Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s false that “many” students leave Deal feeders for BASIS. There’s data: https://edscape.dc.gov/node/1640846

As you can see here, there are plenty of years in which zero kids from any given Deal feeder go to BASIS. Latin seems slightly more popular. But kids overwhelmingly continue in the DCPS feeder pathway.

You understand that the J-R district doesn’t and didn’t just include Deal and Deal feeders, don’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s false that “many” students leave Deal feeders for BASIS. There’s data: https://edscape.dc.gov/node/1640846

As you can see here, there are plenty of years in which zero kids from any given Deal feeder go to BASIS. Latin seems slightly more popular. But kids overwhelmingly continue in the DCPS feeder pathway.

But there wasn't a single year when NO kids from the JR pathway went to BASIS. There are always a bunch, in this data, from Janney, Lafayette, Oyster, etc, as well as all the MacArthur feeders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s false that “many” students leave Deal feeders for BASIS. There’s data: https://edscape.dc.gov/node/1640846

As you can see here, there are plenty of years in which zero kids from any given Deal feeder go to BASIS. Latin seems slightly more popular. But kids overwhelmingly continue in the DCPS feeder pathway.

But there wasn't a single year when NO kids from the JR pathway went to BASIS. There are always a bunch, in this data, from Janney, Lafayette, Oyster, etc, as well as all the MacArthur feeders.

Sure. I think we can agree that the occasional kid goes from a J-R feeder to BASIS, but the overwhelming majority don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s false that “many” students leave Deal feeders for BASIS. There’s data: https://edscape.dc.gov/node/1640846

As you can see here, there are plenty of years in which zero kids from any given Deal feeder go to BASIS. Latin seems slightly more popular. But kids overwhelmingly continue in the DCPS feeder pathway.

But there wasn't a single year when NO kids from the JR pathway went to BASIS. There are always a bunch, in this data, from Janney, Lafayette, Oyster, etc, as well as all the MacArthur feeders.

Sure. I think we can agree that the occasional kid goes from a J-R feeder to BASIS, but the overwhelming majority don’t.

No one is saying that. And the school couldn’t accommodate all those kids anyway.

Basis just attracts the academically inclined, smarter kids plus those desperate to escape their in-bounds. Many of the latter drop out, leaving a very talented but diverse subset.

[Anonymous]

Above paints a distorted picture. In fact, BASIS overwhelmingly attracts those EotP who simply have lottery luck. Some of the most "academically inclined, smart kids" from the Ward 6 DCPS elementary schools don't get in. These advanced-level learners are forced to go elsewhere. Meanwhile, many deeply average students get in and go.

BASIS doesn't operate as a GT program. It's geared toward average students willing to work hard from families willing to take their marching orders from controlling admins. Students who are gifted in the performing arts, visual art and foreign languages aren't well served at BASIS.

Few BASIS students drop out here in 2025, but around half don't stay for the high school because the program doesn't appeal to them. A good many of the most "talented" BASIS students leave for Walls and privates after middle school. Weaker students, with GPAs below the Walls application cut-off don't have the option, so tend to stay. Some of the strongest students also stay.

[Anonymous]

Strange how parents seem to think you just sign up for BASIS if your kid is too smart for DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Above paints a distorted picture. In fact, BASIS overwhelmingly attracts those EotP who simply have lottery luck. Some of the most "academically inclined, smart kids" from the Ward 6 DCPS elementary schools don't get in. These advanced-level learners are forced to go elsewhere. Meanwhile, many deeply average students get in and go.

BASIS doesn't operate as a GT program. It's geared toward average students willing to work hard from families willing to take their marching orders from controlling admins. Students who are gifted in the performing arts, visual art and foreign languages aren't well served at BASIS.

Few BASIS students drop out here in 2025, but around half don't stay for the high school because the program doesn't appeal to them. A good many of the most "talented" BASIS students leave for Walls and privates after middle school. Weaker students, with GPAs below the Walls application cut-off don't have the option, so tend to stay. Some of the strongest students also stay.

Above is a good summary. Basis loses about 50% of their kids after 9th and many of them are the high performing kids at the school.

[Anonymous]

The above is closer to truth but not entirely correct. There is some self-selection bias, to be sure, but yes, in the end the largest factors are lack of other school options (we included it in the lottery, knowing it was our last choice, because it was a poor fit for our particular kid) and whether the parents are informed and can judge the fit for their kid (some parents are not, but many are--I know both people who didn't even include BASIS on lottery and those who were unrealistic about their kid being able to handle it).

TLDR: I don't know what your chances are, OP, of having a kid who would benefit from a BASIS-style education (some do, many don't). Plus, if you want BASIS, it makes more sense to live in Capitol Hill (easier commute). But even if you are sure your kid will be interested in BASIS, you can't do anything about lottery luck. So basically you can't plan your way out of this, OP.

[Anonymous]

If Basis is a good fit for your kid it is a great option (especially from Cap Hill - so convenient to get to). My kid crushed it at middle school there and I appreciated that the curriculum is essentially uniform across the system - so a pretty uniformly high level of material in math, physics, chemistry, biology, (even if some teachers not the greatest, the material is there to study and learn). Kid decided to go to Walls for high school b/c most elementary school friends were reuniting there. As another PP noted, some of the top performers (my kid was one - got the Basis top 5% award every semester in middle school) went to Walls kid's freshman year (in kid's year 2 of them did; a few other Basis kids also went to Walls that year, but they were next tier down, i.e., not in that top 5% list - one knows since roll call list/ awards given out every semester). I can think of at least 3 other top 5%ers that stayed at Basis for high school from kid's year. All that to say - if your kid decides to stay at BASIS for high school, there are plenty of other really smart and high performing kids who make that choice as well.

[Anonymous]

The whole Basis argument comes down to three things:

1. Is the in-bounds option even remotely worth consideration;
2. Logistics: if I go charter, what schools are logistically feasible; and
3. Good Enough: based on the above, is my charter or in-bounds option good enough.

If the middle school/HS for Eastern magically transformed to that identically of Deal and JR, then Basis would lose most of its current student body.

If Latin decided to open another campus with all the sports and ECs that exist at its current campus, on Capitol Hill or near Basis, Basis would likely lose most of its current student body.

If Basis had been given the new Macarthur High School building and moved its campus there, Basis would have lost nearly all of its current student body because the logistics of getting there would be horrendous for anyone on Capitol Hill.

I know 3 Capitol Hill families at Basis, and they are fine with Basis...but all would be gone if any of the above existed.

[Anonymous]

What kind of parent whose kid does not even attend Basis DC has the time or energy to dissect their academics, business model, shortcomings, etc.

Should they not focus on the illiteracy rate in DC and at schools like JR and how to combat that? Oh, that won't help their "high performing" kid.

Anonymous wrote:The whole Basis argument comes down to three things:

1. Is the in-bounds option even remotely worth consideration;
2. Logistics: if I go charter, what schools are logistically feasible; and
3. Good Enough: based on the above, is my charter or in-bounds option good enough.

If the middle school/HS for Eastern magically transformed to that identically of Deal and JR, then Basis would lose most of its current student body.

If Latin decided to open another campus with all the sports and ECs that exist at its current campus, on Capitol Hill or near Basis, Basis would likely lose most of its current student body.

If Basis had been given the new Macarthur High School building and moved its campus there, Basis would have lost nearly all of its current student body because the logistics of getting there would be horrendous for anyone on Capitol Hill.

I know 3 Capitol Hill families at Basis, and they are fine with Basis...but all would be gone if any of the above existed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What kind of parent whose kid does not even attend Basis DC has the time or energy to dissect their academics, business model, shortcomings, etc.

Should they not focus on the illiteracy rate in DC and at schools like JR and how to combat that? Oh, that won't help their "high performing" kid.

Anonymous wrote:The whole Basis argument comes down to three things:

1. Is the in-bounds option even remotely worth consideration;
2. Logistics: if I go charter, what schools are logistically feasible; and
3. Good Enough: based on the above, is my charter or in-bounds option good enough.

If the middle school/HS for Eastern magically transformed to that identically of Deal and JR, then Basis would lose most of its current student body.

If Latin decided to open another campus with all the sports and ECs that exist at its current campus, on Capitol Hill or near Basis, Basis would likely lose most of its current student body.

If Basis had been given the new Macarthur High School building and moved its campus there, Basis would have lost nearly all of its current student body because the logistics of getting there would be horrendous for anyone on Capitol Hill.

I know 3 Capitol Hill families at Basis, and they are fine with Basis...but all would be gone if any of the above existed.

Honestly if kids are illiterate in high school there’s nothing short of brain surgery that will make them literate. At that point it’s entirely endogenous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
What kind of parent whose kid does not even attend Basis DC has the time or energy to dissect their academics, business model, shortcomings, etc.

Should they not focus on the illiteracy rate in DC and at schools like JR and how to combat that? Oh, that won't help their "high performing" kid.

Anonymous wrote:The whole Basis argument comes down to three things:

1. Is the in-bounds option even remotely worth consideration;
2. Logistics: if I go charter, what schools are logistically feasible; and
3. Good Enough: based on the above, is my charter or in-bounds option good enough.

If the middle school/HS for Eastern magically transformed to that identically of Deal and JR, then Basis would lose most of its current student body.

If Latin decided to open another campus with all the sports and ECs that exist at its current campus, on Capitol Hill or near Basis, Basis would likely lose most of its current student body.

If Basis had been given the new Macarthur High School building and moved its campus there, Basis would have lost nearly all of its current student body because the logistics of getting there would be horrendous for anyone on Capitol Hill.

I know 3 Capitol Hill families at Basis, and they are fine with Basis...but all would be gone if any of the above existed.

Honestly if kids are illiterate in high school there’s nothing short of brain surgery that will make them literate. At that point it’s entirely endogenous.

I gather PP meant underperforming...because the illiteracy rate at JR is essentially 0%.

However, to answer PP, I guess the way we could "combat it" is to kick out the illiterate and underperforming kids...just like BASIS does.

[Anonymous]

I'm another PP. I can't do anything about illiteracy rate at JR. But I did go through these lottery travails with two kids, and found this board useful in some ways, and now I don't mind sharing what I've learned. I don't have another agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole Basis argument comes down to three things:

1. Is the in-bounds option even remotely worth consideration;
2. Logistics: if I go charter, what schools are logistically feasible; and
3. Good Enough: based on the above, is my charter or in-bounds option good enough.

If the middle school/HS for Eastern magically transformed to that identically of Deal and JR, then Basis would lose most of its current student body.

If Latin decided to open another campus with all the sports and ECs that exist at its current campus, on Capitol Hill or near Basis, Basis would likely lose most of its current student body.

If Basis had been given the new Macarthur High School building and moved its campus there, Basis would have lost nearly all of its current student body because the logistics of getting there would be horrendous for anyone on Capitol Hill.

I know 3 Capitol Hill families at Basis, and they are fine with Basis...but all would be gone if any of the above existed.

Another useless post by a self-appointed Basis “expert.”

Sample size of 3 and you never had a kid at the school, yet you pontificate about what “nearly all” Basis families would do.

We are at Basis and wouldn’t leave for any of your imaginary options and don’t know anyone who would.

We do know families that would jump to Walls (however, some would pick and did pick Basis over Walls) or Big 3 private.