Frequently Asked Questions
About Kino

How long has Kino been in operation?
Kino opened its doors to students in January, 1976.
What age do we begin accepting children?
A child can start attending Kino as a Primary student if he/she will be 5 by January 1st of that school year. Students can remain at Kino through high school.
What is the difference between a private school and a charter school?
Charter schools are state funded public schools established by the state in 1994 to offer more academic choices to parents and students. Each charter school has its own mission and governing board and is subject to rules and regulations established for public schools. Kino is a private, progressive school. They are nonprofit institutions governed by a board of directors and are dependent upon tuition, gifts and grants to provide funding. Their independence allows unique freedom for each school to determine its goals, its curricula and the credentials it demands from faculty and students. Private schools do not receive state funding and are not subject to the state board of education or the governing boards of the school district including the requirements for the AZ Merit Exams.
Without grade levels, how are students grouped?
Kino School doesn’t use traditional grade levels. Instead, we group our students into four main categories: Primary (K-2), Mid-Level (3-5), Junior High (6-8), and High School (9-12). Each category corresponds to a specific age range, and we base our curriculum on each student’s interests and developmental needs. Our educational practices are student-centered, small-group instruction. Please visit our grade level page for more information.
Without grades how are students evaluated?
Kino School uses written evaluations encompassing a student's work, effort, responsibility, and social development. Parents and students often find these evaluations much more informative than traditional grades. High school students also provide written assessments of their work and progress. Students, parents, and teachers meet three times yearly to review student evaluations, and homeroom teachers provide progress reports regularly.
What is homeroom?
At Kino, our multi-age homerooms are an essential part of our community. It is a time for students and teachers to come together and build mutual trust, respect, understanding, and love for learning. Our homeroom teachers work closely with students to help them make their schedules, communicate with parents, and check in throughout the day.
Does Kino offer scholarships?
Kino is a tuition driven school. However, the Individual School Tuition Organizations Tax Credit was enacted by the legislature in 1997. For more information, click on this Tax Credit Organizations link. Additionally, certain students may qualify for the ESA Program. For more information, visit their website.
Do Kino students go to college?
Kino School prides itself on producing caring, capable, creative, hardworking, and thoughtful adults. While many of our alumni have chosen to attend college, others have not. Our educational model provides a space for students to pursue various post-graduate aspirations. Whether attending college or learning to build a computer, Kino will help prepare students for their future goals. Kino graduates have become teachers, doctors, social workers, chefs, soldiers, artists, entrepreneurs, journalists, emergency medical techs, musicians, lawyers, professors, and construction workers. Some return to Kino as parents, teachers, board members, and volunteers.
Kino opened its doors to students in January, 1976.
What age do we begin accepting children?
A child can start attending Kino as a Primary student if he/she will be 5 by January 1st of that school year. Students can remain at Kino through high school.
What is the difference between a private school and a charter school?
Charter schools are state funded public schools established by the state in 1994 to offer more academic choices to parents and students. Each charter school has its own mission and governing board and is subject to rules and regulations established for public schools. Kino is a private, progressive school. They are nonprofit institutions governed by a board of directors and are dependent upon tuition, gifts and grants to provide funding. Their independence allows unique freedom for each school to determine its goals, its curricula and the credentials it demands from faculty and students. Private schools do not receive state funding and are not subject to the state board of education or the governing boards of the school district including the requirements for the AZ Merit Exams.
Without grade levels, how are students grouped?
Kino School doesn’t use traditional grade levels. Instead, we group our students into four main categories: Primary (K-2), Mid-Level (3-5), Junior High (6-8), and High School (9-12). Each category corresponds to a specific age range, and we base our curriculum on each student’s interests and developmental needs. Our educational practices are student-centered, small-group instruction. Please visit our grade level page for more information.
Without grades how are students evaluated?
Kino School uses written evaluations encompassing a student's work, effort, responsibility, and social development. Parents and students often find these evaluations much more informative than traditional grades. High school students also provide written assessments of their work and progress. Students, parents, and teachers meet three times yearly to review student evaluations, and homeroom teachers provide progress reports regularly.
What is homeroom?
At Kino, our multi-age homerooms are an essential part of our community. It is a time for students and teachers to come together and build mutual trust, respect, understanding, and love for learning. Our homeroom teachers work closely with students to help them make their schedules, communicate with parents, and check in throughout the day.
Does Kino offer scholarships?
Kino is a tuition driven school. However, the Individual School Tuition Organizations Tax Credit was enacted by the legislature in 1997. For more information, click on this Tax Credit Organizations link. Additionally, certain students may qualify for the ESA Program. For more information, visit their website.
Do Kino students go to college?
Kino School prides itself on producing caring, capable, creative, hardworking, and thoughtful adults. While many of our alumni have chosen to attend college, others have not. Our educational model provides a space for students to pursue various post-graduate aspirations. Whether attending college or learning to build a computer, Kino will help prepare students for their future goals. Kino graduates have become teachers, doctors, social workers, chefs, soldiers, artists, entrepreneurs, journalists, emergency medical techs, musicians, lawyers, professors, and construction workers. Some return to Kino as parents, teachers, board members, and volunteers.
Which colleges and universities have accepted Kino Graduates?
The Ailey School
The American School of Ballet Antioch Arizona State University Art Center College of Design The Art Institute of Tucson Baird College Bates Berklee College of Music Bowdoin College Bryn Mawr College Clark University Colorado College Earlham College Eugene Lang College, New School University The Evergreen State College Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Florida Gulf Coast University Georgia Institute of Technology |
Gettysburg College
Goddard Gonzaga University Hampshire College Humboldt State University Institute of American Art in Santa Fe Kansas City Art Institute Knox College Lewis and Clark Macalester College Maryland Institute, College of Art Minneapolis College of Art and Design Mount Holyoke Muskingum College New York School of Visual Arts Northern Arizona University Oberlin Occidental Penn State Redlands Reed |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology Sarah Lawrence Savannah College of Art and Design Scottsdale Culinary Institute Seattle University Stanford University Stephens Swathmore Trinity University University of Arizona U of A Honors Program U of A BFA Program University of California at Santa Cruz University of Oregon University of Tampa Wake Forest University Wells College Westminster College |