Why don’t more parents send their kids to Basis McLean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why some basis teachers don’t send their kids to Basis. Does Basis waive the whole tuition for their kids?

I currently tutor BASIS 7th graders whose ENTIRE month of May will be nothing but pressure as they prepare for the final comp exams that count 50% of their grade. It's a miserable experience. Some parents want that for their preteens.

Others don't. So they send their kids elsewhere despite the tuition break (I don't know the exact number).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why some basis teachers don’t send their kids to Basis. Does Basis waive the whole tuition for their kids?

I currently tutor BASIS 7th graders whose ENTIRE month of May will be nothing but pressure as they prepare for the final comp exams that count 50% of their grade. It's a miserable experience. Some parents want that for their preteens.

Others don't. So they send their kids elsewhere despite the tuition break (I don't know the exact number).

I didn't hear anything regarding comp exams from my kids. Some kids may not feel much pressure. As parent, I always tell them score is not that important as long as you learn things from school everyday and feel happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why some basis teachers don’t send their kids to Basis. Does Basis waive the whole tuition for their kids?

I currently tutor BASIS 7th graders whose ENTIRE month of May will be nothing but pressure as they prepare for the final comp exams that count 50% of their grade. It's a miserable experience. Some parents want that for their preteens.

Others don't. So they send their kids elsewhere despite the tuition break (I don't know the exact number).

I didn't hear anything regarding comp exams from my kids. Some kids may not feel much pressure. As parent, I always tell them score is not that important as long as you learn things from school everyday and feel happy.

Depends which grade they are in and which math classes. The comp grind in all classes cranks up in 7th grade and continues until APs replace them in HS. The BIM curriculum is a test gauntlet.

[Anonymous]

Used to be 90%. A lot don’t send their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Used to be 90%. A lot don’t send their kids.

Teachers still need to pay 10% tuition for their own kids?
Some of them still don’t send.

[Anonymous]

All the posts about this being a school that isn’t a good fit for most kids applies to teachers’ children, too. Plenty of staff members’ own kids have been kicked out/not offered re-enrollment. Imagine knowing that, why would you want to put your child through even the chance of that happening? And at your work place, how awkward.

[Anonymous]

I didn't hear anything regarding comp exams from my kids. Some kids may not feel much pressure. As parent, I always tell them score is not that important as long as you learn things from school everyday and feel happy.

That’s the correct message from the parent but at basis if you don’t do well on these tests you will fail the course and not be promoted to the next grade, so unfortunately the stakes are pretty high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't hear anything regarding comp exams from my kids. Some kids may not feel much pressure. As parent, I always tell them score is not that important as long as you learn things from school everyday and feel happy.

That’s the correct message from the parent but at basis if you don’t do well on these tests you will fail the course and not be promoted to the next grade, so unfortunately the stakes are pretty high.

Yes and any bumps hurt those who want to apply out to other privates because the test scores are 50% of the grade for the year.

[Anonymous]

I can see why the schools appeals to the international crowd.

[Anonymous]

People don't send their kids to BASIS Mclean because it has horrible administration with many problems that trickle down to all of the staff and ultimately to the children. The place will eventually just die off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People don't send their kids to BASIS Mclean because it has horrible administration with many problems that trickle down to all of the staff and ultimately to the children. The place will eventually just die off.

The TJ admissions policy shift was a gift from heaven for BIM because they offer what TJ parents always wanted too, a hard STEM grind. That has kept them afloat for now.

It will be curious to see what happens if that policy goes back to the straight admissions test.

Regardless, BIM will probably never make back the tens of millions poured into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't send their kids to BASIS Mclean because it has horrible administration with many problems that trickle down to all of the staff and ultimately to the children. The place will eventually just die off.

The TJ admissions policy shift was a gift from heaven for BIM because they offer what TJ parents always wanted too, a hard STEM grind. That has kept them afloat for now.

It will be curious to see what happens if that policy goes back to the straight admissions test.

Regardless, BIM will probably never make back the tens of millions poured into it.

Basis is not a good alternative to TJ if you’re looking for STEM. You’d be better off at Potomac or any public high school, possibly even Flint Hill.

Basis has no labs and they shift around science teachers without regards to their specialty area.

Your kid can take just as many APs at public school because they can continue senior year. Basis senior year does not include AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't send their kids to BASIS Mclean because it has horrible administration with many problems that trickle down to all of the staff and ultimately to the children. The place will eventually just die off.

The TJ admissions policy shift was a gift from heaven for BIM because they offer what TJ parents always wanted too, a hard STEM grind. That has kept them afloat for now.

It will be curious to see what happens if that policy goes back to the straight admissions test.

Regardless, BIM will probably never make back the tens of millions poured into it.

Basis is not a good alternative to TJ if you’re looking for STEM. You’d be better off at Potomac or any public high school, possibly even Flint Hill.

Basis has no labs and they shift around science teachers without regards to their specialty area.

Your kid can take just as many APs at public school because they can continue senior year. Basis senior year does not include AP classes.

Comparing to TJ, the good things I can think of are smaller class, more attentions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People don't send their kids to BASIS Mclean because it has horrible administration with many problems that trickle down to all of the staff and ultimately to the children. The place will eventually just die off.

The TJ admissions policy shift was a gift from heaven for BIM because they offer what TJ parents always wanted too, a hard STEM grind. That has kept them afloat for now.

It will be curious to see what happens if that policy goes back to the straight admissions test.

Regardless, BIM will probably never make back the tens of millions poured into it.

Basis is not a good alternative to TJ if you’re looking for STEM. You’d be better off at Potomac or any public high school, possibly even Flint Hill.

Basis has no labs and they shift around science teachers without regards to their specialty area.

Your kid can take just as many APs at public school because they can continue senior year. Basis senior year does not include AP classes.

Comparing to TJ, the good things I can think of are smaller class, more attentions.

Any family that gets a TJ admission is highly unlikely to turn it down to come to BASIS. I can think of maybe one during my time there.

[Anonymous]

There are some really good teachers who aren't returning for next school year. Unfortunately, the school has a ridiculous policy where if teachers don't tell them they are leaving for the following year by the spring than they lose pay and benefits over the summer. So most teachers who leave are left to wait until just before school starts to resign in order to make ends meet. It forces them to completely screw over the school, students, and families. Expect some last-minute openings which will lead to mediocre hires (because what teachers are left who don't have jobs yet?) in August.