Basis DC

[Anonymous]

How’s the new principal and teacher retention this year? Considering adding this school for the lottery but concerned about the intense academic pressure.

[Anonymous]

mmm... popcorn

[Anonymous]

My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

[Anonymous]

We need more info about your kid to advise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

Huh?

We miss the old HOS.

He was awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

Huh?

We miss the old HOS.

He was awesome.

Said no one, ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

Huh?

We miss the old HOS.

He was awesome.

Said no one, ever.

Says me and plenty of BASIS parents.

Yearly evaluations have him high ratings as well.

Did you even have kids at the school the last few years? I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

OP, what are your other options and what is your kid into? BASIS is a poor choice for students with a strong interest in the performing arts and advanced languages.It isn’t a good choice for serious athletes who want to play sports with classmates either. The science curriculum repeats like crazy over the years and academics are no no more intense than suburban middle school honors classes (at least in our experience).We left BASIS after 7th grade for a better and happier public school in N Arlington.We were tired of running around DC in search of strong music, language and sports inputs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

Huh?

We miss the old HOS.

He was awesome.

Said no one, ever.

Says me and plenty of BASIS parents.

Yearly evaluations have him high ratings as well.

Did you even have kids at the school the last few years? I doubt it.

Good riddance to the insecure control freak. He certainly wasn't awesome. High ratings were nonsense. Yes, kids at the school recently. You?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

Huh?

We miss the old HOS.

He was awesome.

Said no one, ever.

Says me and plenty of BASIS parents.

Yearly evaluations have him high ratings as well.

Did you even have kids at the school the last few years? I doubt it.

In all the years that my kids have been at BASIS (where they still attend school), I have never heard a parent say a positive thing about him.

[Anonymous]

Do they know if the ES is happening? When and with what grade will it start? Has anything been announced officially?

Sorry - I realize this info is probably out there somewhere but I can't bring myself to go through that other looooong DCUM forum to find it.

[Anonymous]

No decision yet; nobody knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what are your other options and what is your kid into? BASIS is a poor choice for students with a strong interest in the performing arts and advanced languages.It isn’t a good choice for serious athletes who want to play sports with classmates either. The science curriculum repeats like crazy over the years and academics are no no more intense than suburban middle school honors classes (at least in our experience).We left BASIS after 7th grade for a better and happier public school in N Arlington.We were tired of running around DC in search of strong music, language and sports inputs.

This. Think hard about your situation before getting keyed up about BASIS, OP.

[Anonymous]

Feedback specifically on this year should go in this thread. For general discussions, please first read the many, many, past discussions first, such as the 31 pages of comments over the last couple of months here: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1223010.page

- Basis parent who doesn't have anything to add because it's all been said already

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sense is that the teachers and parents are pretty glad that the old Head is gone - the new head is less intense and a little warmer and more flexible.

Though, the 5th graders are currently on this big multi-day nature adventure that was the old heads idea.

They changed the proportions a bit -- the end of year tests matter slightly less, proportionally, and some parents in upper middle school said that the vibe feels a little less stressful.

It's a lot of work, but if you have a kid who likes to learn, that can be a pro. Lots of hw and lots of assessments. My son enjoys it and is really proud of himself. Th curriculum is great, especially in middle school-- they learn a lot in a way that makes a lot of sense (building up from basics) and they learn how to learn (planner, flashcards, when to study for which test). He also really likes his classmates (so many sweet, smart kids in one place!)

The building is absolutely horrible in a way that makes
their lives horrible (not seeing the sky for days). Some of the teachers seem really excellent, and a couple are brand new and seem a little confused. But they still transmit the curriculum to the kids and learning happens.

We are just going to keep staying as long as it works... Even for two years it feels like he'll gain a lot of skills and knowledge. But open to staying for 4, or even 8. No regrets about enrolling.

Huh?

We miss the old HOS.

He was awesome.

Said no one, ever.

Says me and plenty of BASIS parents.

Yearly evaluations have him high ratings as well.

Did you even have kids at the school the last few years? I doubt it.

In all the years that my kids have been at BASIS (where they still attend school), I have never heard a parent say a positive thing about him.

DP.

Maybe you were in an echo chamber or just listening to the voices in your head.

He was a strong administrator and very responsive.