Thinking about BASIS Mclean, but concerned about negative experiences listed here....

[pbraverman]

Anonymous wrote:Peter- thanks for your information. They make it seem like they have more recess time than other schools (3 is more than we currently have at our school but they do stay outside longer than 15 minutes).

We're currently at a small Montessori school and are transitioning simply because the school is too small (socially) and eventually need to transition to a more "traditional" school at some point.

We're looking for small class sizes, close proximity (we live in Vienna), character education and a sense of community. We do want a place where the kids will be challenged, but not stressed out and we value a broad education- humanities, arts and not only STEM. We want them to continue to love school as much as they do now and not "burn out" before they get to college.

Would you suggest another school in the area or am I asking for too much? The only reason we haven't looked at our public schools is because we were concerned about class sizes.

Maybe it would be better if I contacted you offline?

I would still appreciate input from current BASIS families on their personal experiences with the school/teachers/admin.

Hi there. I'd be happy to talk further if you'd like to shoot me a note. If you have a DCUM account, you can send me a Private Message, or use the email in my disclaimer.

Cheers,
Peter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at flint hill, Potomac and congressional.

This. Based on the priorities you listed I have no idea why you'd be looking at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Basis may get it together in a year or two, but things have not gone smoothly yet. Some current students left mid-year, to return to other DC area schools.

[Anonymous]

Yes, BASIS is more in the league of Nysmith, TJ, at least that is its goal or plan.

It's so competitive to get into TJ. so many parents would send kids to BASIS. Nesmith doesn't have high school part. It used to be hard to get in - requiring an IQ test and score 130 or above. But lately, they have lowered their required IQ score to just one standard deviation above the average (I know it is accepting kids with IQ 114). This is a far cry from what Nysmith used to hold itself to be.

Nysmith's tuition is at least $10K more than BASIS and once you are in BASIS, you can go all the way to HS. Therefore many parents with kids who didn't get into TJ, or with younger kids and want the academic rigors and care less about arts, literature or leadership/community service/character education/sports, etc. would send kids to BASIS.

However, because it is relatively new to our area (NOVA), and some parents didn't know that BASIS emphasizes so much on the academic rigors and the students who thrive there are usually academic high achievers, they inadvertently enrolled their kids there to whom the school may not be ideal or best suitable. These students may have struggled previously in academic performance, or have been good students in public or private schools but not in the level of Nysmith's. These kids can't keep up or are not used to putting much time into studying like a typical Nysmith student would or has to. These students would leave sooner or later. BASIS would not try to keep them either.

BASIS gives a cash reward to teachers for each student who gets 5 for an AP test.

In a nutshell, if your kid is academically endowed, loves to learn, has a high IQ, wants to get into TJ or gets a similar education as TJ or Nysmith, doesn't care much about arts and community service/leadership/policy making/politics/poems/sports.... but very much into math, science, engineering and technology, BASIS could be a good fit.

[Anonymous]

The replies by non-BASIS parents crack me up. My actual experience there this past year has been completely different than the descriptions posed by people who haven't had children there. SMH. No it's not for everyone, but it's completely uninformed to say that they don't focus on arts, literature, community, politics, poems, etc. I actually wish they spent a little less time on the arts, music, and foreign language to be honest. They aren't big on sports, but do have sports teams and many did extremely well this year. But it isn't a school for sports-fanatics.

Just take a look at the curriculum. Only someone who hasn't looked at the actual required classes could say that it isn't a well rounded program. It is not at all STEM in the sense of TJ - meaning at the exclusion of a well-rounded liberal arts education. I found the BASIS curriculum to be strong across the board, but simply has good math and a strong science curriculum. They aren't pushing the STEM idea anymore because they realized that people in NoVA think of TJ when you say STEM, and BASIS is not that focused on STEM alone.

I do agree with the poster who said kids need to be self-motivated and hard working. If a kid isn't, then the pace at BASIS would be difficult. And they do not grade on a curve, ever. Kids get Cs, Ds and Fs when that is what they earn. From my experience there last year, and that of most of the parents who I have gotten to know there, it isn't easy, but it isn't a pressure cooker either.

I would not recommend sending a child there with any kind of special needs however. I don't think it's the right curriculum or pace for a child that has those extra struggles like ADD or reading difficulty. It would just make it much harder for a child to keep up the pace. The school can't be all things to all kids, and I think they most likely won't ever be great at accommodating special learning needs. That's just not their niche.

[Anonymous]

Any updates about why Sean Aiken left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Run. Away.

Filled with Indians. Or non-white

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any updates about why Sean Aiken left?

The BASIS DC economics teacher/data specialist came over.

[Anonymous]

The only thing good abou basis is its location in tysons, literally next to several major employers like Freddie Mac, penfed, pwc, EY

[Anonymous]

We were there the first year, then left. It's awful. Nothing good about it at all. So many good privates to choose from, and publics, there is zero reason to go to a place that treats the kids and teachers like slaves.

[Anonymous]

Langley family here and have been there for the past 4 years. If you are looking for the whole package I’m terms of social and emotional development, it’s a great school. If you are looking for very advanced academics or ultra competitive athletics programs I recommend you look elsewhere though.