Our History

25 Years of Educational Excellence

Ball Charter Schools, founded with a vision to provide exceptional educational opportunities, has long been a cornerstone of academic excellence in the community. Established in 1998 and one of the first charter organizations in the state of Arizona, the schools have built a reputation for its commitment to student success, innovative teaching methods, and an inclusive learning environment. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic rigor and personal growth, Ball Charter Schools consistently achieves notable student outcomes and continually strives to be the premiere charter schools of choice in the state.

Named after Carl Ball, a passionate visionary, Ball Charter Schools was created to fill a gap in quality education within the region. From its humble beginnings, Ball Charter Schools has grown into a thriving network of three charter schools (Dobson Academy, Hearn Academy, and Val Vista Academy) in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area proudly serving approximately 1400 students.

The emphasis on holistic development—balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and community service—has earned it recognition both locally and nationally. Ball Charter Schools continues to evolve, keeping pace with educational trends while staying true to its core mission of nurturing lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

In 1975, Mr. Ball co-founded the Ball Foundation, an education reform aptitude research and testing foundation, and served as a member of its board of directors up until the time of his death. During the 29-year history of the Ball Foundation, Mr. Ball served as chairman of the board, president and executive director, in a commitment to discovering and developing human potential. Career Vision, one of two divisions of the foundation, continues its original work as a leading researcher of human aptitudes and as the developer of the Ball Aptitude Battery, an assessment instrument that is used in career counseling services. Education Initiatives, the second division of the Ball Foundation, works in partnership with school districts in Illinois, Michigan and California to improve student achievement. His foundation was designed to help schools become more productive using a systems approach, partnering research and development, and employing productivity models. Mr. Ball commissioned two national studies of America's schools: "Using What We Have to Get the Schools We Want: A Productivity Focus for American Education" (1995) and "20/20 Vision: A Strategy for Doubling America's Academic Achievement by 2020" (1998). He also led the foundation's start-up of three charter schools: Springfield Ball Charter School in Springfield, Ill., Dobson's Academy in Chandler, Ariz. and Hearn Academy in Phoenix.