Dobson The - A Ball Charter School

Both my children have attended Dobson K-8th. My son has done great in high school. Both of our kids have learned both academic and social values through the teachers, staff, and administration. Dobson has the advantages of smaller class sizes, a close community, and access to extracurricular activities.

School has been fantastic from day 1! My daughter started in 2011 and have never considered going anywhere else. She has excelled in her academics. We have had a couple of road bumps in the time she has spent there, but overall she has done great! Students seem to really know each other around campus. A lot of that is the great aftercare program along with before school care programs. Sports can also mix grade levels, so they get to know each other there. They offer Flag Football, Girls and Boy''s Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, and Girl''s Softball. (Currently ranked #1 in the state as well in softball.) Most sports children can begin play in fourth grade. Sometimes they may have to compete with the Junior High for spots on the team. Flag Football and Boy''s Basketball are both offered in the elementary level on there own currently. The other sports are only offered through Junior High currently.

We have been at Dobson Academy since 2015. We moved to AZ from a state with very highly rated public school districts. I can`t speak to what Dobson was like during the time of the negative reviews above, but I can say that our experience has been nothing but positive and the closest thing to what we had in our prior school district. Dobson Academy is a free K-8 public charter school with a private school feel that provides a well-rounded curriculum, including art, music and athletics. Our children have thrived here and have consistently performed above grade level.

This review is about the Junior High. I have no issues with the elementary school. The Junior High is a toxic social environment for any child that is not one of the handful of teachers' favorites. Junior High is cliquish enough without the teachers absolutely encouraging and fostering this behavior. They seem to segregate kids into their favorites, and everyone else, and encourage this elitist attitude. The teachers seem juvenile, and perhaps are still living out their school age fantasies of being the popular kid. It is really sad.

Very poor. This school is lacking in several key areas. Fine arts is floundering. Band is nonexistent. Priority is given to sports. In terms of academics: beware. They attempt a vestige of strong programs, but in reality spend precious little time making sure that students actually learn. Heaven protect those who need additional help. They have no accommodations with students in extenuating circumstances. Teachers suffer from an elitist attitude but do not actually concern themselves with productive teaching methods or making certain that children understand and can apply their work. In other words, no one wants to be bothered to go out of their way for a child. A lot of bravado from a staff who meets the outside minimum requirements in educational credentials. I see a deplorable lack of the spirit and motivation necessary for truly great teaching. The school is trying so hard to follow in the paths of an "Academy" that they fail miserably. Perhaps they need consider putting the needs of the child ahead of those of the "program".