The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in English language arts. The lowest is 83% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Basis Charter Schools Inc. (91280)
BASIS Charter Schools Inc. operates a network of schools in Arizona, and the entity whose profile is described here serves grades five through twelve, with a single school listed under it: BASIS Phoenix. This is a school district in name and in the state’s organizational structure, but it functions as a charter organization, which means families choose it rather than being assigned by a residential address. The district’s academic performance is the central story, and it is a strong one.
On the state’s standardized assessments for the most recent testing year, the proficiency rates for math and English language arts sit well above what is typical. In sixth grade math, a large majority of students scored proficient. By seventh and eighth grade, that share rose higher still. English language arts results followed a similar pattern, with very high proficiency in each of those grade levels. Science results for the tested grade also showed a large share of students meeting the proficiency bar. When placed among the other districts in Maricopa County, the overall proficiency across subjects and grades falls in the top quartile. This is a district that, at least on these measures, delivers consistently high academic attainment.
The absence of a multi-year trend is a limitation. Only one year of data is available in the profile, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent a stable pattern or a peak. A parent looking at this data would want to know whether the school has sustained this level over time, but that information is not present in what is available.
The student body is relatively small, and it is not evenly distributed across grades. The middle school grades are the largest, and the high school grades are significantly smaller. This shape may reflect when families enter and leave the school, or it may be a function of the school’s own enrollment caps and growth. The demographic composition is notably skewed toward one group: a very large share of students are Asian, with white students making up the next largest group. The shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students are each considerably smaller. Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility data is missing, as are counts of students with disabilities and English learners. That is a real gap. A parent trying to understand the range of student needs served by this school cannot do so from this profile alone.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate is low. Among Maricopa County’s districts, it sits in the top quartile for having the fewest chronically absent students. That aligns with the picture of a school where students largely attend regularly. Per-pupil spending is in the lower half of the middle range among the county’s districts, which is common for a charter organization that may operate with a leaner administrative structure.
The profile did not include any information about programs such as Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, career and technical education, or extracurricular offerings. Neither did it include details about the school’s facilities, staffing ratios, or teacher qualifications. A parent would need to go directly to the school’s website or contact the school to learn about course options, support services, and the daily experience.
What is present suggests a school that prioritizes academic rigor and achieves high proficiency rates, with a student body that is majority Asian and a small total enrollment. The missing data on student support programs, special education, and English learner services means that a family whose child might need those supports should ask pointed questions. The district is not a traditional geographically assigned school district, so enrollment is by application, and the location of the single school, BASIS Phoenix, would matter for a family’s commute.
This is a school that fits a family looking for a high-proficiency academic environment with a strong record on state tests and low chronic absenteeism. It is not a school where a family can gauge the socioeconomic diversity or the range of student services from the available data, and that uncertainty is worth resolving before deciding.
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