I am a dentist by trade and I volunteer my services at Genesis City. I take my mobile dental unit to their campus where I do free cleanings and exams. I have close interaction with the students, the staff, the employees as well as board members the students and their parents. Executive Director, Karen Callahan ,founded Genesis City over 29 years ago and made it her mission to reclaim those students who had become lost and been given up on within the mainstream public school system in Phoenix. Genesis has developed a unique model and curriculum for Genesis City students that affords them the opportunity to not only earn a high school diploma but also to pursue college enrollment and/or career placement. Genesis City also stands alone compared to other alternative schools when you look at the many organizations that provide sponsorship and support, such as the Phoenix Suns professional basketball organization, Thunderbird Charities and the Helios Education Foundation. There is a unique teaching culture at Genesis City that provides compassion, motivation and incentive to each individual student and the student’s family. There is a program, for example, where each student can earn a $100 gift card for groceries for their families when they accomplish certain individual scholastic and personal goals. I have even seen Ms. Callahan personally take and deliver food to the grandmother of a student when the family was struggling. This kind of compassion, dedication and attention to the students and their home life is a fundamental tenet that sets Genesis City apart from other schools who serve disadbantage youth. Genesis City is also paying attention to the Fine Arts and is developing a Fine Arts curriculum when most public schools these days are eliminating the Arts entirely due to budget restrictions and makes sure its graduates have access to post-secondary opportunities. As a volunteer at Genesis City I could go on and on about the incredible amount of good that I have seen Ms. Callahan and her dedicated team bring to our entire community through reclaiming, reshaping and redirecting the many generations of students who were once given up on. If you are looking for a geat opportunity for a youth who is struggling to stay in school I highly recoommend that you take the opportunity to call and schedule a visit to Genesis City so you can meet the committed teachers and fabulous staff..But most importantly you can speak with the amazing students and hear directly from them what a truly exceptional school Genesis City is!

I transferred to this school in 2013 after I found out I was pregnant at 17, thanks to Karen Callahan & Mr.Bleuze who believed in me and expected me to graduate I was able to graduate early before I was due and I was able to walk with my class in 2014. They really do ensure you are ready for college and teach you all the skills you need to be successful. I graduated college this May and I can't wait to go back here and thank my teachers for believing in me that I wasn't just another statistic, my degree is also thanks to them for believing in me and letting me know everything was possible with hard work. This school was a blessing in disguise they have a lot of rules and are strict but they do everything with your best interest at heart. They take their jobs seriously and go above and beyond to help you, when I transferred Karen informed me everyone was like family there and it was so true the teachers really truly care about your success and I am so glad I went here as a pregnant teen mom no-one was judgmental and because they believed in me I was able to believe in my self as well and achieve all my dreams.

I had the opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of several faculty members and students (both former and current) at a Genesis City sponsored event. I was impressed with the caring demonstrated by faculty members; it takes a special person to go the extra mile to dedicate themselves to students needing extra guidance and attention. I was even more impressed with what I heard from the students as they gave testimonials. Clearly many come from troubled places, but their positive attitudes and appreciation for the teachers and administrative staff, as well as their willingness to share not only their hopes and dreams, but also past mistakes and lessons learned made the students riveting speakers. Clearly some of the former students and a few of the current ones realized just how successful they have already become, but I hope that every student present appreciates just how hard they are working and how much progress they are making. Thank you, Genesis City students and faculty, you are rays of light in the community and you each represent hope for the future. I wish you much success always.

Getting an education doesn’t always follow a straight-line path. For some students, individual challenges, family or other problems can get in the way of accomplishing critical personal goals. Fortunately, there is in Phoenix a very special place where high school students who have fallen between the cracks can get the kind of welcome and support they need. At Genesis, Education is Personal. The new student feels personally welcomed, their own educational needs assessed. As they progress, they experience an effective combination of support and challenge. They get help making it through academic subjects that may have seemed tough, and they learn to persist until they achieve their goal. From School Director Karen Callahan to the tremendous line-up of Teachers and Staff, Education at Genesis is Personal. While Genesis boasts a tremendous Basketball Program and other amenities, Job #1 is helping students get back on track to complete their high school education and, for many, to identify and succeed in postsecondary options.

Upper management is very unprofessional and disrespectful towards student and parents . Acts inappropriate and is incompetent when it comes to discussions ,does not know how to communicate with out aggressiveness and is complicated to come to agreements and feels the need for empowerment. It is disappointing there is no encouragement or ambition to actually help those students in need and looking for change. Teachers who encourage this behavior and discriminates on individuals should not be allowed to teach. I Would not recommend this Genesis Charter school.

Honestly from my experience, this "school" or academy as I would like to call it; the staff and teachers really care for their students and want the best for them just like any other school. At times all the workload of sheets, essays, or basically work in class (no out campus work) can really be stressing, but from my view at the end of the day it's really, REALLY worth it. I've heard and seen lots of great students that have graduated and worked inside the Arizona government or many other majors. But to shorten it up it's a really great school!

Honestly management is very unprofessional and disrespectful towards student and parents . Acts inappropriate and is incompetent when it comes to discussions ,does not know how to communicate with out aggressiveness and is complicated especially the BALD teacher forgot his name but if your a new student he picks on u a lot and the principal cannot communicate with there students at, all trust me i was a student there in 2019 idk how this school still has kids attending i would've rather been home school

As a former student, I can say that everyone on staff is truly caring. You get so much more than just your general HS education. My time at Genesis Academy gave me an opportunity to experience many things both in and out of the classroom. I enjoyed the various clubs and community activities. For anyone that wants real human beings as teachers, who also serve as mentors, please check this school out.

The teachers are amazing, I learned many things from them. I love this school. I went in that school as a low life, and they change my mindset to be more in life. I really appreciate all the staff for making me the great person I am today

Have supported this worthwhile school that educates the most needy students in our community. They have a wonderful annual fundraiser each year and we support the school through our annual Arizona tax credit program.

Genesis Academy is an amazing school with fantastic teachers that go out of their way to assist students in need. This school really changed my life for the better and I am thankful everyday day for it

I attended Genesis back in 2016. The school is small but the community there is very close-knit. I loved all the clubs and how involved the teachers were. All the staff and teachers are lovely people

Outstanding high school in Phoenix, even if is a very small campus it is a great place to learn and the teachers and staff were awesome to me they were like family;Genesis Academy you are awesome!!!

I didn’t feel my son belonged at Genesis but in his own words “it was the best thing that could of happened to me” and for that I’m grateful …

I recomend the school it has helped me out so much with my credit recovery