Will basis move their waitlist this week or are they done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP caught up in the at-risk percentage at BASIS: Ask yourself why you care so much that BASIS has a low at-risk population if you don’t have students there and never will.
There are so many schools that prioritize the at-risk population and you can probably get your child into one of them. So why does BASIS’s existence bother you so much? Nobody at BASIS thinks a higher at-risk population would ruin the school. At-risk students are just the least likely to succeed at the school because they tend to lack families who care a lot about their education and those students would not be socially promoted (just like anyone else). So even a preference that initially gets them in (should BASIS ever decide to have one) would certainly not guarantee that they actually stay. BASIS has invested money and energy into advertising in different communities to attract students from all over the city and seems to have attracted a truly diverse student body in many ways as opposed to a student body that is “diverse” because it has some minimum percentage of an at-risk population which is all you seem to care about.

Thank you for posting exactly what I am feeling. The constant comments about the at-risk % are misdirected as lottery is random. Maybe if the poster had attended a school like BASIS they might understand what random means? Or they could ask their children?

No it isn't random! Some schools have at-risk preference and BASIS does not. BASIS is choosing "random" because it doesn't want more at-risk kids. BASIS likes having a super low percentage.

Second, the lottery determines inflow, but is only one factor in shaping the demographics of a school. It is not entirely predictable and controllable, but it is not random. It is affected by each school's policies.

[Anonymous]

The charter school lottery is not really 100% random, because there are self-selection effects. Different schools market themselves differently.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They don't let in anyone after 5th grade. Even siblings

Per the head of school last year, they will offer seats in older grades if and only if the total number of students not returning (seniors plus attrition) exceeds something like 135 students.

I didn’t realize they offer any seats. Isn’t their position the curriculum is so advanced that they can’t backfill seats?

It's that their teachers aren't up to the challenge. Because it's soooo haaaaaard to do what most schools in this country do routinely.

At this point the BASIS Haterade club can't even figure out what they are mad at. Why do you care if BASIS adds 6th 7th 8th or no graders above 5th? This isn't about your kid not getting a slot because you seem angry at BASIS so obviously you wouldn't take it if offered. So what's your deal? Is it jealousy? You and yours spend a LOT of time on DCUM trying to convince parents who are at BASIS that what they know and think about the school doesn't matter. Based on the WL data, BASIS is getting harder to get into over time, not easier, so other than howling at the moon, what's in it for you? Why do you spend more time thinking and caring about BASIS than those who have kids there?

Because I call out BS when I see it. BASIS doesn't backfill because it's hard and they don't want to. That's the real reason. Plenty of schools across the country do it just fine, but not BASIS.

You didn't answer the question. Why are you so invested here? Why do you care where they get their 650 seats from? This angers you why?

Because I think letting one school shirk the harder stuff is bad for the system as a whole, and I think parents should know that BASIS' so-called "success" is founded on taking the easy path when they can get away with it.

Parents whose kids are at the school sent them there to be challenged and get them the heck away from virtue signalers like you who care more about the press release and faux "equity" than a quality education. No on at BASIS or Latin sits around and laments the lack of socially promoted, grade levels behind, disruptive kids in their classes. Give it a break.

I just don't think serving the easiest kids is a mark of quality, but you do you.

You are totally right. BASIS is a terrible school that doesn't provide rigor. Everyone who is there and happy just doesn't understand the school as well as you do. Good point. Thank the lord you are on the case.

I understand that people choose BASIS anyway. And I don't think it's a terrible school. But I do think its stats are not especially impressive in the context of its low at-risk percentage, high-SES student body, and shirking service of students with special needs and new arrivals. It's not that great, but has certain demographic manipulation policies that make it look better compared to schools that are serving different kids. That's not the same thing as quality or good teaching.

But hey why don't you go ahead and explain why the math PARCC scores are so low. And why re-enrollment of African-American students is only 77%. We're all ears.

Best scores in city at non-test in school. You would prefer...higher?

Yes, given that it is a high-SES school with very few at-risk kids and is constantly patting itself on the back for "rigor". BASIS' push-out policy (which you will deny exists) makes it functionally a test-in school after 5th grade, and a high-income one at that.

Why don't you tell us again why so many kids at BASIS do poorly on the math PARCC.

Are you lying or just misinformed?

Here are 9th grade math proficiency scores after kids have been at Basis (a 100% lottery school) for a few years. They are the highest in DC--even higher than selective schools such as Walls and Banneker. that cherry pick their students.

Basis: 77.36
Banneker: 66.56
Walls: 55.4
Latin: 30.11
DCI: 21.37

Wow, those are great numbers for Basis.

These numbers also carry across for African-Americans as well (after kids have been at Basis for a few years). Basis beats every public school in DC for African-American scores including schools such as Walls and Banneker that get to select their student body. In contrast, Basis is 100% lottery.

Basis is obviously a great choice for any academically motivated student.

Walls not so much, at least for math. And Latin and DCI definitely not so much.

9th grade PARCC proficiency (Black/African-American only):

Basis

ELA >=90%
Math 61.54

Banneker

ELA 86.41
Math 54.37

Walls

ELA 84.21
Math 29.41

Latin

ELA 43.59
Math 5.13

DCI

ELA 42.19
Math 15.38

This is outrageous. We need an investigation of Walls, Latin, and DCI....

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They don't let in anyone after 5th grade. Even siblings

Per the head of school last year, they will offer seats in older grades if and only if the total number of students not returning (seniors plus attrition) exceeds something like 135 students.

I didn’t realize they offer any seats. Isn’t their position the curriculum is so advanced that they can’t backfill seats?

It's that their teachers aren't up to the challenge. Because it's soooo haaaaaard to do what most schools in this country do routinely.

At this point the BASIS Haterade club can't even figure out what they are mad at. Why do you care if BASIS adds 6th 7th 8th or no graders above 5th? This isn't about your kid not getting a slot because you seem angry at BASIS so obviously you wouldn't take it if offered. So what's your deal? Is it jealousy? You and yours spend a LOT of time on DCUM trying to convince parents who are at BASIS that what they know and think about the school doesn't matter. Based on the WL data, BASIS is getting harder to get into over time, not easier, so other than howling at the moon, what's in it for you? Why do you spend more time thinking and caring about BASIS than those who have kids there?

Because I call out BS when I see it. BASIS doesn't backfill because it's hard and they don't want to. That's the real reason. Plenty of schools across the country do it just fine, but not BASIS.

You didn't answer the question. Why are you so invested here? Why do you care where they get their 650 seats from? This angers you why?

Because I think letting one school shirk the harder stuff is bad for the system as a whole, and I think parents should know that BASIS' so-called "success" is founded on taking the easy path when they can get away with it.

Parents whose kids are at the school sent them there to be challenged and get them the heck away from virtue signalers like you who care more about the press release and faux "equity" than a quality education. No on at BASIS or Latin sits around and laments the lack of socially promoted, grade levels behind, disruptive kids in their classes. Give it a break.

I just don't think serving the easiest kids is a mark of quality, but you do you.

You are totally right. BASIS is a terrible school that doesn't provide rigor. Everyone who is there and happy just doesn't understand the school as well as you do. Good point. Thank the lord you are on the case.

I understand that people choose BASIS anyway. And I don't think it's a terrible school. But I do think its stats are not especially impressive in the context of its low at-risk percentage, high-SES student body, and shirking service of students with special needs and new arrivals. It's not that great, but has certain demographic manipulation policies that make it look better compared to schools that are serving different kids. That's not the same thing as quality or good teaching.

But hey why don't you go ahead and explain why the math PARCC scores are so low. And why re-enrollment of African-American students is only 77%. We're all ears.

Best scores in city at non-test in school. You would prefer...higher?

Yes, given that it is a high-SES school with very few at-risk kids and is constantly patting itself on the back for "rigor". BASIS' push-out policy (which you will deny exists) makes it functionally a test-in school after 5th grade, and a high-income one at that.

Why don't you tell us again why so many kids at BASIS do poorly on the math PARCC.

Are you lying or just misinformed?

Here are 9th grade math proficiency scores after kids have been at Basis (a 100% lottery school) for a few years. They are the highest in DC--even higher than selective schools such as Walls and Banneker. that cherry pick their students.

Basis: 77.36
Banneker: 66.56
Walls: 55.4
Latin: 30.11
DCI: 21.37

Wow, those are great numbers for Basis.

These numbers also carry across for African-Americans as well (after kids have been at Basis for a few years). Basis beats every public school in DC for African-American scores including schools such as Walls and Banneker that get to select their student body. In contrast, Basis is 100% lottery.

Basis is obviously a great choice for any academically motivated student.

Walls not so much, at least for math. And Latin and DCI definitely not so much.

9th grade PARCC proficiency (Black/African-American only):

Basis

ELA >=90%
Math 61.54

Banneker

ELA 86.41
Math 54.37

Walls

ELA 84.21
Math 29.41

Latin

ELA 43.59
Math 5.13

DCI

ELA 42.19
Math 15.38

This is outrageous. We need an investigation of Walls, Latin, and DCI....

If you don't view that in the context of the high attrition rate at BASIS, you're deluding yourself. Motivating low performing students to exit will pull up the stats, but it isn't the same thing as high quality performance at the school level.

[Anonymous]

WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

What are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

What are you talking about?

They mean grades… It’s embarrassing though. It shows that standards have fallen with the end of the admissions test. Check out the massive cliff-dive math scores took.

[Anonymous]

Walls changed their admissions and there is no longer a test for admission. Students get in based on grades and an interview. The low proficiency in math is staggering and given the high GPA cutoff for Walls eligibility, there must be rampant grade inflation to explain why great grades do not reflect actual proficient skills in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

This is why there should be an admissions test …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

This is why there should be an admissions test …

Well you have to understand how the math PARCC works. It only tests Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. So if a kid came in for 9th grade having completed Algebra II, they might not show up in the test scores at all. What you're seeing in all high school PARCC summaries is basically the lower half of the math students. I agree that math scores in DC generally aren't so hot, but it's not the case that most Walls students are failing math. Many are taking other math classes, so they don't take the PARCC for math. Just one of the many reasons the PARCC is a worthless test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

This is why there should be an admissions test …

Well you have to understand how the math PARCC works. It only tests Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. So if a kid came in for 9th grade having completed Algebra II, they might not show up in the test scores at all. What you're seeing in all high school PARCC summaries is basically the lower half of the math students. I agree that math scores in DC generally aren't so hot, but it's not the case that most Walls students are failing math. Many are taking other math classes, so they don't take the PARCC for math. Just one of the many reasons the PARCC is a worthless test.

At Walls 135 out of about 155 9th graders took the math PARCC, and 77 passed it. If you assume the 20 others would have passed, your overall freshman pass rate would be 97/155, or about 63%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTAF Walls? 9th graders are the students who were selected based on scores and interviews, and 7 months in, they can't scrounge up better than 29% proficient in math??

This is why there should be an admissions test …

Well you have to understand how the math PARCC works. It only tests Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. So if a kid came in for 9th grade having completed Algebra II, they might not show up in the test scores at all. What you're seeing in all high school PARCC summaries is basically the lower half of the math students. I agree that math scores in DC generally aren't so hot, but it's not the case that most Walls students are failing math. Many are taking other math classes, so they don't take the PARCC for math. Just one of the many reasons the PARCC is a worthless test.

At Walls 135 out of about 155 9th graders took the math PARCC, and 77 passed it. If you assume the 20 others would have passed, your overall freshman pass rate would be 97/155, or about 63%.

Yup. And it's also the case that some kids were taking a class above their grade level. If a 9th grader takes Algebra II or Geometry, for example, and they get a 3, that's still doing pretty well. We can see that out of the 139 (I know you said 135 but what I see from OSSE is 139) PARCC-takers who were in 9th grade, 21 took Alegebra 1. That means that a lot of the 9th graders who took the PARCC took Algebra II or Geometry, but the exact numbers are masked with "DS" for some reason.

Actually of the 151 math PARCC-takers from Walls, 139 of them were 9th graders. The remaining 12 were 10th graders. This is a great example of how when you look at PARCC scores you're seeing the youngest and lowest-performing students.

[Anonymous]

If a 9th grader takes Algebra II or Geometry, for example, and they get a 3, that's still doing pretty well.

I understand what you’re saying here, but as a parent I feel very differently. I would rather my children move at grade level and master the material than rush ahead and get 3s.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They don't let in anyone after 5th grade. Even siblings

Per the head of school last year, they will offer seats in older grades if and only if the total number of students not returning (seniors plus attrition) exceeds something like 135 students.

I didn’t realize they offer any seats. Isn’t their position the curriculum is so advanced that they can’t backfill seats?

It's that their teachers aren't up to the challenge. Because it's soooo haaaaaard to do what most schools in this country do routinely.

At this point the BASIS Haterade club can't even figure out what they are mad at. Why do you care if BASIS adds 6th 7th 8th or no graders above 5th? This isn't about your kid not getting a slot because you seem angry at BASIS so obviously you wouldn't take it if offered. So what's your deal? Is it jealousy? You and yours spend a LOT of time on DCUM trying to convince parents who are at BASIS that what they know and think about the school doesn't matter. Based on the WL data, BASIS is getting harder to get into over time, not easier, so other than howling at the moon, what's in it for you? Why do you spend more time thinking and caring about BASIS than those who have kids there?

Because I call out BS when I see it. BASIS doesn't backfill because it's hard and they don't want to. That's the real reason. Plenty of schools across the country do it just fine, but not BASIS.

You didn't answer the question. Why are you so invested here? Why do you care where they get their 650 seats from? This angers you why?

Because I think letting one school shirk the harder stuff is bad for the system as a whole, and I think parents should know that BASIS' so-called "success" is founded on taking the easy path when they can get away with it.

Parents whose kids are at the school sent them there to be challenged and get them the heck away from virtue signalers like you who care more about the press release and faux "equity" than a quality education. No on at BASIS or Latin sits around and laments the lack of socially promoted, grade levels behind, disruptive kids in their classes. Give it a break.

I just don't think serving the easiest kids is a mark of quality, but you do you.

You are totally right. BASIS is a terrible school that doesn't provide rigor. Everyone who is there and happy just doesn't understand the school as well as you do. Good point. Thank the lord you are on the case.

I understand that people choose BASIS anyway. And I don't think it's a terrible school. But I do think its stats are not especially impressive in the context of its low at-risk percentage, high-SES student body, and shirking service of students with special needs and new arrivals. It's not that great, but has certain demographic manipulation policies that make it look better compared to schools that are serving different kids. That's not the same thing as quality or good teaching.

But hey why don't you go ahead and explain why the math PARCC scores are so low. And why re-enrollment of African-American students is only 77%. We're all ears.

Best scores in city at non-test in school. You would prefer...higher?

Yes, given that it is a high-SES school with very few at-risk kids and is constantly patting itself on the back for "rigor". BASIS' push-out policy (which you will deny exists) makes it functionally a test-in school after 5th grade, and a high-income one at that.

Why don't you tell us again why so many kids at BASIS do poorly on the math PARCC.

Are you lying or just misinformed?

Here are 9th grade math proficiency scores after kids have been at Basis (a 100% lottery school) for a few years. They are the highest in DC--even higher than selective schools such as Walls and Banneker. that cherry pick their students.

Basis: 77.36
Banneker: 66.56
Walls: 55.4
Latin: 30.11
DCI: 21.37

Wow, those are great numbers for Basis.

These numbers also carry across for African-Americans as well (after kids have been at Basis for a few years). Basis beats every public school in DC for African-American scores including schools such as Walls and Banneker that get to select their student body. In contrast, Basis is 100% lottery.

Basis is obviously a great choice for any academically motivated student.

Walls not so much, at least for math. And Latin and DCI definitely not so much.

9th grade PARCC proficiency (Black/African-American only):

Basis

ELA >=90%
Math 61.54

Banneker

ELA 86.41
Math 54.37

Walls

ELA 84.21
Math 29.41

Latin

ELA 43.59
Math 5.13

DCI

ELA 42.19
Math 15.38

Hon. Seriously. "After they've been at BASIS for a while"? No. After the lower-performing students have left. Be real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If a 9th grader takes Algebra II or Geometry, for example, and they get a 3, that's still doing pretty well.

I understand what you’re saying here, but as a parent I feel very differently. I would rather my children move at grade level and master the material than rush ahead and get 3s.

But how do you know what the score's going to be when you make the decision of what class to enroll in?