BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally feel quite confident about the future school leadership. I really appreciate that BASIS generally hires from within the network so “new” people tend to have been at the school (or another BASIS school) for a long time.

We just enrolled, but I liked that the incoming head was already responsive to parents -- they originally had no way for the potential families to see inside the building before enrolling, but enough families asked, and she created 6 shadow days for students in April and an open house for parents as a result. Hugely helpful for our family, and I'm sure she has strengths and weaknesses, but the fact that she was actually responsive is such a good sign. Her emails have also been really warm, and she stresses that she hopes that kids with all kinds of educational goals (art school, Ivy, HBCU) can find a path at BASIS. Good vibes IMO.

Ah, to be a naive 5th grade parent again …

I'm trying to be positive! Believe me, I have my eyes open. However... can I hope for the best? The curriculum, on paper, seems like it would really be a good fit for me kid. Certainly better than Cardozo. like, 100x better?

a question for these experienced parents -- we may have the option to feed into SWW Francis Stevens for middle school. Do you think that would be a better experience than BASIS? real question.

Real talk: the administration at BASIS is absolutely horrible. The current HOS is an ass, and the new HOS is not particularly smart and is very fake. But the cohort of students that your kid will be with (eventually, after the troublemakers drop out) and the curriculum are good. Certainly better than DCPS, which in my experience is a mess. If you have a high tolerance for administrative frustration and baffling decision making, you will be fine.

Your kid also needs high tolerance for running around town pursuing serious ECs, which you pay through the nose for. It also really helps if your kid doesn't mind studying the same stuff year after year--chem, bio, calc--and it's very interested in the arts or speaking languages fluently. Theater, drama, music, drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design might as well not exist at BASIS.

Your kid also needs high tolerance for running around town pursuing serious ECs, which you pay through the nose for.

Not everyone wants to pursue "serious" ECs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally feel quite confident about the future school leadership. I really appreciate that BASIS generally hires from within the network so “new” people tend to have been at the school (or another BASIS school) for a long time.

We just enrolled, but I liked that the incoming head was already responsive to parents -- they originally had no way for the potential families to see inside the building before enrolling, but enough families asked, and she created 6 shadow days for students in April and an open house for parents as a result. Hugely helpful for our family, and I'm sure she has strengths and weaknesses, but the fact that she was actually responsive is such a good sign. Her emails have also been really warm, and she stresses that she hopes that kids with all kinds of educational goals (art school, Ivy, HBCU) can find a path at BASIS. Good vibes IMO.

Ah, to be a naive 5th grade parent again …

I'm trying to be positive! Believe me, I have my eyes open. However... can I hope for the best? The curriculum, on paper, seems like it would really be a good fit for me kid. Certainly better than Cardozo. like, 100x better?

a question for these experienced parents -- we may have the option to feed into SWW Francis Stevens for middle school. Do you think that would be a better experience than BASIS? real question.

Real talk: the administration at BASIS is absolutely horrible. The current HOS is an ass, and the new HOS is not particularly smart and is very fake. But the cohort of students that your kid will be with (eventually, after the troublemakers drop out) and the curriculum are good. Certainly better than DCPS, which in my experience is a mess. If you have a high tolerance for administrative frustration and baffling decision making, you will be fine.

Your kid also needs high tolerance for running around town pursuing serious ECs, which you pay through the nose for. It also really helps if your kid doesn't mind studying the same stuff year after year--chem, bio, calc--and it's very interested in the arts or speaking languages fluently. Theater, drama, music, drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design might as well not exist at BASIS.

Yes, of course. If your child is interested in serious painting, sculpture, etc., why on earth would you send them to BASIS?? My child is interested in chem, bio, physics, and advanced math, so I sent him to BASIS.

[Anonymous]

I think the BASIS apologists actually hold the school back from meaningful growth. Folks are so desperate in DC for solid academics (and BASIS knows this) that there is almost a Stockholm syndrome mentality of "why would you send your kid to BASIS" if you have any criticism whatsoever.

Look, the school could do better. It could be more well rounded. It is possible to have rigorous academics and support for the arts, sports, etc. BASIS chooses not to, because they can get away with it. And they can get away with it because of the BASIS apologists.

I don't think that makes the school better. My child's grade has lost some top students this year, because people are simply not willing to put up with the BASIS admin. That doesn't help my daughter's cohort, and it doesn't help BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally feel quite confident about the future school leadership. I really appreciate that BASIS generally hires from within the network so “new” people tend to have been at the school (or another BASIS school) for a long time.

We just enrolled, but I liked that the incoming head was already responsive to parents -- they originally had no way for the potential families to see inside the building before enrolling, but enough families asked, and she created 6 shadow days for students in April and an open house for parents as a result. Hugely helpful for our family, and I'm sure she has strengths and weaknesses, but the fact that she was actually responsive is such a good sign. Her emails have also been really warm, and she stresses that she hopes that kids with all kinds of educational goals (art school, Ivy, HBCU) can find a path at BASIS. Good vibes IMO.

Ah, to be a naive 5th grade parent again …

I'm trying to be positive! Believe me, I have my eyes open. However... can I hope for the best? The curriculum, on paper, seems like it would really be a good fit for me kid. Certainly better than Cardozo. like, 100x better?

a question for these experienced parents -- we may have the option to feed into SWW Francis Stevens for middle school. Do you think that would be a better experience than BASIS? real question.

Real talk: the administration at BASIS is absolutely horrible. The current HOS is an ass, and the new HOS is not particularly smart and is very fake. But the cohort of students that your kid will be with (eventually, after the troublemakers drop out) and the curriculum are good. Certainly better than DCPS, which in my experience is a mess. If you have a high tolerance for administrative frustration and baffling decision making, you will be fine.

Your kid also needs high tolerance for running around town pursuing serious ECs, which you pay through the nose for. It also really helps if your kid doesn't mind studying the same stuff year after year--chem, bio, calc--and it's very interested in the arts or speaking languages fluently. Theater, drama, music, drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design might as well not exist at BASIS.

Yes, of course. If your child is interested in serious painting, sculpture, etc., why on earth would you send them to BASIS?? My child is interested in chem, bio, physics, and advanced math, so I sent him to BASIS.

Yeah that's fine with me, too. I'm of the opinion that's schools are better at teaching math and science (than outside sources), but that music, art, etc can be easily taught outside of school.

My kid is at a Title 1 DCPS without after school activities now so we are used to finding outside ECs, and he now has his activities that he is passionate about (and the teachers are excellent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally feel quite confident about the future school leadership. I really appreciate that BASIS generally hires from within the network so “new” people tend to have been at the school (or another BASIS school) for a long time.

We just enrolled, but I liked that the incoming head was already responsive to parents -- they originally had no way for the potential families to see inside the building before enrolling, but enough families asked, and she created 6 shadow days for students in April and an open house for parents as a result. Hugely helpful for our family, and I'm sure she has strengths and weaknesses, but the fact that she was actually responsive is such a good sign. Her emails have also been really warm, and she stresses that she hopes that kids with all kinds of educational goals (art school, Ivy, HBCU) can find a path at BASIS. Good vibes IMO.

Ah, to be a naive 5th grade parent again …

I'm trying to be positive! Believe me, I have my eyes open. However... can I hope for the best? The curriculum, on paper, seems like it would really be a good fit for me kid. Certainly better than Cardozo. like, 100x better?

a question for these experienced parents -- we may have the option to feed into SWW Francis Stevens for middle school. Do you think that would be a better experience than BASIS? real question.

Real talk: the administration at BASIS is absolutely horrible. The current HOS is an ass, and the new HOS is not particularly smart and is very fake. But the cohort of students that your kid will be with (eventually, after the troublemakers drop out) and the curriculum are good. Certainly better than DCPS, which in my experience is a mess. If you have a high tolerance for administrative frustration and baffling decision making, you will be fine.

Your kid also needs high tolerance for running around town pursuing serious ECs, which you pay through the nose for. It also really helps if your kid doesn't mind studying the same stuff year after year--chem, bio, calc--and it's very interested in the arts or speaking languages fluently. Theater, drama, music, drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design might as well not exist at BASIS.

Yes, of course. If your child is interested in serious painting, sculpture, etc., why on earth would you send them to BASIS?? My child is interested in chem, bio, physics, and advanced math, so I sent him to BASIS.

My kid was interested in chem, bio, physics and advanced math in middle school. But by 11th grade, they were thoroughly sick of most of it, because the curriculum repeats itself like mad year on year and there are scant opportunities to apply science. I can't see how decent arts instruction at BASIS would go amiss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the BASIS apologists actually hold the school back from meaningful growth. Folks are so desperate in DC for solid academics (and BASIS knows this) that there is almost a Stockholm syndrome mentality of "why would you send your kid to BASIS" if you have any criticism whatsoever.

Look, the school could do better. It could be more well rounded. It is possible to have rigorous academics and support for the arts, sports, etc. BASIS chooses not to, because they can get away with it. And they can get away with it because of the BASIS apologists.

I don't think that makes the school better. My child's grade has lost some top students this year, because people are simply not willing to put up with the BASIS admin. That doesn't help my daughter's cohort, and it doesn't help BASIS.

This x 100. Stockholm Syndrome, yes. They can get away with it mainly because our DCPS highly-competitive-college-bound options aren't good. But the apologists certainly don't help.

My kid didn't want to stay for high school because most of her friends--strong, talented STEM oriented students--weren't returning. We've known some of these kids since they were toddlers. They didn't run off to Walls or Banneker, they decamped to GDS, parochial schools and Arlington. BASIS DC is essentially run by petty children without enough life experience to make....mature leadership decisions.

[Anonymous]

The first thing BASIS needs to enhance arts programming is a bigger and better building. Which is something they are trying to do with the expansion. Simply asking for a robust theater program with no meaningful theater space is silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing BASIS needs to enhance arts programming is a bigger and better building. Which is something they are trying to do with the expansion. Simply asking for a robust theater program with no meaningful theater space is silly.

This is 100% false. BASIS is not looking for a better building for the middle/high school. They are looking for a building so that they can do K-4 (which is by itself a terrible idea). Admins have repeatedly said they have no plans to find a new building for the middle/high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first thing BASIS needs to enhance arts programming is a bigger and better building. Which is something they are trying to do with the expansion. Simply asking for a robust theater program with no meaningful theater space is silly.

This is 100% false. BASIS is not looking for a better building for the middle/high school. They are looking for a building so that they can do K-4 (which is by itself a terrible idea). Admins have repeatedly said they have no plans to find a new building for the middle/high school.

Did you attend the town hall earlier this week? If not, watch the video when they send it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing BASIS needs to enhance arts programming is a bigger and better building. Which is something they are trying to do with the expansion. Simply asking for a robust theater program with no meaningful theater space is silly.

Arguably, what's silly is terming BASIS a school when it's little more than a test prep program. That's why we bailed for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally feel quite confident about the future school leadership. I really appreciate that BASIS generally hires from within the network so “new” people tend to have been at the school (or another BASIS school) for a long time.

We just enrolled, but I liked that the incoming head was already responsive to parents -- they originally had no way for the potential families to see inside the building before enrolling, but enough families asked, and she created 6 shadow days for students in April and an open house for parents as a result. Hugely helpful for our family, and I'm sure she has strengths and weaknesses, but the fact that she was actually responsive is such a good sign. Her emails have also been really warm, and she stresses that she hopes that kids with all kinds of educational goals (art school, Ivy, HBCU) can find a path at BASIS. Good vibes IMO.

Ah, to be a naive 5th grade parent again …

I'm trying to be positive! Believe me, I have my eyes open. However... can I hope for the best? The curriculum, on paper, seems like it would really be a good fit for me kid. Certainly better than Cardozo. like, 100x better?

a question for these experienced parents -- we may have the option to feed into SWW Francis Stevens for middle school. Do you think that would be a better experience than BASIS? real question.

Real talk: the administration at BASIS is absolutely horrible. The current HOS is an ass, and the new HOS is not particularly smart and is very fake. But the cohort of students that your kid will be with (eventually, after the troublemakers drop out) and the curriculum are good. Certainly better than DCPS, which in my experience is a mess. If you have a high tolerance for administrative frustration and baffling decision making, you will be fine.

Can we stop with the narrative that the kids who leave BASIS are troublemakers or not academically minded? My top performing student left BASIS because he was miserable and wanted a different school experience. I'm glad your kids are thriving at BASIS, truly. Please stop judging those who left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first thing BASIS needs to enhance arts programming is a bigger and better building. Which is something they are trying to do with the expansion. Simply asking for a robust theater program with no meaningful theater space is silly.

This is 100% false. BASIS is not looking for a better building for the middle/high school. They are looking for a building so that they can do K-4 (which is by itself a terrible idea). Admins have repeatedly said they have no plans to find a new building for the middle/high school.

Did you attend the town hall earlier this week? If not, watch the video when they send it.

They float this so that you will sign letters of support. You are a fool to fall for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first thing BASIS needs to enhance arts programming is a bigger and better building. Which is something they are trying to do with the expansion. Simply asking for a robust theater program with no meaningful theater space is silly.

This is 100% false. BASIS is not looking for a better building for the middle/high school. They are looking for a building so that they can do K-4 (which is by itself a terrible idea). Admins have repeatedly said they have no plans to find a new building for the middle/high school.

Did you attend the town hall earlier this week? If not, watch the video when they send it.

They float this so that you will sign letters of support. You are a fool to fall for it.

Dumb.

Every Basis school except for DC has K-4. No reason for DC to remain the outlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the BASIS apologists actually hold the school back from meaningful growth. Folks are so desperate in DC for solid academics (and BASIS knows this) that there is almost a Stockholm syndrome mentality of "why would you send your kid to BASIS" if you have any criticism whatsoever.

Look, the school could do better. It could be more well rounded. It is possible to have rigorous academics and support for the arts, sports, etc. BASIS chooses not to, because they can get away with it. And they can get away with it because of the BASIS apologists.

I don't think that makes the school better. My child's grade has lost some top students this year, because people are simply not willing to put up with the BASIS admin. That doesn't help my daughter's cohort, and it doesn't help BASIS.

Your endless carping about the school is tiresome.

Just pull your kid out and send him or her to your neighborhood school. Leave Basis for the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Can we also stop with the narrative that it's just one or two parents "endlessly carping" about the school on these threads? Sounds to me like we haven't heard from Stockholm Syndrome mom before. Fact is, BASIS DC always loses more than half the families who started in 5th grade by 9th, and at least 60% by 12th. Please stop telling the BASIS families who point out glaring problems with the program on DCUM to shut up and go away. No DC taxpayer needs to listen to an obnoxious jerk advising them to send their kid to a crappy neighborhood school if a poorly run charter hasn't worked out. Pipe down, particularly middle school parents waxing enthusiastic about a "highly rated" high school they haven't used yet.