Does anyone know the status of the Proposed BASIS Expansion

[Anonymous]

Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

Few other charters hold their students to real standards

[Anonymous]

Does every new charter have to slowly add grades? If yes, then BASIS is no more special than anyone else and should not expect to be treated differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

Few other charters hold their students to real standards

Other charters operate multiple tracks to accommodate students who are working to different standards. It’s understandable that the PCSB prefers schools that take responsibility for educating all the students they enroll. Basis is as much a sorting mechanism as a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does every new charter have to slowly add grades? If yes, then BASIS is no more special than anyone else and should not expect to be treated differently.

This. If a few years' financial difference is going to make it impossible, then I guess BASIS isn't financially stable enough to expand. Too bad so sad.

[Anonymous]

Most schools. Latin Cooper did not open day 1 with all grades 5-12. It is a massive undertaking for a new administration team to fully staff and then run a brand new school with new employees at all grade levels without any quality issues or other problems. It is also more sustainable for students and the overall system if you start with classes clustered around a normal entry year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

Few other charters hold their students to real standards

Other charters operate multiple tracks to accommodate students who are working to different standards. It’s understandable that the PCSB prefers schools that take responsibility for educating all the students they enroll. Basis is as much a sorting mechanism as a school.

If DC would let them use a merit-based admissions process, I would expect to see better student retention. Until DC offers those option to the families of high-achieving students, I see BASIS upholding standards in its grade promotion as a feature, not a bug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

Few other charters hold their students to real standards

Other charters operate multiple tracks to accommodate students who are working to different standards. It’s understandable that the PCSB prefers schools that take responsibility for educating all the students they enroll. Basis is as much a sorting mechanism as a school.

If DC would let them use a merit-based admissions process, I would expect to see better student retention. Until DC offers those option to the families of high-achieving students, I see BASIS upholding standards in its grade promotion as a feature, not a bug.

You've had kids at BASIS? We have and aren't buying that most families leave because the kids are held to high academic standards.

From what we could tell, most families actually leave because it's a dreary program with high teacher turnover, tin-eared leadership, a repetitive, one-size-fits all middle school curriculum (especially for sciences), weak HS ECs and a spectacularly crappy building.

We hope that the franchise fails to get permission to open a K-4 school, which would clobber the Cap Hill elementary schools after 15 years of steady, hard-won gains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

Few other charters hold their students to real standards

Other charters operate multiple tracks to accommodate students who are working to different standards. It’s understandable that the PCSB prefers schools that take responsibility for educating all the students they enroll. Basis is as much a sorting mechanism as a school.

If DC would let them use a merit-based admissions process, I would expect to see better student retention. Until DC offers those option to the families of high-achieving students, I see BASIS upholding standards in its grade promotion as a feature, not a bug.

You've had kids at BASIS? We have and aren't buying that most families leave because the kids are held to high academic standards.

From what we could tell, most families actually leave because it's a dreary program with high teacher turnover, tin-eared leadership, a repetitive, one-size-fits all middle school curriculum (especially for sciences), weak HS ECs and a spectacularly crappy building.

We hope that the franchise fails to get permission to open a K-4 school, which would clobber the Cap Hill elementary schools after 15 years of steady, hard-won gains.

Those critiques are fair, however it is STILL better than the other public options in terms of curriculum. That's why we are there. We loved our DCPS elementary, and if DCPS offered a properly challenging middle school option for advanced kids who are hungry to learn, and want to have homework and high standards and expectations, we would have chosen that. Our son is loving BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Their student retention also stinks. No other DC charter routinely loses half their families before the terminal grade.

Few other charters hold their students to real standards

Other charters operate multiple tracks to accommodate students who are working to different standards. It’s understandable that the PCSB prefers schools that take responsibility for educating all the students they enroll. Basis is as much a sorting mechanism as a school.

If DC would let them use a merit-based admissions process, I would expect to see better student retention. Until DC offers those option to the families of high-achieving students, I see BASIS upholding standards in its grade promotion as a feature, not a bug.

You've had kids at BASIS? We have and aren't buying that most families leave because the kids are held to high academic standards.

From what we could tell, most families actually leave because it's a dreary program with high teacher turnover, tin-eared leadership, a repetitive, one-size-fits all middle school curriculum (especially for sciences), weak HS ECs and a spectacularly crappy building.

We hope that the franchise fails to get permission to open a K-4 school, which would clobber the Cap Hill elementary schools after 15 years of steady, hard-won gains.

I am completely with you on being opposed to the elementary. Whatever BASIS's merits as a MS/HS, I agree allowing an elementary would be a disaster for the steadily improving Capitol Hill schools (and to the prospects of SH and EH).

I was responding mostly to the thesis of PP who had suggested the retention problems relate to student achievement ("Other charters operate multiple tracks to accommodate students who are working to different standards."). I totally agree there are other reasons families leave BASIS and am not hugely excited myself at the prospect of sending my kid there (if we even get in), but worry about the dearth of high level academics at our IB school.

[Anonymous]

No kid loves BASIS. Kids love fresh air, light, fun school electives supported by serious resources, a strong school community, fine performing arts programs, strong school sports programs, strong instrumental music programs, a chance to run around during the school day, a chance to go on interesting field trips on a regular basis, Parents love avoiding crappy DCPS middle schools while continuing to enjoy their hip row house lifestyle. I say this as a parent who used to proudly proclaim that my kids loved BASIS. The thing is, they didn't and neither did their friends. By 9th grade, almost the entire friend group, a dozen kids, had voted with their feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No kid loves BASIS. Kids love fresh air, light, fun school electives supported by serious resources, a strong school community, fine performing arts programs, strong school sports programs, strong instrumental music programs, a chance to run around during the school day, a chance to go on interesting field trips on a regular basis, Parents love avoiding crappy DCPS middle schools while continuing to enjoy their hip row house lifestyle. I say this as a parent who used to proudly proclaim that my kids loved BASIS. The thing is, they didn't and neither did their friends. By 9th grade, almost the entire friend group, a dozen kids, had voted with their feet.

All of those things can be supplemented outside of school. But academics really can't be.

My kid actually does love BASIS. He loves what he is learning, and he loves the high standards and feels proud to meet them. My younger kid probably would not, so we'll likely find a different school for him. But kids who like it exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No kid loves BASIS. Kids love fresh air, light, fun school electives supported by serious resources, a strong school community, fine performing arts programs, strong school sports programs, strong instrumental music programs, a chance to run around during the school day, a chance to go on interesting field trips on a regular basis, Parents love avoiding crappy DCPS middle schools while continuing to enjoy their hip row house lifestyle. I say this as a parent who used to proudly proclaim that my kids loved BASIS. The thing is, they didn't and neither did their friends. By 9th grade, almost the entire friend group, a dozen kids, had voted with their feet.

Ooh, found the "shame on your selfish rowhouse lifestyle" poster. You been on vacation? You're usually chiming in a little earlier on these threads.

Anyway, yeah, you got me. I secretly hate my kids and prioritize my hipness over their education. That's definitely why my kid is at BASIS rather than FCPS. Thank God people like you are posting on every single BASIS thread to show the rest of us the error of our ways.

I'm a little surprised you're not also going after those hip rowhouse parents who send their kids to Latin or DCI instead of doing the loving thing and moving to the suburbs. Or is it only selfish when our kids go to a school your child didn't like?

[Anonymous]

Sure, supplement for happiness and enrichment. No sweat. We burned out on running around the DMV in search of activities the kid wanted to do, including advanced language study. It was a lonely and pricey scramble, without school friends involved. Kid refused to return for HS despite having quallified for calc. You sound like a 5th or 6th grade parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No kid loves BASIS. Kids love fresh air, light, fun school electives supported by serious resources, a strong school community, fine performing arts programs, strong school sports programs, strong instrumental music programs, a chance to run around during the school day, a chance to go on interesting field trips on a regular basis, Parents love avoiding crappy DCPS middle schools while continuing to enjoy their hip row house lifestyle. I say this as a parent who used to proudly proclaim that my kids loved BASIS. The thing is, they didn't and neither did their friends. By 9th grade, almost the entire friend group, a dozen kids, had voted with their feet.

Ooh, found the "shame on your selfish rowhouse lifestyle" poster. You been on vacation? You're usually chiming in a little earlier on these threads.

Anyway, yeah, you got me. I secretly hate my kids and prioritize my hipness over their education. That's definitely why my kid is at BASIS rather than FCPS. Thank God people like you are posting on every single BASIS thread to show the rest of us the error of our ways.

I'm a little surprised you're not also going after those hip rowhouse parents who send their kids to Latin or DCI instead of doing the loving thing and moving to the suburbs. Or is it only selfish when our kids go to a school your child didn't like?

NP. Nobody's arguing the above but you, PP. This take is extreme and silly.

I'm in the camp of those who believe that a BASIS K-4 would roll back progress for Ward 6 elementary school in an untenable way. Sounds like good news that BASIS has hit a major snag with the rollout.

I'm keeping my fingers cross that they concede defeat.