school commute for children (Tucson, Catalina: neighborhood, high schools, university)

[bubble2007]

We are moving to Tucson next summer. Planning to live in the Catalina Footlhills area. We visited the middle/high schools in Tucson earlier this week, and liked some. But the schools we visited including BASIS do not have a school bus! The principal said many parents use car pooling. This may work once we have settled in, but not in the initial weeks/months.

What are the options for children whose both parents are going to be busy at work during the week? Is there a service available in Tucson where people can be hired for dropping off children to school and picking them up?

Thanks!

[robabeatle]

Sorry, I can't help with transport. I did work at BASIS Tucson and whole heartedly recommend this school if you want rigorous academics and a culture of learning. It is not easy though!

BTW: Some kids do use city buses.

[bubble2007]

Thanks. I think BASIS Tucson will be a good fit for our son who is academically advanced for his age. We hope he should be able to cope with the curriculum. But we still need to sort out the day to day commute for him.

Hopefully we will find other families in the neighborhood we move to carpool, or alternatively find childcare providers who are willing to drive him to school for some daily rates

[Roli]

I have nothing bad to say about BASIS, but University High is actually a gem of a high school in Tucson. They don't advertise it, because they can't take many more pupils than they have, even though lots drop out. They give bus passes to every student who is far away. Tucson is one of the few places in the U.S. with full time gifted schools and that has been the case for thirty years or more. Your kid has to test into that program. Doolen's Gifted program feeds the kids into University High.