BASIS and Stuart Hobson options for MS

[Anonymous]

I have a kid at Basis and she has more PE than she did in elementary school, often running around on the National Mall if the weather is good. After school she has sports and dance classes or plays outside with friends, all easy to fit in because there's not a lot of homework. It would be great if the school had a library, but she is completely happy and so are her friends there. The academics are rigorous and there is lots of testing so it is not for everyone, but I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the school. The kids I know love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at Basis and she has more PE than she did in elementary school, often running around on the National Mall if the weather is good. After school she has sports and dance classes or plays outside with friends, all easy to fit in because there's not a lot of homework. It would be great if the school had a library, but she is completely happy and so are her friends there. The academics are rigorous and there is lots of testing so it is not for everyone, but I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the school. The kids I know love it.

PP, I have a kid who go in for next year and that is great to hear. It's really hard to make this decision without being able to step foot in the school at the moment!

[Anonymous]

We are inbounds for SH but our older is at Basis. It's a very good fit, and the workload hasn't been much of an issue for our reasonably smart but not unusually so student. I think organization and self-discipline is a bigger issue, but they really focus on that in 5th. We've heard good things about SH in general, but a huge benefit of Basis is that it goes through HS, whereas SH students have to find an application or charter. It's smaller, so they also won't have the social transition moving from MS to HS, which I think for our child will be a benefit. That all said, we haven't decided whether to sent our younger child there - it's not as clear if that will be as good a fit as SH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at Basis and she has more PE than she did in elementary school, often running around on the National Mall if the weather is good. After school she has sports and dance classes or plays outside with friends, all easy to fit in because there's not a lot of homework. It would be great if the school had a library, but she is completely happy and so are her friends there. The academics are rigorous and there is lots of testing so it is not for everyone, but I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the school. The kids I know love it.

Let me guess, 5th grader? Wait till 7th grade. At that point, not so much love in the collective mix.

[Anonymous]

I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

We don’t care how Basis compares to Moco magnets. And we all know the building is lousy. But many of us chose it over SH, paying for private, or moving to the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

We don’t care how Basis compares to Moco magnets. And we all know the building is lousy. But many of us chose it over SH, paying for private, or moving to the suburbs.

+1 DCPS doesn’t have true magnets like Moco. BASIS is as rigorous as we can get for public in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

We don’t care how Basis compares to Moco magnets. And we all know the building is lousy. But many of us chose it over SH, paying for private, or moving to the suburbs.

Speak for yourself. We care. I really wish that BASIS would send admins and teachers up to MoCo to study how the county's fine MS magnets work. Too many of the BASIS teachers don't seem very well trained to teach an advanced curriculum. Too many BASIS parents don't seem to be heard when they take up issues with admins. OK, the the lousy building probably can't be fixed, but other persistent problems with delivery could still be addressed.

[Anonymous]

For starters teachers in Moco magnets surely get paid more than a DC Charter, plus they’re unionized.

Basis is not a Moco magnet and won’t be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

We don’t care how Basis compares to Moco magnets. And we all know the building is lousy. But many of us chose it over SH, paying for private, or moving to the suburbs.

Speak for yourself. We care. I really wish that BASIS would send admins and teachers up to MoCo to study how the county's fine MS magnets work. Too many of the BASIS teachers don't seem very well trained to teach an advanced curriculum. Too many BASIS parents don't seem to be heard when they take up issues with admins. OK, the the lousy building probably can't be fixed, but other persistent problems with delivery could still be addressed.

BASIS doesn’t hire subs. They have teaching fellows on staff who serve as subs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For starters teachers in Moco magnets surely get paid more than a DC Charter, plus they’re unionized.

Basis is not a Moco magnet and won’t be.

+1. People have unrealistic expectations of a charter school compared to a huge public school system with a ton more resources and funds.

No one is making people stay at Basis if they are unhappy. You want moco magnets, then move to Moco. But it’s a lot better than SH in terms of peer groups and academic standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

We don’t care how Basis compares to Moco magnets. And we all know the building is lousy. But many of us chose it over SH, paying for private, or moving to the suburbs.

Speak for yourself. We care. I really wish that BASIS would send admins and teachers up to MoCo to study how the county's fine MS magnets work. Too many of the BASIS teachers don't seem very well trained to teach an advanced curriculum. Too many BASIS parents don't seem to be heard when they take up issues with admins. OK, the the lousy building probably can't be fixed, but other persistent problems with delivery could still be addressed.

BASIS doesn’t hire subs. They have teaching fellows on staff who serve as subs.

They essentially do. They bring in a small number of short-term staff members, including the teaching fellows, who also serve as subs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For starters teachers in Moco magnets surely get paid more than a DC Charter, plus they’re unionized.

Basis is not a Moco magnet and won’t be.

+1. People have unrealistic expectations of a charter school compared to a huge public school system with a ton more resources and funds.

No one is making people stay at Basis if they are unhappy. You want moco magnets, then move to Moco. But it’s a lot better than SH in terms of peer groups and academic standards.

BASIS parent who calls this approach a real cop-out. You want better schools, insist on them collectively as parents, voters, DC taxpayers, and charter stakeholders. Lobby for charters to be given a fairer share of DC public school resources. Don't take every mediocre dish DCPCS and BASIS dish out and call it acceptable and inevitable. For starters, BASIS should not have been allowed to renovate that building with zero outdoor space. The franchise could have been required to build outdoor space on the roof, like the basketball court my Manhattan MS had on theirs (without any other outdoor space). Come on, BASIS HQ shouldn't have been allowed to change the HOS almost every year since the DC branch opened.

We took one issue we had at BASIS to the DC Public School Ombudsman and won, after BASIS admins backed down. We left eventually, but on pretty good form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at BASIS as a substitute teacher now and then. I've also subbed in DCPS and MoCo schools.

The BASIS building is the absolute worst of the dozen school buildings I've worked in. No real gym, no library, no outdoor space, no music room, no performance space, weak art space and I could go on. It's a dreary set-up at best, no matter how wonderful the teaching may be.

I also have real doubts about BASIS academics, at least as compared to the MoCo magnets I've subbed for. There seem to be few Eureka moments, and little respect for individual learning styles or backgrounds. Many teachers are inexperienced and turnover is high, including mid-year.

We don’t care how Basis compares to Moco magnets. And we all know the building is lousy. But many of us chose it over SH, paying for private, or moving to the suburbs.

Speak for yourself. We care. I really wish that BASIS would send admins and teachers up to MoCo to study how the county's fine MS magnets work. Too many of the BASIS teachers don't seem very well trained to teach an advanced curriculum. Too many BASIS parents don't seem to be heard when they take up issues with admins. OK, the the lousy building probably can't be fixed, but other persistent problems with delivery could still be addressed.

+100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For starters teachers in Moco magnets surely get paid more than a DC Charter, plus they’re unionized.

Basis is not a Moco magnet and won’t be.

+1. People have unrealistic expectations of a charter school compared to a huge public school system with a ton more resources and funds.

No one is making people stay at Basis if they are unhappy. You want moco magnets, then move to Moco. But it’s a lot better than SH in terms of peer groups and academic standards.

BASIS parent who calls this approach a real cop-out. You want better schools, insist on them collectively as parents, voters, DC taxpayers, and charter stakeholders. Lobby for charters to be given a fairer share of DC public school resources. Don't take every mediocre dish DCPCS and BASIS dish out and call it acceptable and inevitable. For starters, BASIS should not have been allowed to renovate that building with zero outdoor space. The franchise could have been required to build outdoor space on the roof, like the basketball court my Manhattan MS had on theirs (without any other outdoor space). Come on, BASIS HQ shouldn't have been allowed to change the HOS almost every year since the DC branch opened.

We took one issue we had at BASIS to the DC Public School Ombudsman and won, after BASIS admins backed down. We left eventually, but on pretty good form.

From what I've observed as a BASIS parent who doesn't plan to return in the fall is that the DC charter parents are quite passive as a group. They're fine with "rigor" and don't particularly care about the rest. They try not to mind if project-based learning is minimal, the parent organization has no power, and facilities are weak, feeling that they can't change any of that. No point in speaking out or challenging. To them, private school tuition is out of reach, BASIS is better than moving to the burbs, or to Upper NW for Deal and Wilson, so they put up with it all.

Not the worst outcome, but nothing to cheer about.