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Fenster School

8500 E Ocotillo Drive, Tucson, AZ, 85750 -

School Notes Overview:

The Fenster Boarding School for teens has held the highest standards for quality education ever since it opened its doors. Typically 100% of our seniors are accepted into college or universities. By always encouraging our students to give their best in every aspect, we teach them to be responsible, hard-working individuals. In addition to serving our regular college-bound students, Fenster specializes in working with teens who, for a variety of reasons, are not succeeding in traditional academic settings. We set very clear boundaries and have a system of rewards and consequences that students respond to quickly. Positive reinforcement plays a strong role in Fenster's boarding high school. With small classes of seven students per teacher, Fenster's staff work's with your adolescent to help him or her overcome bad habits and learn to apply positive actions in his or her life. Whether it's in academics or extracurricular activities, we encourage all of our students to perform their best. By giving our students such a firm, well-balanced foundation, they graduate prepared to enter a university and apply their skills to the work force....

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School Overview:

	Fenster School
School Type	Elem. Or Sec. with a Special Program Emphasis
School Membership(s)	National Association of Independent Schools The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) Western States Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Other school association(s)
Religious Affiliation	Nonsectarian
Grades Offered	Grades 9 - 12
Programs for Learning Differences	Yes
Learning Differences Supported	ADHD
Year Founded	1944
County	Pima County, AZ
Student Body
Total Students	112 students
Student Body Type	Co-ed
	This School	(AZ) School Avg.
% Students of Color	7%	29%
Students by Grade
	Grade 9 - 15 students
	Grade 10 - 25 students
	Grade 11 - 40 students
	Grade 12 - 32 students
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers	18 teachers
Classroom dress code	Casual
	This School	(AZ) School Avg.
Teacher : Student Ratio	1:6	* Ntl. Public School Avg. » 1:16
School Days in Calendar Year	170 days	180 days
Hours in School Day for Students	7 hours	7 hours
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline	None / Rolling
Admissions Director	Barbara Fenster

School Notes:

The Fenster School offers a college preparatory curriculum comparable to that of many selective boarding schools in a highly structured community environment that uses both positive reinforcement and consistent consequences for the issues at hand. We have found that what young people who are struggling in high school generally need improved self-image, to succeed both socially and academically and the close attention of a few concerned competent adults. Fenster provides these opportunities to students. Fenster's mission is to work with each student until he or she earns admission into a university or college. We enroll students whenever necessary during the academic year. Vital elements of our program are: • Weekly academic reports sent to parents • The powerful motivation tool of granting "perks" based on student effort, accountability and responsibility • Mandatory daily tutorials by teachers as deemed necessary • Mandatory study tables 5 nights per week as deemed necessary • Small class sizes, averaging one teacher per 7 students • Using make-up and extra credit work as legitimate ways to bring up grades • Self-esteem building via daily recognition about the accomplishments of our students • Outstanding faculty providing students the opportunity to take college credit courses. • We do not believe in suspending students back to their parents. As a college preparatory boarding school, Fenster is dedicated to providing an academic structure that leads to successful college placement. Our goal is for every graduating senior be accepted to a four year school. All Fenster teachers have degrees in their academic content areas and over half the staff has a masters or PH.D degrees. With very small classes, teachers monitor the academic performances of their students. Each day teachers identify the students who need extra help. One-on-one tutorials are then utilized to get students back on track. The development of each student's program is subject to review of academic transcripts and relevant testing and takes into account their previous academic experience. Most of Fenster's graduates leave with college course credits. Fenster encourages both juniors and seniors to take college credit courses taught on our campus by our accredited staff, as well as on the community college campus. By challenging our students through college-level classes, we hope to help them realize their full potential in every subject area.
Profile last updated: 09/17/2009

In the News:

Tucson Time Capsule : Far east meets west (Arizona Daily Star)
posted on August 5, 2009 at 07:18:39 am
On Aug. 5, 1974, Ginger Griggs showed Yukiko Katasurabara some of the desert plants on the grounds of Fenster School of Southern Arizona. Katasurabara was one of 20 Japanese students visiting Fenster for an eight-day cultural exchange.

View all past news stories

School Zip Statistics:

About This Zipcode (85750)	School Zip (85750)	(AZ) State Average
Population (Approximate)	24,783 people	5,130,874 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree	65%	25%
Population Average Age	44 years old	34 years old
Average Household size	2.3 persons	2.4 persons
Median Household Income	$66,411	$44,677
Avg. # of Rooms in Household	5.8 rooms	5.0 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure	22 years old	29 years old
	View housing listings in 85750
Median Value of Housing Unit Zipcode (85750) What's a Zindex? Subject to Zillow Terms of Use
% Owning / % Renting	70% / 30%	62% / 38%