Alta Vista to play AIA schedule

A South Side charter school at 5040 S. Campbell Ave., Alta Vista is set to field boys and girls soccer, boys basketball and girls volleyball for the upcoming year, competing against AIA schools for the first time since the school opened in 2003.

While not immediately entering as a full member, Alta Vista has provisional status — associate membership — allowing familiarity to grow with the AIA.

The drawback to being an associate is non-eligibility for the playoffs, but athletic director and assistant principal Chris Jackson expects the school to gain full membership to the AIA within two years, then qualifying for potential postseason action.

"Historically, athletics thrive. We've won championships in the charter school league and expect to be competitive (in the AIA)," Jackson said, referring to the school's previous run in the Southern Arizona Athletic Association. "Foremost right now is students have exposure to a higher level and more opportunities."

Alta Vista is taking a bold step: The only other charter school in the area with AIA membership is the Academy of Tucson, which participates in the 1A Conference.

"It is a chance to go beyond where we were," Jackson said. "The kids will be playing varsity schedules right away, against 1A through 5A schools. As an independent, we are free to play all of those schools."

If Alta Vista were given full membership now, the school's enrollment of 490 likely would make the Lobos one of the smallest schools in the 3A Conference, which includes Empire, Safford and Eloy Santa Cruz among other Southern Arizona high schools.

But the Lobos will not belong to any conference during the associate membership phase.

Although the school won't have a conference to call home, it will have a home court and home field.

Alta Vista, which lacks on-site sports facilities, secured a place for to hold practices and games, agreeing with the Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way, for use of the soccer fields and basketball courts.

BY THE NUMBERS

490

Students enrolled at Alta Vista High School

75

Percentage of students, among those who attend morning classes, that athletic director Chris Jackson expects to participate in sports

2

Number of coaches still needed and the number of coaches already hired by Alta Vista