BASIS DC precomps and comps

[Anonymous]

BASIS DC middle-school kids are now gearing up for pre-comps and will have comps later this year. The pre-comps cover all the material covered in substantive classes so far this year and the comps will cover all the material covered in substantive classes during the whole year. In each subject, BASIS kids take a "common" exam written by a non-local BASIS teacher that all BASIS students in the US take and a "native" exam written by their teacher that covers all the material covered in class.

Does any other school in DCPS have similar comprehensive exams twice a year? DCI? Other public schools in the DMV?

What about private schools in the area (other than, obviously, BASIS McLean)? Washington International?

[Anonymous]

Who cares! BASIS comps are no big deal for kids who do the work. There's rigor at BASIS to be sure, along with precious respect for kids' individual learning styles, backgrounds or academic interests. The school is a machine, like Chipotle, working off set recipes nationwide. Works for some, abhorrent and limiting to others aiming equally high in college admissions.

[Anonymous]

OP, no. Honestly most US schools don't - public or private. Basis is based on a semi-European model with comp testing. I don't know of any other school in the area that does this in middle school. Generally there's an anti-testing bias among most US schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS DC middle-school kids are now gearing up for pre-comps and will have comps later this year. The pre-comps cover all the material covered in substantive classes so far this year and the comps will cover all the material covered in substantive classes during the whole year. In each subject, BASIS kids take a "common" exam written by a non-local BASIS teacher that all BASIS students in the US take and a "native" exam written by their teacher that covers all the material covered in class.

Does any other school in DCPS have similar comprehensive exams twice a year? DCI? Other public schools in the DMV?

What about private schools in the area (other than, obviously, BASIS McLean)? Washington International?

Maybe British school of Washington or Rochambeau?

[Anonymous]

It's good practice for AP exams in high school.

Growing up I always had to take NY State Regents exams.

I agree with an above poster that for most BASIS students, the pre-comps and comps are no big deal. (My kids prefer testing weeks, because they have shorter days and no homework!)

[Anonymous]

The private high schools have midterm exams. They start in 9th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's good practice for AP exams in high school.

My theory is that Basis pushes AP exams in part because they factor highly into US News-type school ranking (or just as a bragging right / “mark of quality” in general) and that the Comps are a way to train younger students for eventually taking APs.

Nothing wrong with any of that, in theory. As a student, I always found midterms and final exams to be useful because they forced me to review and process the material as a whole in ways I wouldn’t have done without the tests. I’m just a little cynical about Basis sometimes, and particularly about the Comps because they aren’t great with my child’s learning style and cause a lot of stress in our household.

[Anonymous]

The analogy I like for the way BASIS treats MS students is to claim that a kid needs to learn the rudiments of driving at age 11 or 12 to have any hope of becoming an excellent driver at age 17 or 18. Some things can wait as long as the joy of learning (“driving”) is there and nurtured.

[Anonymous]

Like other posters say, comps really aren't that big of deal -- it's just learning a different way to study. Once you've got that, it's pretty easy. My kid has done them and hasn't lost any joy in learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like other posters say, comps really aren't that big of deal -- it's just learning a different way to study. Once you've got that, it's pretty easy. My kid has done them and hasn't lost any joy in learning.

Same!

[Anonymous]

Come on, how much joy of learning is there to be had in that joyless building? There isn't even a library or a tree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Come on, how much joy of learning is there to be had in that joyless building? There isn't even a library or a tree.

Or a stage. Also, I'm from Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Come on, how much joy of learning is there to be had in that joyless building? There isn't even a library or a tree.

Or a stage. Also, I'm from Virginia.

Yes, the building stinks, but you have to be pretty shallow to think that a tree and a building make for joyful learning.

All I know is that my kid is super happy to go to school every day and appears to be learning a lot. Not sure what else I would want for him.

[Anonymous]

All I can say is that both my 8th grader (and I) have had an experience of "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" at Basis in the last few years.

Throughout these years, we have both been excited about leaving in 9th (probably to SWW if all goes well).

And now, DC would like to attend HS at Basis (and I would like that too).

Things work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares! BASIS comps are no big deal for kids who do the work. There's rigor at BASIS to be sure, along with precious respect for kids' individual learning styles, backgrounds or academic interests. The school is a machine, like Chipotle, working off set recipes nationwide. Works for some, abhorrent and limiting to others aiming equally high in college admissions.

Very funny!!!!