School

Terese Rivadneira listens as third grade teacher, Ericca Dunn explains how the school wants to expand to include more students, but will not be able to do so without more funding from the community.

Pets In School

In this Sept. 11, 2012, photo, Rhyen Miska, left, and Dillon Wolfe take notes as they observe frogs and toads in the first grade classroom of Dawn Slinger in Farmington, Minn. Students watch, research, draw and write about the animals as they journal their observations. Maryland-based Pets in the Classroom project is offering grants to help teachers pay for pets, cages, tanks and supplies of food. It issued its 10,000th grant this summer. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Pets In School

In this Sept. 11, 2012, photo, a tortoise walks onto the coloring project of a tortoise by Gavin Thoen in the first grade classroom of Dawn Slinger in Farmington, Minn. When the school year is over, each student's work becomes a book. Maryland-based Pets in the Classroom project is offering grants to help teachers pay for pets, cages, tanks and supplies of food. It issued its 10,000th grant this summer. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Pets In School

In this Sept. 11, 2012, photo, Alecia Gundy, left, reaches as teacher Dawn Slinger hands her a gecko and classmate Ava Hand looks on in their first grade classroom in Farmington, Minn. Slinger chooses the animals because they fascinate children, their temperaments are right and they don't bother students with allergies or asthma, she says. Maryland-based Pets in the Classroom project is offering grants to help teachers pay for pets, cages, tanks and supplies of food. It issued its 10,000th grant this summer. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Pets In School

In this Sept. 11, 2012, photo, Dawn Slinger welcomes visitors to her first grade classroom in Farmington, Minn. Teachers like Slinger have been introducing pets to first-graders for a quarter century. Maryland-based Pets in the Classroom project has lightened the load by offering grants to help teachers pay for pets, cages, tanks and supplies of food. It issued its 10,000th grant this summer. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Back to School

School Zones

Drivers proceed through a school zone in Chandler out in front of San Marco Elementary Friday, August 3, 2012. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]

School Zones

Drivers proceed through a school zone in Chandler out in front of San Marco Elementary Friday, August 3, 2012. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]

School Zones

Drivers proceed through a school zone in Chandler out in front of San Marco Elementary Friday, August 3, 2012. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]

School Zones

Drivers proceed through a school zone in Chandler out in front of San Marco Elementary Friday, August 3, 2012. [Tim Hacker/ Tribune]

School Grades

School Supplies

School Choice

School Lunches

Back to School

Edu-Prize teacher Christine Brackman greet parents and students during meet the teacher day at EDUPRIZE. July 16, 2012 Darryl Webb/AFN

Back to School

Edu-Prize second grader teacher Brenda Carter greets parents and students during meet the teacher day at EDUPRIZE. July 16, 2012 Darryl Webb/AFN

Back to School

A little boy appears reluctant to go into the class room during meet the teacher day at EDUPRIZE. July 16, 2012 Darryl Webb/AFN

Back to School

Parents and students tour the classroom during meet the teacher day at EDUPRIZE. July 16, 2012 Darryl Webb/AFN

School Spending

Students at Nottingham Elementary School in Arlington County, Va., work in their classroom in a picture taking in fall 2011.

School Spending

Students at Nottingham Elementary School in Arlington County, Va., work in their classroom in a picture taking in fall 2011.

Top Schools

Despite an emphasis on math and science, BASIS schools also offer traditional middle and high school courses. Alyssa Candioto practices her flute at BASIS Scottsdale.

Top Schools

Andrew Sterling taught Advanced Placement U.S. government and Advanced Placemen U.S. history at the BASIS school in Tucson, recently ranked No. 1 in the nation on a national survey.