Basis Scottsdale


Basis Scottsdale is a charter school operated by Basis Schools in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Academics

Charter schools in Arizona are not required to hire teachers who meet state teaching certification requirements. Basis teachers make less than the average for public school teachers in the state, although Basis.ed contends that with bonuses, compensation is competitive.
Nevertheless, academic standards at Basis Scottsdale are high. Basis Scottsdale requires graduating students to take seven AP-level courses and sit for six AP exams.
As a publicly funded school, Basis Scottsdale is not selective. In 2017, however, the wait list numbered a thousand. The school does not offer bus service, which makes it less attractive for lower-income students. Asians are well represented, making up 47% of the student body. Scottsdale is 3.3% Asian.

Funding

Basis Scottsdale is a publicly funded institution. Basis Scottsdale solicits contributions of $1500 per student from parents, an unusual practice for publicly funded schools.

In the media

The school was featured in the documentary Two Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution.
In both 2014 and 2015, Basis Scottsdale was the No. 2 ranked high school in a US News and World Report list. In 2017, it was ranked No. 1. In 2018, its ranking dropped to No. 3.