The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Science. The lowest is 58% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Basis Charter Schools Inc. (90862)
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. operates a single school in Arizona, BASIS Flagstaff, serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. Because this is a charter network with just one school in the district, the experience for a family is essentially that of a single campus. The district is based in Maricopa County, but the school that bears its name is located in Flagstaff, which sits in Coconino County to the north. Families considering this district should understand they are considering one specific school, not a geographically contiguous set of campuses.
Academically, this district stands out for consistently strong performance. On state assessments, proficiency rates in math and English language arts climb as students move into the upper grades. Math proficiency rises from a moderate showing in third grade to a notably high rate by seventh and eighth grades. English language arts follows a similar upward trajectory, with the strongest results appearing in seventh and eighth grades. Science scores in eighth grade are likewise very strong. The district’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among Maricopa County’s districts, a meaningful comparison even though the school itself is in Flagstaff. This is a district where older students, particularly in middle school, perform at a high academic level.
The enrollment is small, with a student body that tapers off noticeably in the high school years. The elementary grades each have modest class sizes, and the high school grades are considerably smaller. This shape suggests that some families may leave after middle school, or that the school adds fewer students at entry points in the upper grades. The racial and ethnic makeup is predominantly white, with a sizable Asian American population and a smaller but present Hispanic population. Free or reduced-price lunch data was not available, so the economic profile of the student body is not clear from the numbers provided. Chronic absenteeism, at a rate above the midpoint among county districts, is a soft spot that a parent may want to ask about directly.
Per-pupil spending falls in the middle range, on the lower side of that range compared to other Maricopa County districts. This is a lean operation financially, which is not unusual for a charter with a single school. Graduation rate was not reported in the data, so no picture of high school completion is available. That is a notable gap for a district that serves twelfth grade, and a parent considering the high school years would do well to ask the school for its graduation and college-going outcomes directly.
The district brief turned up little recent news of lasting impact. The school has been operating for some time, and publicly reported changes were minimal. This stability may appeal to families who want a known quantity, though it also means there is little public signal about new programs or shifts in direction.
This district fits a family seeking an academically rigorous setting where middle school performance is a clear strength. The elementary years show solid but not extraordinary results, and the high school is very small, which could mean more individualized attention but also fewer course offerings than a large comprehensive high school might provide. The small high school enrollment is something to weigh: a parent should confirm that the course pathways, extracurriculars, and advanced coursework available meet their child’s needs. A family considering BASIS Flagstaff is choosing a focused, academically oriented charter environment with a track record of strong test results in the upper grades, set in a single school community rather than a multi-campus district.
See more original research from School Decision →