Basis Charter School - Experience and Insight Requested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I don't think this is that outlandish. I am an elementary school teacher and our art classroom has a small kiln.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I don't think this is that outlandish. I am an elementary school teacher and our art classroom has a small kiln.

Eastern, Dunbar and Roosevelt have lovely buildings. Of course they are filled with kids who can't score at grade level on CAPE. But by all means let's focus on what matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loooong post above says little more than the v. short post above it.

BASIS is decent for 5th grade for almost everybody. But the higher you go, the more complicated it gets. We left after middle school not because the work, rigor and testing were stressful.

We were out the door because the curriculum is narrow, the facilities and enrichment weak, the best teachers tend to leave, admins are OT pushy and parents are absurdly disempowered.

On top of all that, the campus (and franchise?) is ridiculously indebted and cash strapped.

They've been running a surplus for years. It's actually something that pisses me off since I'd rather see the money reinvested. The only debt they have is the building. All charter schools have mortgage service. But by all means don't let facts get in the way of your narrative.

P.S. This is "Exhibit A" for why it is useless to try and get info about BASIS on DCUM.

Exhibit B shows us how useless to try and get info about BASIS from current BASIS parents and admins. You need to talk to parents of top students who bailed to get a rounded picture. Hint: almost everybody with the dough to leave, luck in Walls admissions, and/or a willingness to move to Upper NW or the burbs, exits somewhere between 6th and 9th grades.

This is untrue. I know this for a fact because my kid was admitted to Walls and we chose to stay, and weren’t the only ones by a long shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loooong post above says little more than the v. short post above it.

BASIS is decent for 5th grade for almost everybody. But the higher you go, the more complicated it gets. We left after middle school not because the work, rigor and testing were stressful.

We were out the door because the curriculum is narrow, the facilities and enrichment weak, the best teachers tend to leave, admins are OT pushy and parents are absurdly disempowered.

On top of all that, the campus (and franchise?) is ridiculously indebted and cash strapped.

They've been running a surplus for years. It's actually something that pisses me off since I'd rather see the money reinvested. The only debt they have is the building. All charter schools have mortgage service. But by all means don't let facts get in the way of your narrative.

P.S. This is "Exhibit A" for why it is useless to try and get info about BASIS on DCUM.

Exhibit B shows us how useless to try and get info about BASIS from current BASIS parents and admins. You need to talk to parents of top students who bailed to get a rounded picture. Hint: almost everybody with the dough to leave, luck in Walls admissions, and/or a willingness to move to Upper NW or the burbs, exits somewhere between 6th and 9th grades.

This is untrue. I know this for a fact because my kid was admitted to Walls and we chose to stay, and weren’t the only ones by a long shot.

Agreed. There is so much misinformation and hyperbole about BASIS on DCUM, which is why I always feel compelled to come here and share facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I know Watkins has this, and I think Peabody does as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I know Watkins has this, and I think Peabody does as well?

My kids went to Peabody and I have all kinds of pottery from those years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I don't think this is that outlandish. I am an elementary school teacher and our art classroom has a small kiln.

Eastern, Dunbar and Roosevelt have lovely buildings. Of course they are filled with kids who can't score at grade level on CAPE. But by all means let's focus on what matters.

But but but they have a KILN!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I don't think this is that outlandish. I am an elementary school teacher and our art classroom has a small kiln.

Eastern, Dunbar and Roosevelt have lovely buildings. Of course they are filled with kids who can't score at grade level on CAPE. But by all means let's focus on what matters.

But but but they have a KILN!

Indeed. 2800 kids enrolled in 3 high schools with almost no kids at grade level but DCUM as always is focused on what matters...250 BASIS high school kids at a high performing lottery optional school. Never change DCUM. Never change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loooong post above says little more than the v. short post above it.

BASIS is decent for 5th grade for almost everybody. But the higher you go, the more complicated it gets. We left after middle school not because the work, rigor and testing were stressful.

We were out the door because the curriculum is narrow, the facilities and enrichment weak, the best teachers tend to leave, admins are OT pushy and parents are absurdly disempowered.

On top of all that, the campus (and franchise?) is ridiculously indebted and cash strapped.

They've been running a surplus for years. It's actually something that pisses me off since I'd rather see the money reinvested. The only debt they have is the building. All charter schools have mortgage service. But by all means don't let facts get in the way of your narrative.

P.S. This is "Exhibit A" for why it is useless to try and get info about BASIS on DCUM.

Exhibit B shows us how useless to try and get info about BASIS from current BASIS parents and admins. You need to talk to parents of top students who bailed to get a rounded picture. Hint: almost everybody with the dough to leave, luck in Walls admissions, and/or a willingness to move to Upper NW or the burbs, exits somewhere between 6th and 9th grades.

This is untrue. I know this for a fact because my kid was admitted to Walls and we chose to stay, and weren’t the only ones by a long shot.

Total BS that most of the BASIS 8th graders who apply to Walls and get in choose to stay. ALMOST everybody above is correct.

My kid lost his half dozen best middle schools buddies to Walls or privates. He then refused to stay at BASIS. He's at JR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loooong post above says little more than the v. short post above it.

BASIS is decent for 5th grade for almost everybody. But the higher you go, the more complicated it gets. We left after middle school not because the work, rigor and testing were stressful.

We were out the door because the curriculum is narrow, the facilities and enrichment weak, the best teachers tend to leave, admins are OT pushy and parents are absurdly disempowered.

On top of all that, the campus (and franchise?) is ridiculously indebted and cash strapped.

They've been running a surplus for years. It's actually something that pisses me off since I'd rather see the money reinvested. The only debt they have is the building. All charter schools have mortgage service. But by all means don't let facts get in the way of your narrative.

P.S. This is "Exhibit A" for why it is useless to try and get info about BASIS on DCUM.

Exhibit B shows us how useless to try and get info about BASIS from current BASIS parents and admins. You need to talk to parents of top students who bailed to get a rounded picture. Hint: almost everybody with the dough to leave, luck in Walls admissions, and/or a willingness to move to Upper NW or the burbs, exits somewhere between 6th and 9th grades.

This is untrue. I know this for a fact because my kid was admitted to Walls and we chose to stay, and weren’t the only ones by a long shot.

Yes, ours too. Look -- some choose to leave. Some choose to stay. I was surprised that mine wanted to stay, but they had found their comfortable spot and their friend group and enjoys the general sense that no one cares what they wear, no one cares if they're good at sports, there is little to no bullying and little to no "popular crowd" or social pressures that anyone pays attention to, and they like it being small. Would I like more high-quality extracurriculars for my kid? Sure. Would I go crazy in a class of 56? Sure. Do I take seriously that 2/3 of the original 5th grade cohort chose to leave by 8th? Sure. But it was my kid's choice and, after 4 years at the school already, they knew what BASIS is and isn't and still preferred it over Walls.

That's all to say, OP, that there's a really wide range of experiences and, in the end, it is very particular to each person. Many kids enjoy 5th grade at BASIS. 6th grade becomes more stressful with the end-of-year exams (comps) and their midyear precursors (pre-comps). People will leave every year. But those who remain become a pretty tight, small cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What public school in DC has a kiln and teaches pottery?

I don't think this is that outlandish. I am an elementary school teacher and our art classroom has a small kiln.

I am the one who asked the question, but not from an outlandish perspective. I actually thought this was super cool as our public school does not have one.

[Anonymous]

My son’s friend went for 5th and described it as only fun there for kids who do really well on tests. According to him, everyone knows who is not doing well and pities them. He said he got depressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loooong post above says little more than the v. short post above it.

BASIS is decent for 5th grade for almost everybody. But the higher you go, the more complicated it gets. We left after middle school not because the work, rigor and testing were stressful.

We were out the door because the curriculum is narrow, the facilities and enrichment weak, the best teachers tend to leave, admins are OT pushy and parents are absurdly disempowered.

On top of all that, the campus (and franchise?) is ridiculously indebted and cash strapped.

They've been running a surplus for years. It's actually something that pisses me off since I'd rather see the money reinvested. The only debt they have is the building. All charter schools have mortgage service. But by all means don't let facts get in the way of your narrative.

P.S. This is "Exhibit A" for why it is useless to try and get info about BASIS on DCUM.

No. The nonprofit runs the school and the for profit, which is heavily leveraged, owns the property, the curriculum etc

Just pull the real estate records if you don’t believe me.

[Anonymous]

Most kids who enroll leave, so chances are it’s not the school for you, but hey… maybe it will be different for you. Just ask one of the parents of kids who, statistically are not the norm, and stay. They’ll insist that it’s great and everyone stays - even tho most do not.

They’ll also feign confusion over the for profit status.

[Anonymous]

From the perspective of certain families it’s fine if Basis is a pit stop on way to privates, Walls, or Banneker: It’s gets you past what could be a completely unviable middle school depending on your zoning. That’s 3-4 more years to assess a high school path, whether that means going private, trying for Walls/Banneker, or even staying at Basis (which does work for a critical mass of students).

This is much better than “striking out” out in the lottery and being forced into (almost) immediate life changes, like moving or applying to/and paying for private school starting in 6th grade. This is the sort of calculus facing most people.