Original Research by School Decision on Alternative High School (indian Oasis High School)
Alternative High School (Indian Oasis High School) is an alternative school within the Baboquivari Unified School District, serving grades nine through twelve in Sells, Arizona. Sells is a small, rural community that functions as the capital of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The town’s daily life is shaped by the tribal government, the Sells Indian Hospital, and cultural institutions like the Himdag Ki: Hekĭhu museum. Arizona State Route 86 links the community to Tucson, roughly an hour’s drive away. Employment centers on the tribal government, the hospital, and the school district itself. Recent decades have seen a population decline in Sells, and no major new housing developments were identified in publicly available sources.
The school's enrollment is small for a high school, and the student body is almost entirely American Indian or Alaska Native, with a very small Hispanic share and a negligible share identifying as two or more races. Given its location on the Tohono O'odham Nation, this composition reflects the community it serves. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were counts for students with disabilities or English learners. The school is classified as an alternative school, which typically means it serves students who may benefit from a non-traditional setting, such as those needing credit recovery or a smaller, more supportive environment to complete high school.
State testing data was not available for this school. Because it is an alternative school, the absence of test results often reflects the nature of the program, which may not administer the standard assessments in the same way as a traditional comprehensive high school. Similarly, a four-year graduation rate was not reported in the data provided. Parents interested in academic outcomes should contact the school directly to understand how student progress is measured and what completion rates look like for its students.
The civil rights data was also not present, so information on discipline patterns or course access is not available here. The district brief did not identify any recent bond measures, curriculum shifts, or property-tax changes with lasting impact. The school's location in Sells places it within the broader Pima County context, but without proficiency scores, graduation rates, or chronic absenteeism data, a comparison to other districts in the county cannot be drawn.
Alternative High School (Indian Oasis High School) offers a clear profile for a specific purpose. It is a small, alternative high school on the Tohono O'odham Nation, serving a student body that is overwhelmingly Native American in a rural, car-dependent community. For families seeking a traditional comprehensive high school with a full slate of extracurriculars and a broad range of course offerings, this school may not fit. For students who need a non-traditional pathway to a diploma in a modest, community-anchored setting, it is the designated option in the area. The lack of academic performance data and graduation rate means a family considering this school would want to discuss progress measures and completion outcomes directly with school staff.
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