BASIS head of school steps down

[Anonymous]

Failing is a bit too strong a word. How about serving?

When a school goes with "honors of all" in the lower grades, (Wilson) or doesn't teach advanced foreign languages or have a library or computer lab (BASIS), many families are going to seek greener pastures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

I went to Hunter too! Class of ‘99. My kids are a bit younger, but BASIS is definitely our plan if the lottery gods are with us (they currently attend our IB on the Hill). I laugh thinking about what the posters in this thread would think of our virtually windowless school, which once had to be shut down for 2 days when the fridge holding the dissection octopuses failed because of the horrid ventilation... But what a fabulous education. When I compare it to my siblings’ HS experience the biggest difference was really attending a school where being smart was perfectly acceptable and there was no peer pressure to act down/be less smart/disrupt class and considerable pressure in the opposite direction.

[Anonymous]

Exactly like one of the pp’s said. We tolerate Wilson because we live in-boundary, can’t afford expensive private + full pay for college. It is depressing as the school could be so much more than it is. We did not consider Basis as my kid is into sports and really wanted a full high school experience - not one that only or primarily focused on academics

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what they told students about the head of school leaving (or if they told them) ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

Those NYC test in schools have a serious diversity problem. Top schools are 2/3 asian and the remainder white. The number of black and latino students are grossly under-represented at test-in NYC magnets when looking at 5 Boroughs as a whole. BASIS is Disney It's a Small World by comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

I went to Hunter too! Class of ‘99. My kids are a bit younger, but BASIS is definitely our plan if the lottery gods are with us (they currently attend our IB on the Hill). I laugh thinking about what the posters in this thread would think of our virtually windowless school, which once had to be shut down for 2 days when the fridge holding the dissection octopuses failed because of the horrid ventilation... But what a fabulous education. When I compare it to my siblings’ HS experience the biggest difference was really attending a school where being smart was perfectly acceptable and there was no peer pressure to act down/be less smart/disrupt class and considerable pressure in the opposite direction.

I predict that you'll be disappointed, PP, at least somewhat. The education my children received at BASIS was nowhere near the caliber of my Hunter College education. As a result, we supplemented a good deal in our two years at BASIS, mainly in arts education and writing.

I see several glaringly obvious reasons BASIS and Hunter aren't on the same level, nowhere near. Reason #1: Highly experienced and long serving teachers are in short supply at BASIS. Reason #2: At least half the BASIS DC middle school kids aren't cut out for the curriculum. Reason #3: The head changes almost every year. Ongoing leadership issues can only be described as grave.

Hunter College was and is worlds apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

Those NYC test in schools have a serious diversity problem. Top schools are 2/3 asian and the remainder white. The number of black and latino students are grossly under-represented at test-in NYC magnets when looking at 5 Boroughs as a whole. BASIS is Disney It's a Small World by comparison.

The NYC test-in schools have nowhere near the serious diversity problem of the great majority of DC public schools. There is only one school in the entire City--Deal--without enough Asian students to pull out their test scores by subgroup (25 students+). Of the 9 Capitol Hill DCPS elementary schools, there is only one--Brent--with more than half a dozen Asian students from K-5th grade. If you're white or black, you think that BASIS and Washington Latin are highly diverse. If you're Asian, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

Those NYC test in schools have a serious diversity problem. Top schools are 2/3 asian and the remainder white. The number of black and latino students are grossly under-represented at test-in NYC magnets when looking at 5 Boroughs as a whole. BASIS is Disney It's a Small World by comparison.

The general consensus among NYC leaders is that admissions system to the HS magnets needs to be tweaked, but not radically. If AA and Latino students can't meet the academic standards, as a general rule they shouldn't be taking places from Asian applicants, at least not across low SES economic strata (e.g. poor AAs shouldn't be taking spots currently going to poor Asians with superior academic records, particularly on the SSAT entrance exam).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what they told students about the head of school leaving (or if they told them) ?

As of last week, nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

Those NYC test in schools have a serious diversity problem. Top schools are 2/3 asian and the remainder white. The number of black and latino students are grossly under-represented at test-in NYC magnets when looking at 5 Boroughs as a whole. BASIS is Disney It's a Small World by comparison.

The general consensus among NYC leaders is that admissions system to the HS magnets needs to be tweaked, but not radically. If AA and Latino students can't meet the academic standards, as a general rule they shouldn't be taking places from Asian applicants, at least not across low SES economic strata (e.g. poor AAs shouldn't be taking spots currently going to poor Asians with superior academic records, particularly on the SSAT entrance exam).

We are just over the line in MoCo. The raw entrance exam scores here for the 4th and 5th grade magnet program are now modified to reflect whether your home school is high, medium, or low FARMS. A 99th % national COGAT score becomes something like 85% for magnet admissions if you come from a low FARMS school. If you come from a high FARMS school a 90% national score becomes 99% for magnet admissions. This started last year. Maybe people with excess resources will move to the high FARMS neighborhoods to work the system.

[Anonymous]

How did we get from BASIS to admissions policies for magnet schools - given that DC doesn't have any.

[Anonymous]

We can all pretend that BASIS offers a well-rounded education on par with elite test-in magnet schools around the country, wherever they are, if it makes is feel good.

My classmates and I were expected to do far more thinking, creating, analyzing, discovering, collaborating and reading in middle school at Boston Latin than my BASIS middle school students were encouraged to do. To be fair, the math challenge was comparable, the science instruction more serious and the geography was worthwhile.

The rest of the curriculum, the daily grind and the dog-eat-dog approach to learning we could have done without.

[Anonymous]

BASIS DC's HS is really just for strong STEM students. The humanities program is undeniably average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BASIS DC's HS is really just for strong STEM students. The humanities program is undeniably average.

Not true for my BASIS high schooler. Glad DC was pushed to take the math and science that they would have avoided otherwise. DC is more we’ll rounded because of the BASIS requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a product of NYC public schools, including one of its test-in magnet programs. Looking back, I remember a series of horrible buildings, no green space, little if any sports (unless you count ping-pong, which was very big at my high school), and only rare field trips (which I usually hated — despite “the wonders of NYC”).

I also remember a lot of brilliant kids, huge numbers of whom went onto Ivy League or equivalent colleges, oftentimes as first generation college students.

Coming from this experience, the lack of green fields or a nice building doesn’t really bother me. And thus far it hasn’t bothered my nerdy, non-athletic child.

It’s what happens inside the classroom that counts. And thus far my child (who has never struggled academically; always gotten 5s on PAARC, etc) really loves the teachers, curriculum and peers—amazingly, even the homework.

If for some reason in the future Basis fails to be a good option, we’ll figure out a plan B. But right now we’re not looking, though I guess we’ll continue to keep Walls in the mix as we approach high school.

I'm also a product of NYC public schools, Hunter College MS/HS. We had a decent facility, but not much in the way of sports. The main difference between my NYC test-in magnet program and BASIS was that the administrator and teaching corps of the former was high caliber across the board and stable. At BASIS, not so much. Good teachers often leave after a year or two, and weak ones often stay. Teachers' working conditions aren't the best, with the HOS changing so often, and not-so-great pay and facilities. The current HOS has made major inroads in improving working conditions for teachers, her greatest contribution. Older, long-term, highly experienced teachers are in short supply at BASIS, though there certainly are some.

Another problem is that BASIS HQ in AZ won't tolerate PTAs or parent organizations with any say in the running of the campuses. All you can do as a parent is fund raise for the school through the booster club, then hand over what funds/grant money you draw in for admins to spend. This is one reasons we left, for a private - we tired of the lack of parent input and involvement. For example, at one point, I proposed to admins that departing families, particularly those of strong students, be encouraged to go through exit interviews before disappearing, explaining exactly why they were leaving to help inform admins' decision making. I was ignored.

I'm not convinced that BASIS actually works very well for most of its families. More like its tolerated by many parents because the academics are solid, the college advising is good, kids tend to form strong friendships in a small and intense program, and participating families really don't want to leave DC over school issues.

As a New Yorker, I think that our DC public middle and high schools can do a lot better by families, including BASIS families. If you disagree, I respect your views.

Those NYC test in schools have a serious diversity problem. Top schools are 2/3 asian and the remainder white. The number of black and latino students are grossly under-represented at test-in NYC magnets when looking at 5 Boroughs as a whole. BASIS is Disney It's a Small World by comparison.

The NYC test-in schools have nowhere near the serious diversity problem of the great majority of DC public schools. There is only one school in the entire City--Deal--without enough Asian students to pull out their test scores by subgroup (25 students+). Of the 9 Capitol Hill DCPS elementary schools, there is only one--Brent--with more than half a dozen Asian students from K-5th grade. If you're white or black, you think that BASIS and Washington Latin are highly diverse. If you're Asian, not so much.

What's the Asian school age population within the boundaries of the schools you're talking about?