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When the basketball team for Academy of Tucson High School arrives for a game, players say, their opponents tend to be underwhelmed.

Steven Near, 16, puts it simply: "They think it's a school for dropouts."

Josh Kevwitch, 17, says most of his team's opponents haven't even heard of the East Side college-prep charter school. "They underestimate us," he said.

It doesn't help that the team's home court is more than 15 miles from its campus, on the other side of the city at the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

The team is ranked fourth in the 1A South Region and has players ranked in the top 10 for blocks and rebounds, including Kevwitch, who leads the region in scoring and three-pointers. When Academy High plays on its home court, the team is surrounded by accolades and championship banners for another school.

It's not hard to understand why Academy High athletes say they can't shake their school's charter image.

But that may change as charters continue to develop their programs and school sites.

Once seen as small, storefront alternatives to traditional school districts, some charter schools have risen above the image through academic achievement by emphasizing college-preparatory standards or specialties in math and science.

Many charters are unable to provide outside activities, making the lack of sports one obvious disadvantage of the system. But others now are fielding fall, winter and spring sports teams against other charters, and, in a few cases, against private and public schools with established sports departments.

There are slightly more than 1 million K-12 students in Arizona, and more than 89,000 are enrolled in 469 charter schools across the state. Traditional school districts have lost students to charters, a trend that could increase if charters keep improving their offerings.

"They're certainly not a single niche anymore," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne.

Some charters, he said, should even cause traditional school districts to perform better, or at least think twice when considering eliminating programs such as art or advanced-placement courses.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association, which governs high school extracurricular activities, began receiving applications from charters seeking membership five years ago.

"We're definitely looking at more coming in and expanding," said Gary Whelchel, state commissioner of officials for the association. "I don't think it was a surprise," he said. "It was anticipated. It was a matter of fielding a team."

Statewide, there are nearly a dozen charter schools playing in AIA, all in smaller leagues. The 1A conference, which includes most Arizona charters, are for schools with 200 students or fewer. There are four charters playing in 2A — schools with 201 to 449 students. More than a dozen other charters are associate members, which means they can play AIA schools and nonmembers but don't qualify for postseason play.

Charter schools' foray into athletics is still a topic of debate, though.

"Charter schools, in my opinion, were not designed for athletic competition," Whelchel said. "They were designed as an academic alternative for students. Athletics flowed in slowly, but to compete for a state championship, you need to be AIA."

"We think it's an integral part of education," said Shari Stewart, assistant superintendent for the Academy of Tucson, which includes separate elementary, middle and high schools at different locations throughout Tucson. She notes almost all the members of the girls basketball team are 4.0 students.

"Coming here, I didn't expect to play anything," said Academy High freshman Alanna Salcido, 15. "When you see the school, it's like 'Oh my God, it's so small. How can they have sports here?' "

But Salcido plays soccer, softball and basketball. Number 30 on the basketball team, at 4 feet 9 inches, she's ranked 17th in the league for steals.

Her grandfather, Ramone Salcido, said sports is part of Academy High's appeal, along with its small class size. The family also looked at the Sunnyside Unified School District and various Catholic schools.

"I believe a smaller school is better for the kids," Ramone Salcido said. "They keep on her pretty good. We told her, 'You go to Academy, you've got sports and everything you want.' "

While there are local charter leagues and even talk of forming a statewide charter league that would mirror AIA, students seriously into sports aren't interested in charter-only play, said Jose Y. Garcia, athletic director for Academy of Tucson. AIA participation offers structure and professionalism, which require dedication and commitment, he said.

"The kids saw it was a place where excellence was demanded, and they rose to the occasion. I don't think our kids would ever want to go back," said Rich Polley, athletic director at Tempe Preparatory Academy in Tempe, an AIA member for three years. The girls track-and-field team at Tempe Prep, a 1A West region participant, has been at the top of its region for two years. Its girls soccer team has been runner-up those years.

Sheila Baize, director of interscholastics for Tucson Unified School District, admits there's concern statewide within traditional school districts about losing students to charters.

But she downplayed the idea that adding sports makes charters more competitive. Students in search of smaller class sizes or another school environment are the ones who leave TUSD for charter schools, she said.

"A comprehensive, regular high school isn't for every kid," she said.

But traditional school districts need to keep abreast of everything that prompts a student to attend a charter school, said David Baker, associate superintendent for the Flowing Wells School District.

Last year, 25 primary school students left Flowing Wells for a charter. Three returned. Six middle school students and 148 high school students left for charters, though 65 high schoolers returned that school year.

Baker began monitoring charter school transfers during the 2004-05 school year. He hasn't formally surveyed parents on why they moved their children, but said there are universal reasons for choosing charters over traditional schools.

"Typically, it was the sense of a smaller school with smaller classroom size," he said. Baker also noted parents moved their kids to charters for specialty programs, accelerated education or even schedules that accommodate students who work.

The district needs to be aware of what charters offer that traditional schools don't, he said.

"Our goal is to meet the needs of all the kids in our community," Baker said. "We're paying attention. We're looking at all the other programs out there."

The Academy of Math and Science recently opened at 1557 W. Prince Road, across from the Flowing Wells district office. Baker said the district can't help but pay attention to what the charter offers and how the community responds.

On Nov. 16, Sonoran Science Academy, a six-year-old charter with an emphasis on math and science, broke ground for its $10 million, 11-acre campus, which will include a gym and soccer field along with science and computer labs.

The school, 2255 W. Ina Road, now fields volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. Its soccer team won its charter league last year. This is the first year for golf and tennis. Since Sonoran has no courts, the tennis team practices at the Hilton hotel at 10000 N. Oracle Road.

"We don't want our students only focused on math and science," Principal Ercan Aydogdu said. "We want them well-rounded, and we offer sports, drama and other extracurricular activities."

The school has developed its sports programs to attract and retain students.

"Last year, we lost some students looking for college prep and sports," Aydogdu said.

On Wednesday Sonoran was approved as an associate AIA member.

Looking for a school? We've done the legwork. Find a complete list of charter and private schools. Pages A10-11

On StarNet: Find versions of private and charter school surveys online, including printer-friendly PDFs, at azstarnet.com/education