Scottsdale school rated tops in state

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While Arizona comes in close to last in many education rankings, a Valley school is competing with some of the best institutions in the world.

"Business Week" calls Basis Scottsdale the top school in the state.

"I'm taking AP (advanced placement) chemistry, AP literature, AP physics B, AP U.S. history, AP calculus and AP economics," said junior Betty Heesokim.

She's looking forward to applying to her dream schools -- Columbia, Cornell and Johns Hopkins -- next fall.

Arwynn Mattix with the school said Basis was opened in 2003 by two former university professors who felt their daughter was not being challenged enough in Arizona schools.

"It's a public charter school so it is public in that it's open to everyone," Mattix said. "We do not have entrance examinations for the students."

Enrollment is limited by the spaces available. At present, Basis has about 600 students, fifth through 12th grades.

"When you go into our classrooms, every second is utilized," said Director Sherri Pierce. Fifth-grade students start with 10 classes and by eighth grade have moved to advanced placement classes.

"Last year, most eighth graders in computer science got A5," said Pierce, adding that usually means college credit for a class.

Pierce said some students enter as fifth graders and take classes in Latin, the classics, music, art, physical education, geography, science, language arts and math.

Katie Wood is a junior. She started at Basis as a fifth grader when it opened in 2003.

Her schedule is now jam-packed with college-level classes.

"Freshman year, I took two APs, sophomore year I took four APs, and this year, I'm taking six APs," Wood said.

Basis has another school in Tucson, operated the same way. It was named the top school in the country by "Newsweek" last year.