Learning Institute opened their charter school in 1997 in Phoenix with an average enrollment of 150 students in 7th through 12th grades. The school offers a curriculum that provides students with the academic, personal life, and occupational skills that will help them succeed. Along with core subjects, the school offers band, drawing, dance, chorus, photography, basketball, yearbook, and newspaper.

Students are very happy with the way in which they graduate early as well as the staff providing them support. Those that graduated were very excited that they could head off to college prepared for the challenging years ahead in their education. Even students that were behind in credits, excelled and graduated on time or early. Parents expressed the like the short hours, small class size, friendly staff and teachers as well as the home environment atmosphere.

Even with all the great reviews, the AIMS series of tests show quite a different picture. Seventh and eighth graders were below the state average in reading, writing, and math with 30% fewer students passing the exam than across the state. 10th graders did a bit better being only 7% below the state average in reading, however, in science they were below the average by 36%, in writing 27%, and in math 31%.

For students that are behind in credits and want to work extra hard to graduate the school may provide the necessary tools. On the other hand, with such low scores on the AIMS exams I would look elsewhere or learn more about why the scores are so low. For students to graduate high school in Arizona, they must pass the exam in 10th grade. Since the percentages of students that passed the exam were so much lower than the state average it is seems that many are not graduating.

Learning Institute
5310 N. 12th St., Ste. 100
Phoenix, AZ 85014
602-241-7876
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