sky islands for two and a half years. In my time there my 504 was disrespected, I was insulted by teachers, and my parents were neither included in my education nor were they aware of the happenings at this school. A math teacher taught that women were "biologically bad at math", a gun scare was kept secret from students and parents, and I my learning disability was constantly overlooked and ignored my teachers. Rules were arbitrary and not applied consistently. In this last year a new system for out of class passes was implemented. Each student was given 3 out of class passes per quarter. These applied to any out of class activities. Using the bathroom, getting medication, using/ changing pads and tampons, ect. At the end of each quarter any remaining passes could be turned in for extra credit in the class of the students choice.
I urge you to consider this review before enrollment. This school is toxic.

Posted: May 19, 2023

The first thing that stood out when we first visited Sky Islands is the Culinary Arts program. Once you see it, you wonder why most schools don't have something similar. The Culinary Arts class cooks lunch for the whole school once a day, an amazingly delicious lunch that is super nutritious, interesting, and comes in part out of the student-run school garden. This is one example of the kind of multi-disciplinary learning that can only happen at school, not online, not at home, and that probably won't happen at a big school.

Urban Horticulture/Permaculture is one of the big attractions to the school. The guitar program is also excellent. We known someone who went through it and later won a scholarship in guitar to the University. There is a popular film making class. Our son appreciates the Digital Imaging teacher, who is also a College instructor. The math and English teachers iare very promising. The school works hard to find dedicated, excellent teachers. Teachers who are interested in cross discipline, creative learning programs should consider working at this school. They will find a supportive administration.

The current administration has been in place for less than two years. Previous to that we hear there were difficult administrative issues. The current central administrator, who runs the office, Karen Flores is kind and extremely efficient (and is also an exceptional Spanish substitute teacher, we hear tell) . The principal, Ron Hennings might be the most experienced principal in Tucson. He is patient, positive and dedicated. I am confident that as long as these two stay there the school will be strong.

Sky Islands is special in another way. Large schools usually offer diversity, but most small schools are very narrow about who they attract. Even though it is small this school has people of various ethnic backgrounds and diverse political beliefs, and has religious students studying alongside the anti-religious. In our over polarized world, that is pretty wonderful.

Posted: June 7, 2021

My daughter graduated from Sky Islands in 2020. She studied there for 4 years of High School and it was the best decision we ever made. The curriculum there allowed her to broadened her mind and approach to more greenery and sciences. She started out very shy and and introvert and graduated more outgoing and she really bloomed at High School there. Me Shari is the best principal or director for the school. I watched her attend every music concerts and events the school had. She would bring all the students flowers. She treated the students with so much respect and adoration and she received back in return. I would always refer my friends to have their students attend high school for the simple fact that they will get the education needed to go to college plus special treatment and care for each and every student.

Posted: June 7, 2021

Posted: May 5, 2021

My son is currently enrolled at Sky Islands, and it's been a true blessing. This school literally saved my child's education/future.
I usually don't take the time to write reviews but, as the parent of a child with a learning disability, I know how it feels to be at a loss about what to do and how worrying it can be. I'm sharing our experience in case it can help anyone.

My son has been dealing with ADHD/ADD all his life. In his previous schools (both Elementary and Middle schools), he was constantly in trouble for not staying on task, not listening to the teacher, being disruptive, etc. Countless phone calls from the school, countless disciplinary actions, and both my child and I were miserable. It was a constant struggle to wake him up in the morning; he lacked motivation, did not do his homework, and basically hated school.

As I was trying to find a solution, I found Sky Islands and figured the school's focus on hands-on learning might be a good fit. At first, my son did not want to go to this school. He wanted to be in a "regular school" and stay with his friends. We had agreed that he would try for a month and change school if he still didn't like it after that. After the first few weeks, I started noticing a change, and he no longer talked about changing school. Bullying is dealt with effectively and immediately, and it creates such a positive atmosphere.
Fast forward two years: he now loves going to school and wakes up early on his own to arrive early at school. He tells me that Sky Islands is the first school he ever liked. He has realized that he actually did not hate school or learning but just hated the way he was being taught in the other schools.
The homework load is very manageable, even for a student who has trouble staying on task. Most of the time, he can finish his homework at school, and when he has big projects, he can count on the support of his teachers to guide him.
The hands-on activities tremendously helped with his ADHD-ADD, and he does not even need special accommodations. Being outside for a good part of the day is enough to help him stay on task when he's in the classroom. He has discovered a passion for philosophy and world history and loves being able to have in-depth conversations with his teachers. He has As and Bs and checks his GPA every day. He finds himself in an environment that is both intellectually stimulating and inclusive and is even looking forward to going to college.

Posted: May 5, 2021

Posted: May 4, 2021

I personally really enjoyed the school. The staff and students were really nice and supportive, the homework was manageable, and I believe that the classes are really effective. In particular I feel that the science classes are really strong and I believe I have actually learned and retained the information taught because we were able to apply and use the information to do actual science. The horticulture classes were also very cool, and actually being able to work and learn about gardening every other day was really really interesting and unique. Overall in my opinion, the school is really great and I would highly recommend anyone who is considering about enrolling in the school to do so!

Posted: May 4, 2021

This school is amazing! The teachers are so great and they work with students very well. I am there right now, and I feel very wanted and I know that my teachers want me to try my best. The homework is never hard at all. If the work is hard at all you can easily talk to teachers in person or by email. I don't see any real judgement in the school from different classmates as well.

Posted: May 4, 2021

Posted: January 27, 2020

The teachers are absolutely wonderful and do their very best to work and teach for everyone to understand

Posted: January 27, 2020

The school itself is much more like a small community and for the most part take care of each other

Posted: January 27, 2020

They have specific classes based on leadership and they teach us very effective skills

Posted: January 27, 2020

Many bullies that I see are given few warnings before being asked to leave or being dealt with appropriately

Posted: January 27, 2020

I was a student. My parents do not share my views but I think the school was a wonderful place and a great learning space.

Posted: January 27, 2020

The scheduling is perfect for the assigned homework

Posted: January 27, 2020

The principal is a bully herself so how can I expect that they effectively deal with bullying?

Posted: January 27, 2020

As far as I can see the teachers actually care about the students unlike the principal

Posted: January 27, 2020

The leadership doesnt want to encourage strength in these children. They are easier to push around when they can be manipulated and bullied. You cant teach compassion if you have none yourself.

Posted: January 27, 2020

Sheri, the current principal, is a bully who seems to care only about funding. I would like to know why my child who just turned 18 was manipulated and bullied into signing withdraw paperwork due to absences which caused loss in funding. Where did the funding go being as the finding has been paid for the year. Why couldnt she finish the year?
Why was she expelled for attendance when she always makes up her work and has been an amazing student with no disciplinary actions ever. Why was a 504 out in place with in 30 days of the original request, as mandated by law?
I am angry that my child jumped through extra hoops to graduate and still fell two .5 credits behind and couldnt graduate as promised only to be expelled.
I can promise you this, your going to have bigger people to answer to than me.

Posted: January 27, 2020

504 was not put in place nor did they even set up evaluation because they didnt have the required staff to do so, According to them. I am sure it was just another lie.

Posted: January 27, 2020

Absolutely terrible. See my notes above. If you have children with anxiety, ASD or any special needs or accommodations do not put them in this school. It will be hell and pure devastation for them.

Posted: January 27, 2020

The teachers do all they can to make sure the students have their homework.

Posted: January 27, 2020

Horrible. Why would you expel a student that is supposed to have a 504 in place but didnt due to your own negligence.

Posted: January 27, 2020

Posted: October 19, 2018

For my daughter, really really good. Would like to see more minorities, principally African America students, but this school seems to be pretty great to me.

Posted: June 4, 2018

Sky Islands is a wonderful school, it is a place you can send your child with assurance that they will have their educational needs met and supported. Their staff do all they can to ensure success and long term excellence. They support dual enrollment, example being another education program like JTED where a student may have to devote extra time. The teachers as well administrators do all that they can to make sure that each student feels comfortable, understands curriculum and feels safe in their learning environment. The school takes a different approach to learning, implementing methods that would be otherwise untraditional. Such as encouraging and integrating outdoor projects and community events. The culture and feeling of overall acceptance in Sky Islands is unparalleled and you would not regret your child attending this school.

Posted: June 4, 2018

Posted: May 24, 2018

The teachers at this school are amazing, that's why I love it here.

Posted: May 24, 2018

It is cool here because we do things that are not normally found at schools. We have a outdoors program and care for animals and growing and cooking our own food.

Posted: May 22, 2018

Teachers here actually do their job. They also know how to have fun, rather than be strict all the time.

Posted: May 22, 2018

All of the students here are kind and caring people: there's no bullying and no problems between the other grades (e.g. no seniors bullying the freshman).

Posted: May 22, 2018

My overall experience here so far is great. The students here are considerate, kind and caring, no matter what grade you're in. The teachers here actually teach what subjects they're supposed to, all while making things as least stressful as possible. We go on lots of educational field trips, such as going to creeks to test the water quality and buying seeds for permaculture purposes. If you're in a class you don't really like, the administrators will try to find something you are interested in. If you're a sophomore and up, you also have the option to participate in a JTED program at another school.

Posted: May 22, 2018

This school is very different than many of the other traditional public schools around Tucson. It has more hands on classes such as Urban Horticulture which teaches us how to grow our own foods and learn about the environment. Architecture teaches us to build and design homes. Sky Islands has a farm to table program which we grow food or get the food locally to make healthy lunches. Sky Islands isn't a school every one is drawn to because we do work outside in the heat sometimes but this isn't all our school is about. We value student that are willing to put the work in to make this school so unique.

Posted: May 22, 2018

I love this school because there is a class that allows me to be outside. I wouldn't say this school is for everyone however if you like to be outside and you do not mind hard work this school will be a great choice for you.

Posted: May 22, 2018

They crack down on problems with students pretty quickly.

Posted: May 22, 2018

Little to no homework, but enough to make you think and be active.

Posted: May 22, 2018

Sky Islands is better than any other school I've been to. They have unique classes, an environmental push, and many fun and cool teachers I get along with. I have been to TUSD schools, and this is a LOT nicer than any of them. They also have very yummy lunches, which is hard to find in schools these days.

Posted: April 2, 2018

Teachers from a terrific home with the smaller classrooms, interesting curriculum, and their openness to spend time and go the extra mile for each student.

Posted: April 2, 2018

Students go on interesting, informative excursions throughout Arizona. They meet with indigenous people of the area, politicians, organizers of various cultural, economic, and political venues. They teach them "Real Life" values and goals. How to obtain them, initiate them, and see them thru. I can not express strongly enough the friendships, knowledge, work ethic, and pride in one's own achievements that this school has fostered and taught my nephew and daughter!

Posted: April 2, 2018

The faculty, from the administration to the teachers, pay attention to each student's detail. From time spent in class, to gpa's, real life issues. Wherever needed, I can count on them for attention to detail and caring input!

Posted: April 2, 2018

As I have mentioned, the faculty and staff have gone out of their way to communicate and help, wherever needed, to assist my daughter in favorable outcomes in all aspects of her learning experience!

Posted: April 2, 2018

Kids are free to bring issues to the teachers, staff, and parents, when they see, or are involved, in any issues in regards to how they, or others, are being treated! The kids and teachers are close knit groups that look out for on another, and are devoted to seeing achievements and excellence in themselves and on another!

Posted: April 2, 2018

My daughter has a great access to not only teachers and school assistance, but study groups. She equally helps and is helped by her peers. Through email and phone, teachers are able to contact both the students and parents for guidance and advice. We love the diversity, curriculum, attention to detail, and bonds formed by the family and staff of Sky Islands school!

Posted: April 2, 2018

I was sceptical at first. Having two children and a niece and nephew go through top rated TUSD schools, I can honestly say, I wish they all would have had the chance my youngest daughter and nephew have had, going through Sky Islands!

Posted: February 15, 2018

Terrible, hypocritical Awful environment to grow up in

Posted: February 15, 2018

Our theater company, Winding Road Theater Ensemble, has both rehearsed and performed at Sky Islands High School. Dr. Shari Popen makes a point of encouraging students to attend live theater, to participate and ask questions! Our production of An Iliad generated a spirited discussion afterwards with the student body and our recent production of a musical, The Fantasticks, was welcomed and enjoyed by students and the community alike! An impressive facility with lots for students to experience, from their drama program to urban farming to learning to cook the foods they grow. I wish I'd had a school like this one when I was a student!

Posted: May 28, 2017

Our son came here for his final 2 years of high school. Easily his best 2 years of school, and that includes kindergarten. He enjoyed his time here, learned how to be productive, made great friends for the first time. The classes were all innovative and kept him interested. They kept us interested, too. Imagine an English class that didn't even acknowledge "Catcher in the Rye", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Lord of the Flies"! The school's programs for water conservation and harvesting have made it a field trip for other schools. The school leadership have always been attentive and involved. And as a bonus, they have begun a school lunch program that has teenagers eating, and enjoying, all vegetarian meals which have been prepared by some of the students!

Posted: April 2, 2017

They're amazing! They help the students, encourage them to seek assistance, or even help their peers when needed. They will arrange tutoring if needed. They're very open to the needs of each student, and help them to succeed, and in most cases excel in many aspects of their work and even social bonding. Can not express how grateful I am we found this school for my nephew and daughter!

Posted: April 2, 2017

This school has a staff and curriculum that exposes the children to their own abilities to lead, learn, and follow. To cooperate with and consider those around them. It challenges them to stand up for their own beliefs, and healthily debate, or even change issues that they're passionate about. Courteously, courageously, and effectively. While the students themselves may not see it, as time goes by, others, such as myself, see the changes they make in the individuals, their environment, and peers. Their personal strength grows and shines through.

Posted: April 2, 2017

They know each student. Hold each one responsible for their duties as a student, peer, and as a future caring and informed adult citizen.

Posted: April 2, 2017

My daughter usually finishes up most work during school. When it's a project she has strong resources with the help of study groups and teachers.

Posted: April 2, 2017

I was skeptical at first. My nephew reached High School age before my daughter. After seeing what my nephew was accomplishing, and discussion with my daughter, we decided she would also attend Sky Islands. As a survivor of Tucson's largest school system, and helping 2 older children through it as well, I wish I'd have had the option for them as well. I've seen my nephew and daughter blossom with strength, critical thinking abilities, close friendships. This is what school should be. Helping create young adults with compassion, leadership skills, and the knowledge to start them off on their lives with strong work ethics, and friendships that will endure with them as well. I hope this option will be open for my young son when he's ready to attend. I do not want to endure, or have him have to endure, the political muck and mire of TUSD.

Posted: April 2, 2017

My son's teachers have become much more than just teachers. They really take an interest in their students lives as a whole.

Posted: April 2, 2017

Fantastic learning experience at Sky Islands. My son has gone from a brilliant kid getting lost in the shuffle at his previous school, to an academic beast who thrives to learn and put into place the things the lessons he is being taught daily.

Posted: April 2, 2017

The block system makes its very easy for students to plan their work accordingly.

Posted: March 31, 2017

As a parent and an educator, I cannot wait for my children to be of age for Sky Islands. The faculty and student body are so decent to one another and toward the challenging subjects they address in the curriculum. In every encounter with faculty and students, I am given the sense that the students are truly respected and encouraged to enter the larger world with whole, rational engagement and healthy senses of self. This school represents how public education should be: micro-climates of excellence, not massive salad bars of mediocre information dumps and teenage social stresses. My son is in middle school now, but after seeing the school and speaking with admin, we have already decided that Sky Islands will be a fitting opportunity for him to grow in new and balanced directions. He loves art, but he doesnt want to leave math behind (nor do we!); he loves to read fiction, but wants to know more about the natural world too. Sky Islands doesnt offer everything, but it offers plenty because it is so conscientious in what it does offer, how it is offered and, finally, who is participating.

Posted: March 31, 2017

The school is really great. I would give it a 10 out of 10 score

Posted: March 30, 2017

My daughter has always been an excellent student, and has always been on honor roll, AP, etc, but still felt that school was irrelevant to her life and was basically just going through the motions. Prior to her graduating middle school, we were looking at Basis, University High, etc., but found that those schools really weren't effective at preparing her for college, which requires much more than just being able to do hours of homework or rote standardized test-taking. We're SO glad we found Sky Islands- it is actually much more 'college prep' than the other college prep schools because it teaches skills like critical thinking, self-direction and self-advocacy, and the curriculum is rooted in the real world. Not only that, but what they learn in many of the classes is applied to outdoor projects, which teaches teamwork skills and real-world problem solving. These are the things that will really serve her well in college and beyond!
The teachers are incredible, and my daughter comes home every night talking all about what she learned in school that day, which is a huge change from how things used to be. She is challenged and engaged with what she is learning. The administration is also fantastic- Dr. Popen's vision for the school should be a model for all schools, and Sandi is extremely effective at making sure that all of the students are well-counseled in their academic progress and future plans.
I highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a challenging and stimulating learning environment for their child, and my only regret is that I wish that more people knew about this place!

Posted: March 30, 2017

Posted: March 29, 2017

I live in the same neighborhood and have seen many positive changes in the area since Sky Islands moved in. As well, I have been encouraged to see all the community building activities that occur at the school, such as neighborhood meetings, public forums and local non-profits getting involved with the space and faculty that works there. Good neighbors!

Posted: March 23, 2017

The admin are power hungry and lack in professionalism and boundaries . If your child does not need to be saved this is not the school for them. Teachers are great but don't last long due to the dysfunctional environment set by admin. It is sad the school has devolved to the level it has. It started out with a healthy outlook but seems to have lost that vision.

Posted: December 18, 2015

My son is in his second year at Sky Islands and I have to say that it was the best decision we ever made. He was in the largest school district in Tucson and unfortunately spent his entire year in front of a computer for a math teacher. It was a complete failure. Teachers in other subjects were never the same ones because they were either incompetent or simply walked away from such a disastrous district , and who blames them. We looked for a new school for him with a lower student to teacher ratio, teachers who had been rooted to the school for many years, teachers passionate about their career, and a school administration dedicated to teenagers and their education. We found it in one school at Sky Islands. The first time I walked in the school we were greeted by the director herself she gave us a tour and explained what the school was all about. the curriculum, the school goal for their students etc. On our second visit we met with the rest of the administration team and we were explained how the school handled discipline, bullying, disturbances by students if they occurred, what was expected of my child as a participant of the school community. It was music to our ears. We finally found a gem of a school and we were ready to have our child be part of this wonderful community. Well I can honestly say that it has been a lot more than that. All of his teachers are very involved in his academic success as well as his success as a productive young adult. All of the teachers and member of the administration know each child by name, their academic strength and weaknesses, and are very attentive to their social needs as well. My son biggest challenge was math. At Sky Islands not just his math teacher but the entire team came together and implemented strategies to help him from tutoring after school everyday to building teams and relationships among students to help him build strength and be very successful in the subject. I know that the old school district would not have done a fraction of what sky islands and its staff has done for him. My hope is that parents looking for a high school for their child will find Sky Islands and will be as enthusiastic as we were to give the school a try and be prepare to be amazed. Our son will graduate next year and will be prepare to enter the real world with the strong foundations he received at the school.

Posted: December 18, 2015

Posted: November 26, 2015

Our child has been at Sky Islands for only half a year, so we can't speak from ample experience, but based on what we've seen so far, and on what we've seen at other high schools, we can say Sky Islands is a great school.

The teachers and staff are well-qualified and very committed. They are close to the students, and the teachers coordinate the content and workload so that the students get a holistic, challenging education that never becomes too stressful. In fact, my child's favorite class is also his hardest.

The format is also great. Of course, being a small school with small classes helps a lot -- no one can "sit in the back of the classroom" -- but we also like the block format. Three classes on Monday and Thursday, and the other three classes on Tuesday and Friday. Each class is 90 min with a 15 min break in between. This is much better for learning than literally running through the same seven-period schedule every day. On Wednesdays they attend a mixed-grade community-building class that does all kinds of things. And students can stay after school for half hour on any day to use school resources or meet with teachers.

Sky Islands isn't for everyone, but for many/most kids it's much better than the typical public high school, and for some kids it's much, much better. The contrast with most public high schools is amazing. You really need to visit another high school, then visit Sky Islands to know what I mean.

Posted: October 27, 2015

My son is now in his second and final year at this school as a senior. The one thing that stands out right away with this curriculum is that they don't just stick to the standard requirements, but go far beyond those. Life skills come to mind immediately. This is one of the strengths of this school. Real life issues, styles and knowledge. Not only do students get the required education, but also actual experience that can be documented on a resume for their future. Practical knowledge and such experience is priceless for any young person's future. This school delivers!

Posted: October 27, 2015

When teachers respect the students, the inverse happens. These students all have a mutual respect not only towards each other, but also towards the staff. This is a key component to success. These teachers, or actually the entire staff put major emphasis on this simple concept.

Posted: October 27, 2015

In many cases the students have enough time to get all the work done during the school hours due to the way the class schedule is designed. As this school has many diverse programs, it makes sense to not drive the students crazy with overload as many schools do. From my observations while watching my son, I see that basically he is always in school mode. We could be doing anything and at one point he will make reference to something they learned in school. This is absolutely brilliant!

Posted: October 27, 2015

First off, they allow students to become adults and don't "baby" them. The entire attitude drives to create a responsible community. I experienced a far more mature group of students in this school than ever before. The camaraderie amongst the students helps develop a sincere understanding of today's society IMHO. The last time I visited this school, I was actually greeted by students in a most friendly and adult like manner and most of all respect. This is not what one typically finds at high schools.

Posted: October 22, 2015

I came to this school my junior year to see if it might be a good fit. I read about it and learned that it was a nice and small school. I came to one of the tours around the school and saw how amazing it was. It is a beautiful school in itself, all the nature, the courtyard, all the work that has been put into this school is just amazing. Anywhere else you may go will not have the same feel as this school. I'm still attending this school my senior year and still loving it. The learning environment is great, the teachers treat you like you are human beings, and help you with all their might. The teachers here do not want anyone to fail at all. I feel like the reason for this is because this school attracts only certain people, people who accept and love nature, who want to help people get to college, and all the jazz. There is so much to say about this school and how amazing it is, sadly I can't really word it. It's a feeling that you can't explain, that kind of feeling is the best to have in my opinion.

Posted: October 13, 2015

The ok: If you aren't college bound it may be an okay choice, unconventional classes and students are great.
The reality: The administration is impossible to work with, they didn't give my daughter credit for an entire quarter of work she completed, they sent her off school grounds during the bus strike because her sandles weren't appropriate for that days activities. There is no assistance for sat tests or any college prep work in general.

Posted: October 13, 2015

Posted: May 6, 2015

Sky Islands High School has been a wonderful choice for us. We moved our son to Sky Islands School after one disastrous semester at Sabino Canyon High School, where my son failed one class and barely passed the others. And, he was miserable,. He now likes school, talks every day about what he is learning, and academically doing much better. I feel the staff and instructors genuinely care about my son, and making sure he really understands his lessons. I am extremely happy with Sky Islands High School.

Posted: March 18, 2015

I came to this school my Senior year, and have not regretted it. I love the activities that the school does, and what the school stands for as a whole. I highly recommend this high school

Posted: March 18, 2015

This school is a place to make great friends, experience new things, and the teachers are really nice and helpful. I started this school in my Junior year so I have only been here for two years and I have improved greatly. They try there best to help everyone in every way. I like how the school teaches us more about the environment. I like how this school lets us do things hands on and everything. Today I got to go outside and help with the orchard. This school is really involved with the environment and that is one of the reason I decided to come to this school. Ever since I started school here I have been happier and I have made great friends. I like how this school has a community and cares about everyone.

Posted: March 18, 2015

I love this school, when I first came here I did not know what this school is about, it took me a while to understand what sky islands was doing, now almost everything I do outside of school relates to what I do in school. Sky islands has showed me my priorities and what I have to do to be successful In life. Sky islands also has an excellent math program.

Posted: March 18, 2015

This school has helped me get my credits and education on track, if I didn't know anything they assisted me until I understood. I also got in touch with nature more. It's a small school so we all know each other individually, the whole community comes together and we all work very hard. We relate most of our studies with environmental friendly topics. Which has taught me many ways to better myself and also apply it to our surrounding ecosystems to keep them healthy.

Posted: March 18, 2015

Sky Islands is an amazing school with a great sense of community. All the classes are relatively small in size. This school has some of the most interesting courses from Japanese to Gardening to Astrobiology and Art. Most lessons will involve doing activities outdoors like observing wildlife or mapping the solar system and some lessons happen off-campus as field trips. Some field trips that happen yearly is hiking, the gem and minerals show, and working on a farm. Overall this school is very unique and I have had some of the best years here. I was able to make friends easily and focus on my classes, I wasn't given piles of homework, just what was necessary to help understand the lesson, and learned lots of things that I wanted to learn. I have found that my most favorite classes have been the science and math classes. Though the math class is my all time favorite. In the "math house" as everyone calls it, there are no text books. Instead Simon, our math teacher, creates his own lesson plans. He grades our papers in real time and is able to help everyone on an individual scale. And so long as you complete the assignment you will have no homework.

Posted: March 18, 2015

My school is very unique! It is an environmentally focused school. We get to learn about how to grow plants, the interactions between plants, animals and the earth. We get to do hands on activities like planting trees, cleaning a wash and making an aquaponics system. My school has a great math program where there are no textbooks or a teacher just talking the entire period. In math classes you get a 5 to 15 minute lesson and then you are handed a worksheet. Then the math teacher, Simon, will walk around to all of the students and grade your paper as you work on it, so you will know if you are doing something wrong. He will give you a red check mark when a problem is completed and give you a red dot if there is something wrong on a problem. If you get a worksheet done you go to the back of the classroom and work and a puzzle, competing with other classes in order to get a pizza party on Pi day (3/14). Also in the math class we get to learn about who created formulas and what the math is used for in real life and we watch movies about mathematicians and science. Lastly, we do not get homework unless you do not complete a worksheet.

Posted: March 18, 2015

Sky Islands was a life changing experience for me. I transferred in when my parents were less than pleased with my attendance at AZVA. Suffice to say I wasn't pleased with having to attend a school due to my previous experiences. However, I was pleasantly surprised. High Schools, in general, usually has this stigma of jocks, cheerleaders, nerds being shoved into lockers, and so on. Here, I didn't see anything resemble that. This school's small structure means that people can get to know each other, and it directly affects the students' ability to learn; the teachers and students get to know each other unlike a district school (TUSD for example) where there are thousands of students, so the teachers literally won't notice when someone is missing. Teachers here care for their students. Students here care for their fellow students. The friendly environment is truly unusual within a high school.

Posted: March 17, 2015

This school is the way I'd like the world to be. With the students gradating from here and exploring the world, hopefully we can do just that slowly and surely!

Posted: March 17, 2015

Sky Islands High School is a wonderful school. I used to not care about my education when I was in primary and middle school. Then, when I came to Sky Islands, I knew I had found a hidden gem that I could enjoy, and since then I have come to care about my education and what I want to do in life. Sky Islands is an environmentally focused public charter school, with its main focus based on the environmental problems currently affecting Arizona and Mexico. From learning about the medicinal advantages of mesquite beans to learning about blood diamond mining in the Congo, to the ecological importance of coral. We also have interesting electives; including Gardening by Design, a class that analyzes different gardens and different design techniques, including Japanese design principles, and Ethics, where we take a topic and turn it on its head and look at it from both perspectives. We are also beginning a middle school so we will be a 7th-12th grade school. For anyone who is looking for a great middle or high school I highly recommend Sky Islands, because with knowledge of what's happening in the world, you can make a difference.

Posted: June 24, 2014

sky islands is not only a school but for many students it is their home. The staff at Sky Islands offer a safe and positive environment for all students. The teachers let the students know that there are no limitations to what they want to accomplish as long as they are willing to put in the work. As a parent of three graduates from Sky Islands High School I recommend this high school to all parents who want an environment where the children are always made to feel important and they are teachers as well. The atmosphere of the school is that of a big family.

Posted: June 10, 2014

If you are looking for a quality education in a smaller school setting, Sky Islands is the answer. Our son has blossomed and matured and did not get "lost in the shuffle" which was our concern about a regular high school setting. His teachers treat him with respect. They do not tolerate any bullying or negative behavior among students. Hats off to Sky Island!

Posted: June 10, 2014

Our grandson will be entering his junior year at Sky Islands. Since I taught school all of my adult life, I am very pleased with the academic opportunities that are offered at this school. The students study new information that will help them in their adult years. We appreciate the stress that is put on the environment and other green activities. Our grandson has made the following statements: I learn something new in my classes everyday, the teachers take time to work and help each individual student, and I always feel like I am a real part of the school .

Posted: June 1, 2014

My son has completed two years at Sky Islands High and he doesn't like to miss school or be late. He has a sense of belonging at the school and he goes in and participates in school projects and even clean-up details during the breaks. My sincere thanks to the teachers, assistant director and director of the school for their commitment to my son's education. :-)

Posted: February 22, 2014

the kid likes the school.. its the only school that she will go to. she says there are no bullies. seems to love everything about it. they are more like a collage with there rules

Posted: July 25, 2012

Sky Islands saved my life. This is a quote from my daughter, now 20 years old. She had gotten into trouble at a school in TUSD. We used to drive past Sky Islands on my way to work, so we stopped in to check it out. That was the best decision we made. The school is small enough to give individual attention to kids that get lost in the big school district system. My daughter thrived and everyday she came home with new enthusiasm about learning. She graduated, which she never would have done in TUSD, and is still so happy that we enrolled her there. My son was different. He too, got in trouble in TUSD, but fought me about transferring to Sky Islands. In fact, he fought everyone. The staff had many little run-ins with him, but they stuck by him. It took him almost two years to figure out that he needed to find the desire to graduate within himself. When he did, Sky Islands was right there for him. They saw that he wasn t confident in his reading skills and brought in a special teacher to tutor him. They also hired a math teacher who really helped build his confidence with the math AIMS. He graduated this past year! I m so proud of him and so thankful to everyone at the school.

Posted: July 9, 2012

My son was attending a public high school and getting lost in the multitude of students they had, he was failing and not very interested in what he was learning. My daughter was already a student at Sky Islands, so we enrolled my son there and I never thought the day would come when he would come home and ask questions about things he was learning in class. We went to Nogales, Mexico one day, and while walking around the shops my son asked if he could have some money to buy a carved wooden turtle for one of his teachers, out of couriosity I asked whey, he he replied he was the best teacher ever! He make him think! That says it all! The teachers and staff are the best, and take an interest in the students as individuals, not as just another number.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Overall Rating	Distance
1	Crow Creek Townhomes	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tucson	AZ		3.7 mi
2	Austin Point	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tucson	AZ		5.6 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Reid Park and Zoo Area	Tucson	AZ	3.5 mi
2	Allegro	Tucson	AZ	4.7 mi
3	Artistic District	Tucson	AZ	5.3 mi
4	Old Spanish Trail/Harrison Area	Tucson	AZ	5.6 mi
5	Foothills	Tucson	AZ	5.9 mi

Sky Islands High School

Tucson, AZ 85715

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Sky Islands High School

Tucson, AZ 85715

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