Sports at Basis?

[Anonymous]

No, that's not the only important question.

Elite public schools in world-class cities with weak facilities and extra curriculars, and curricula that don't stretch to advanced Spanish for those who can handle it, at taxpayers expense aren't a great fit for kids.

They're what's called a make-do proposition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of competitive kids at BASIS play serious sports and do other intensive extra curriculars (from music to advanced languages in middle school, to acting programs etc.). But, yes, as a parent, you get to pay the dough and do the leg work to make it all happen. Be prepared.

If your UMC BASIS kids to have a shot at highly competitive colleges, it's v. short-sighted to stick with what the school offers. This past spring, there was a great deal of disappointment at BASIS, even shock, at how many of the top 10 or 15 kids didn't wind up with options at colleges admitting in the single digits. IMHO, weak EC accomplishments were mainly to blame. The 2022 admissions results were an eye-opener for the parents community, though a handful of kids cracked MIT, Harvard, Yale. The class in question was particularly strong academically, the first group that came all the way up from 5th grade.

Disappointment and shock? Not really. In fact, the class did well in college admissions. For example, its results were better per capita than a lot of other top public schools in the area such as Montgomery Blair and Whitman that, because of their larger size, offer many more extracurricular activities.

I stand by disappointment and shock at having been denied Yale, Harvard etc. Too many parents drank the BASIS Koolaid and expected more for their family's sacrifices. There were tears in late March.

[Anonymous]

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Sports at BASIS are essentially at the intramural level. Lots of fun for kids who like to kick or toss a ball around but not for competitive youth athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of competitive kids at BASIS play serious sports and do other intensive extra curriculars (from music to advanced languages in middle school, to acting programs etc.). But, yes, as a parent, you get to pay the dough and do the leg work to make it all happen. Be prepared.

If your UMC BASIS kids to have a shot at highly competitive colleges, it's v. short-sighted to stick with what the school offers. This past spring, there was a great deal of disappointment at BASIS, even shock, at how many of the top 10 or 15 kids didn't wind up with options at colleges admitting in the single digits. IMHO, weak EC accomplishments were mainly to blame. The 2022 admissions results were an eye-opener for the parents community, though a handful of kids cracked MIT, Harvard, Yale. The class in question was particularly strong academically, the first group that came all the way up from 5th grade.

Disappointment and shock? Not really. In fact, the class did well in college admissions. For example, its results were better per capita than a lot of other top public schools in the area such as Montgomery Blair and Whitman that, because of their larger size, offer many more extracurricular activities.

True.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of competitive kids at BASIS play serious sports and do other intensive extra curriculars (from music to advanced languages in middle school, to acting programs etc.). But, yes, as a parent, you get to pay the dough and do the leg work to make it all happen. Be prepared.

If your UMC BASIS kids to have a shot at highly competitive colleges, it's v. short-sighted to stick with what the school offers. This past spring, there was a great deal of disappointment at BASIS, even shock, at how many of the top 10 or 15 kids didn't wind up with options at colleges admitting in the single digits. IMHO, weak EC accomplishments were mainly to blame. The 2022 admissions results were an eye-opener for the parents community, though a handful of kids cracked MIT, Harvard, Yale. The class in question was particularly strong academically, the first group that came all the way up from 5th grade.

Disappointment and shock? Not really. In fact, the class did well in college admissions. For example, its results were better per capita than a lot of other top public schools in the area such as Montgomery Blair and Whitman that, because of their larger size, offer many more extracurricular activities.

I stand by disappointment and shock at having been denied Yale, Harvard etc. Too many parents drank the BASIS Koolaid and expected more for their family's sacrifices. There were tears in late March.

Aw, must have been hard for you. Where did your kid get in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all sounds fantastic, but the reality is that the facilities and resources simply just aren't there to support serious versions of most of these clubs. Musicals, and debates for that matter, are only so good without an auditorium or school orchestra. Cooking isn't too hot without a decent kitchen. Parents generally must pay for competitors to travel to Yale etc. for Certamen. ASL isn't taught as a language class at BASIS (often the case in suburban middle schools and high schools in this area). Even Science Olympiad isn't all that great without great labs for robotics and research. The clubs are much better than nothing of course, but I'd take it all with a grain of sale if you're interested in BASIS. JR has much more serious ECs overall and so does Walls. My kid rows on the joint JR-Walls crew team out of the Georgetown boat house.

Does your kid do competitive cooking too?

Every child's dream is to prepare a delicious croque madame in the Walls/JR rustic French gourmet kitchen before heading out with his crewmates from the Georgetown boathouse.

Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of competitive kids at BASIS play serious sports and do other intensive extra curriculars (from music to advanced languages in middle school, to acting programs etc.). But, yes, as a parent, you get to pay the dough and do the leg work to make it all happen. Be prepared.

If your UMC BASIS kids to have a shot at highly competitive colleges, it's v. short-sighted to stick with what the school offers. This past spring, there was a great deal of disappointment at BASIS, even shock, at how many of the top 10 or 15 kids didn't wind up with options at colleges admitting in the single digits. IMHO, weak EC accomplishments were mainly to blame. The 2022 admissions results were an eye-opener for the parents community, though a handful of kids cracked MIT, Harvard, Yale. The class in question was particularly strong academically, the first group that came all the way up from 5th grade.

Disappointment and shock? Not really. In fact, the class did well in college admissions. For example, its results were better per capita than a lot of other top public schools in the area such as Montgomery Blair and Whitman that, because of their larger size, offer many more extracurricular activities.

I stand by disappointment and shock at having been denied Yale, Harvard etc. Too many parents drank the BASIS Koolaid and expected more for their family's sacrifices. There were tears in late March.

Aw, must have been hard for you. Where did your kid get in?

We'd out ourselves if I told you. An Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all sounds fantastic, but the reality is that the facilities and resources simply just aren't there to support serious versions of most of these clubs. Musicals, and debates for that matter, are only so good without an auditorium or school orchestra. Cooking isn't too hot without a decent kitchen. Parents generally must pay for competitors to travel to Yale etc. for Certamen. ASL isn't taught as a language class at BASIS (often the case in suburban middle schools and high schools in this area). Even Science Olympiad isn't all that great without great labs for robotics and research. The clubs are much better than nothing of course, but I'd take it all with a grain of sale if you're interested in BASIS. JR has much more serious ECs overall and so does Walls. My kid rows on the joint JR-Walls crew team out of the Georgetown boat house.

Does your kid do competitive cooking too?

Every child's dream is to prepare a delicious croque madame in the Walls/JR rustic French gourmet kitchen before heading out with his crewmates from the Georgetown boathouse.

Lol

Just hilarious that BASIS doesn't offer more in the way of competitive sports and that the building sucks. Which BASIS family would complain if things were different? Good for Walls and JR for taking advantage of Georgetown's offer to let them use the boathouse (for free).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of competitive kids at BASIS play serious sports and do other intensive extra curriculars (from music to advanced languages in middle school, to acting programs etc.). But, yes, as a parent, you get to pay the dough and do the leg work to make it all happen. Be prepared.

If your UMC BASIS kids to have a shot at highly competitive colleges, it's v. short-sighted to stick with what the school offers. This past spring, there was a great deal of disappointment at BASIS, even shock, at how many of the top 10 or 15 kids didn't wind up with options at colleges admitting in the single digits. IMHO, weak EC accomplishments were mainly to blame. The 2022 admissions results were an eye-opener for the parents community, though a handful of kids cracked MIT, Harvard, Yale. The class in question was particularly strong academically, the first group that came all the way up from 5th grade.

Disappointment and shock? Not really. In fact, the class did well in college admissions. For example, its results were better per capita than a lot of other top public schools in the area such as Montgomery Blair and Whitman that, because of their larger size, offer many more extracurricular activities.

Yes, kids from BASIS 2022 class went to lots of great schools. And FYI, the BASIS class of 2020 (not 2022) was the first class that started in 5th grade and went through all 8 years at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all sounds fantastic, but the reality is that the facilities and resources simply just aren't there to support serious versions of most of these clubs. Musicals, and debates for that matter, are only so good without an auditorium or school orchestra. Cooking isn't too hot without a decent kitchen. Parents generally must pay for competitors to travel to Yale etc. for Certamen. ASL isn't taught as a language class at BASIS (often the case in suburban middle schools and high schools in this area). Even Science Olympiad isn't all that great without great labs for robotics and research. The clubs are much better than nothing of course, but I'd take it all with a grain of sale if you're interested in BASIS. JR has much more serious ECs overall and so does Walls. My kid rows on the joint JR-Walls crew team out of the Georgetown boat house.

Does your kid do competitive cooking too?

Every child's dream is to prepare a delicious croque madame in the Walls/JR rustic French gourmet kitchen before heading out with his crewmates from the Georgetown boathouse.

Lol

Just hilarious that BASIS doesn't offer more in the way of competitive sports and that the building sucks. Which BASIS family would complain if things were different? Good for Walls and JR for taking advantage of Georgetown's offer to let them use the boathouse (for free).

Hell yeah! BASIS parents should be ashamed of choosing superior academics over… (checks notes) … a crew team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It all sounds fantastic, but the reality is that the facilities and resources simply just aren't there to support serious versions of most of these clubs. Musicals, and debates for that matter, are only so good without an auditorium or school orchestra. Cooking isn't too hot without a decent kitchen. Parents generally must pay for competitors to travel to Yale etc. for Certamen. ASL isn't taught as a language class at BASIS (often the case in suburban middle schools and high schools in this area). Even Science Olympiad isn't all that great without great labs for robotics and research. The clubs are much better than nothing of course, but I'd take it all with a grain of sale if you're interested in BASIS. JR has much more serious ECs overall and so does Walls. My kid rows on the joint JR-Walls crew team out of the Georgetown boat house.

Does your kid do competitive cooking too?

Every child's dream is to prepare a delicious croque madame in the Walls/JR rustic French gourmet kitchen before heading out with his crewmates from the Georgetown boathouse.

Lol

Just hilarious that BASIS doesn't offer more in the way of competitive sports and that the building sucks. Which BASIS family would complain if things were different? Good for Walls and JR for taking advantage of Georgetown's offer to let them use the boathouse (for free).

And they don't have a library so students can't even research the sport they would like to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of competitive kids at BASIS play serious sports and do other intensive extra curriculars (from music to advanced languages in middle school, to acting programs etc.). But, yes, as a parent, you get to pay the dough and do the leg work to make it all happen. Be prepared.

If your UMC BASIS kids to have a shot at highly competitive colleges, it's v. short-sighted to stick with what the school offers. This past spring, there was a great deal of disappointment at BASIS, even shock, at how many of the top 10 or 15 kids didn't wind up with options at colleges admitting in the single digits. IMHO, weak EC accomplishments were mainly to blame. The 2022 admissions results were an eye-opener for the parents community, though a handful of kids cracked MIT, Harvard, Yale. The class in question was particularly strong academically, the first group that came all the way up from 5th grade.

Disappointment and shock? Not really. In fact, the class did well in college admissions. For example, its results were better per capita than a lot of other top public schools in the area such as Montgomery Blair and Whitman that, because of their larger size, offer many more extracurricular activities.

Yes, kids from BASIS 2022 class went to lots of great schools. And FYI, the BASIS class of 2020 (not 2022) was the first class that started in 5th grade and went through all 8 years at BASIS.

Seriously - why do uninformed people post here? And BASIS kids can row with any team they want, either at Thompsons or Anacostia.

And if you want a high school that focuses on Spanish, there is DCI.

I would take the BASIS college admits over the last three years over Latin’s. And not paying $50k a year for private has made paying for college a lot easier for this family.

[Anonymous]

Parents who grumble on charter threads just don't get it.

BASIS has a waiting list that it doesn't clear. So nobody in charge cares if your kid keeps up their fluent Spanish. Nobody cares that DCI doesn't offer rigor or that you can't lottery into a spot for Spanish there. Nobody cares if the sports BASIS offers aren't too serious. Bowser and the city council members don't give a hoot if you, UMC parent, leave DC over schools. Nobody even cares that, overall, DC public students lost more ground during the pandemic academically than students in 49 states (all but Delaware).

If you want good schools where you're valued as a stakeholder, you need to pay for private or move. You're just not going to find what you're looking for in DC.

[Anonymous]

+1000. Nobody cares.