Basis DC feedback sought

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC is in the upper school at BASIS and has been doing well. For sure it's been a lot of work. 5th wasn't bad but it ramped up considerably over the next couple of years but surprisingly now DC has less homework than in previous years despite having a pretty big number of AP courses. I think those first couple of years laid down a good foundation and DC built up organizational skills and self discipline along with getting a good handle on essay writing and mechanics of AP testing. We honestly don't know what good alternative there'd be. We know a few families that left for Walls, but there are distinctly mixed reviews there - in many cases, Walls actually had kids going backward and retaking stuff they had already mastered which bewildered and frustrated families, I suspect because Walls can't really support accelerated students.

At least in math, some of those Basis students transferring to Walls are reTaking classes because they couldn’t perform on the placement tests. Perhaps basis taught it too fast, too young and the material wasn’t retained.

[Anonymous]

There have been numerous allegations of grade and GPA manipulation in upper school-- both inflation and deflation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC is in the upper school at BASIS and has been doing well. For sure it's been a lot of work. 5th wasn't bad but it ramped up considerably over the next couple of years but surprisingly now DC has less homework than in previous years despite having a pretty big number of AP courses. I think those first couple of years laid down a good foundation and DC built up organizational skills and self discipline along with getting a good handle on essay writing and mechanics of AP testing. We honestly don't know what good alternative there'd be. We know a few families that left for Walls, but there are distinctly mixed reviews there - in many cases, Walls actually had kids going backward and retaking stuff they had already mastered which bewildered and frustrated families, I suspect because Walls can't really support accelerated students.

At least in math, some of those Basis students transferring to Walls are reTaking classes because they couldn’t perform on the placement tests. Perhaps basis taught it too fast, too young and the material wasn’t retained.

Good thing the BASIS students are required to take AP calc AB and BC to prove what they don’t know

Why does SWW farm all their higher performing math students out to GW? Many have had the superior DCPS math curriculum. . .

[Anonymous]

This is a silly back and forth. We need more middle and high school options. No one is forcing anyone to go to Basis or any other school.

My kid is in Basis for high school. Got into SWW, which also went through its entire wait list last year.

DC couldn’t bear the thought of taking AP World History again at Walls, having already scored a5 on the AP exam.

[Anonymous]

Rotten that a kid who scored a 5 on AP World History would need to take a World History class at Walls.

Can nobody sort this idiocy out?

How about the BASIS HOS and concerned parents talking to Grosso and Antwan Wilson's offices to put pressure on Walls admins?

[Anonymous]

Maybe Walls does not believe that the "5" was obtained in a legitimate way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rotten that a kid who scored a 5 on AP World History would need to take a World History class at Walls.

Can nobody sort this idiocy out?

How about the BASIS HOS and concerned parents talking to Grosso and Antwan Wilson's offices to put pressure on Walls admins?

BASIS has tried every year for the last 5 years -- DCPS even hired BASIS' academic dean to work in the central office, and it made no difference. Parents have begged the DME.

BASIS did host the Chancellor earlier this year for his first visit to a charter school to 'collaborate' -- so maybe something will change this year. But too late for my kid.

But TBH it's not just Walls -- it's DCPS. Same thing happens at Wilson and Banneker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Walls does not believe that the "5" was obtained in a legitimate way?

Not Walls' judgment to make. The grades come from the College Board -- the same people who grade SWW's kids' AP exams. If a college is willing to accept the 5, I think SWW can suck it up and let these students (not very many of them) take another history class.

[Anonymous]

Who cares whether 4th grade Brent kids go to Basis or Jefferson. It should only matter whether a school works well for your child.

Basis 5th grade so far has been a good experience for my kid. He enjoys going to school and is doing well.

[Anonymous]

dcum posters love to generalize and hypothesize about everything.

They critique or boost a school such as basis when they have little knowledge of what really goes on at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC is in the upper school at BASIS and has been doing well. For sure it's been a lot of work. 5th wasn't bad but it ramped up considerably over the next couple of years but surprisingly now DC has less homework than in previous years despite having a pretty big number of AP courses. I think those first couple of years laid down a good foundation and DC built up organizational skills and self discipline along with getting a good handle on essay writing and mechanics of AP testing. We honestly don't know what good alternative there'd be. We know a few families that left for Walls, but there are distinctly mixed reviews there - in many cases, Walls actually had kids going backward and retaking stuff they had already mastered which bewildered and frustrated families, I suspect because Walls can't really support accelerated students.

At least in math, some of those Basis students transferring to Walls are reTaking classes because they couldn’t perform on the placement tests. Perhaps basis taught it too fast, too young and the material wasn’t retained.

Highly doubtful given the BASIS math PARCC scores are higher than those of just about any other school sending kids to Walls. I'm more inclined to be skeptical of the quality of Walls' placement test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rotten that a kid who scored a 5 on AP World History would need to take a World History class at Walls.

Can nobody sort this idiocy out?

How about the BASIS HOS and concerned parents talking to Grosso and Antwan Wilson's offices to put pressure on Walls admins?

BASIS has tried every year for the last 5 years -- DCPS even hired BASIS' academic dean to work in the central office, and it made no difference. Parents have begged the DME.

BASIS did host the Chancellor earlier this year for his first visit to a charter school to 'collaborate' -- so maybe something will change this year. But too late for my kid.

But TBH it's not just Walls -- it's DCPS. Same thing happens at Wilson and Banneker.

DCPS dysfunction. No kid who got a 5 on the AP should have to retake the class. The 5 already demonstrates proven mastery. And as for the math placement exam at Walls, DC took it last year, he passed it but thought it was poorly written. And he's a kid who competed in MathCounts and beat kids from many of the other schools around the area in math competitions. I take him at his word when he says it was a poorly written math test. We stayed at BASIS instead.

I think Walls just doesn't want to accommodate kids who are ahead of where Walls is ready for them to be.

[Anonymous]

Different exams. The admissions test is one.

Once enrolled a student needs to take multiple tests over several days each to place out of Geometry and PreCalc (or whatever). It’s a major hassle.

[Anonymous]

My friend is a TA in a very reputable college. One of her students is a top BASIS DC graduate with very high recommendations. She is totally confused as the young man who has passed multiple APs with "5" s is struggling in a subject which he supposedly excelled in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend is a TA in a very reputable college. One of her students is a top BASIS DC graduate with very high recommendations. She is totally confused as the young man who has passed multiple APs with "5" s is struggling in a subject which he supposedly excelled in.

This statement is meaningless. I went to a highly regarded high school 30 years ago, did very well in high school science classes and promptly did poorly as a freshman in college in the same classes.

College courses are a lot harder than even ap courses and there are a lot more distractions as a college student.