PSA on math classes for kids who switch from BASIS to Walls for 9th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS will accept credit for Geometry as long as the kid’s transcript says they took one year of Geometry. There’s no checklist of topics, no test to determine mastery, etc. Basis wouldn’t need to change their curriculum or rigor at all. They would need to code geometry as a full credit independent course on the transcript. They’ve known this for almost a decade now and refuse to do it.

Refuse? Basis has the same curriculum at all the Basis schools around the US. Why would they water it down to a 1 year course in DC just to make it easier for kids to go to Walls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS will accept credit for Geometry as long as the kid’s transcript says they took one year of Geometry. There’s no checklist of topics, no test to determine mastery, etc. Basis wouldn’t need to change their curriculum or rigor at all. They would need to code geometry as a full credit independent course on the transcript. They’ve known this for almost a decade now and refuse to do it.

Refuse? Basis has the same curriculum at all the Basis schools around the US. Why would they water it down to a 1 year course in DC just to make it easier for kids to go to Walls?

+1. Sounds like DCPS/Walls is the one being inflexible here. They already caved on algebra. Why not geometry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when I went to CTY, the sessions were 3 weeks. Are kids learning an entire year of Geometry in a 3 week summer session?

…. they already learned Geometry.

Skeptical that Walls would not accept 2 years of Basis geometry to get out of 9th grade geometry but would accept a 3-week online CTY geometry course…

All about checking the box for DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I would post a possible strategy for anyone whose kid decides to switch to Walls from BASIS for 9th. The rumors are true - your kid will be placed/have to repeat Geometry in 9th grade. Assuming you have a strong math kid, your 9th grade kid can also take (concurrently) precalculus as one of their two electives for the year. What I would suggest trying (and would have tried, if I'd known what I know now) is taking Geometry over the summer in a DCPS-approved (online) course - maybe CTY (I know one kid who got credit via CTY for either algebra or geometry - not sure which)? (Obviously once you get in to Walls, talk to the school/counselor to figure out what DCPS will give credit for). This way, hopefully, you can avoid your kid having to take a super boring, repetitive, and tedious Geometry class (kid's least favorite class by far in 9th) for an entire year.

Any other thoughts about the transition to Walls from BASIS, good or bad?

BASIS has better academics/more rigorous; in contrast Walls is decent (I give it a solid "B") academics-wise (and the peer cohort is all very high-performing/well-behaved) and is much more fun socially. So totally depends on what the priority is for you/your kid. Either way your kid will turn out fine and go to a good college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when I went to CTY, the sessions were 3 weeks. Are kids learning an entire year of Geometry in a 3 week summer session?

…. they already learned Geometry.

Skeptical that Walls would not accept 2 years of Basis geometry to get out of 9th grade geometry but would accept a 3-week online CTY geometry course…

All about checking the box for DCPS

Skeptical of this anec-data. I have not found any verification that DCPS accepts CTY credits. My 7th grade algebra student would love to take summer geometry to place out of the 8th grade class (to avoid a particular teacher). We've been told that DCPS doesn't accept third party summer math classes for credit. (I think Deal may offer a summer math course for DCPS credit, but it's only available to Deal families, which we are not.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when I went to CTY, the sessions were 3 weeks. Are kids learning an entire year of Geometry in a 3 week summer session?

…. they already learned Geometry.

Skeptical that Walls would not accept 2 years of Basis geometry to get out of 9th grade geometry but would accept a 3-week online CTY geometry course…

All about checking the box for DCPS

Skeptical of this anec-data. I have not found any verification that DCPS accepts CTY credits. My 7th grade algebra student would love to take summer geometry to place out of the 8th grade class (to avoid a particular teacher). We've been told that DCPS doesn't accept third party summer math classes for credit. (I think Deal may offer a summer math course for DCPS credit, but it's only available to Deal families, which we are not.)

I think you received incorrect information unless rules recently changed. A few years ago DCPS gave my daughter credit for geometry that she took through CTY. The trick is you need central office to approve the request before actually taking the class

[Anonymous]

I think you received incorrect information unless rules recently changed. A few years ago DCPS gave my daughter credit for geometry that she took through CTY. The trick is you need central office to approve the request before actually taking the class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you received incorrect information unless rules recently changed. A few years ago DCPS gave my daughter credit for geometry that she took through CTY. The trick is you need central office to approve the request before actually taking the class

This. Preapproved CTY credit only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you received incorrect information unless rules recently changed. A few years ago DCPS gave my daughter credit for geometry that she took through CTY. The trick is you need central office to approve the request before actually taking the class

This is great advice. DCUM sometimes actually works doesn't it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you received incorrect information unless rules recently changed. A few years ago DCPS gave my daughter credit for geometry that she took through CTY. The trick is you need central office to approve the request before actually taking the class

This. Preapproved CTY credit only.

If you place out of geometry with CTY, what math do you take at Walls in 9th grade?

[Anonymous]

If you are coming from basis - precalculus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when I went to CTY, the sessions were 3 weeks. Are kids learning an entire year of Geometry in a 3 week summer session?

…. they already learned Geometry.

Skeptical that Walls would not accept 2 years of Basis geometry to get out of 9th grade geometry but would accept a 3-week online CTY geometry course…

All about checking the box for DCPS

Skeptical of this anec-data. I have not found any verification that DCPS accepts CTY credits. My 7th grade algebra student would love to take summer geometry to place out of the 8th grade class (to avoid a particular teacher). We've been told that DCPS doesn't accept third party summer math classes for credit. (I think Deal may offer a summer math course for DCPS credit, but it's only available to Deal families, which we are not.)

My daughter did precalc at CTY--or rather, in one of CTY's online programs. It's one of a handful of online programs that DCPS does accept credit from. DCPS has a list of programs it accepts and won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS will accept credit for Geometry as long as the kid’s transcript says they took one year of Geometry. There’s no checklist of topics, no test to determine mastery, etc. Basis wouldn’t need to change their curriculum or rigor at all. They would need to code geometry as a full credit independent course on the transcript. They’ve known this for almost a decade now and refuse to do it.

Refuse? Basis has the same curriculum at all the Basis schools around the US. Why would they water it down to a 1 year course in DC just to make it easier for kids to go to Walls?

PP and please re read what I wrote. It just has to say a full credit of geometry on their transcript. Basis doesn’t have to change the curriculum or cut it down to a one year course. They have to have one full Carnegie unit of geometry. That could be coded as two .5 credit courses over two years. No one cares, it just has to say one full credit of geometry. Basis could do that but they won’t do it. DCPS is already giving exceptions to basis kids on algebra I and algebra II. This is on Basis.

[Anonymous]

Really here is the warning to the Basis parents looking to go to Walls need - be sure, and get it **in writing** that Basis will issue your child an official transcript. My current 9th grader (who is super bored in Geometry and loving Precalc) had to fight tooth and nail to get them to issue one and it was 2 weeks into the school year before it happened (basically said they were phasing this process out if you did not complete 9th grade at Basis) - hopefully this wont continue this year and it will be an easy transition for those kids who want to move. You get credit for nothing if its not on a transcript.

From our perspective the change in cohort was key - lots of bullying not being addressed and constant class interruptions with behavior issues.
Kiddo is much happier, the work is easier - but is seems to be more of a volume thing. They are involved in more clubs and activities than they were at basis, and overall is thrilled we moved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back when I went to CTY, the sessions were 3 weeks. Are kids learning an entire year of Geometry in a 3 week summer session?

…. they already learned Geometry.

Skeptical that Walls would not accept 2 years of Basis geometry to get out of 9th grade geometry but would accept a 3-week online CTY geometry course…

All about checking the box for DCPS

Skeptical of this anec-data. I have not found any verification that DCPS accepts CTY credits. My 7th grade algebra student would love to take summer geometry to place out of the 8th grade class (to avoid a particular teacher). We've been told that DCPS doesn't accept third party summer math classes for credit. (I think Deal may offer a summer math course for DCPS credit, but it's only available to Deal families, which we are not.)

My daughter did precalc at CTY--or rather, in one of CTY's online programs. It's one of a handful of online programs that DCPS does accept credit from. DCPS has a list of programs it accepts and won't.

Where can I find this list/instructions? This is great news if we can get authorization.