How's basis going so far?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a bit more than horseplay otherwise the head of school didn't have to step in. But the problems are apparently not pervasive. I agree with poster about choosy parents having to put up with this for a while and maybe Basis will turn some of the disruptive kids around more effectively than another school with less autonomy.

I have been intrigued by Basis (which is why I read this board), but opted not to take a chance on it this year. I do find it interesting that the every single one of the kids who left my child's class for Basis were those who had the greatest discipline issues. I think that this is one of the issues with first year charters -- that there is a huge range of reasons that people send their children to an unestablished school, one of the biggest is that parents are running away from something, not necessarily choosing the school for what it offers or to what they think it is a good fit. I don't envy any first year school this problem and how the school handles it will speak volumes to the success of the school, especially in retaining those children in its inaugural classes.

Another reason parents take a chance on an unestablished charter is that they fear being shut out of the school in future years. While BASIS will take accept a whole bunch of 5th graders next year, they will likely accept very few kids for 6th through 9th. Furthermore, the sibling preference means that there is a good chance that unaffiliated families will have to enter a lottery for those 5th grade spots next year.

Quite frankly, if you have a 5th through 8th grader attending your IB DCPS, and you think there is a chance that BASIS is the right school for your family, it makes much more sense to try it out this year. If if doesn't work for you, you can always transfer back to your IB school. Next year BASIS might not be an option for you.

[Anonymous]

what are the entrance grades for Basis?

For example, I know that Latin starts at 5th, admits by attrition for 6th, 7th, 8th, and I think adds a few slots in 9th. But at Latin, I believe that 9th is the last grade new students are allowed in.

what is the last year a student can start at Basis? what years are there increased number of slots?

[Anonymous]

5th thru 8th
Adding 9th next year and so on until full complement thru 12th. There will continue to be room in the two oldest grades and there's room now I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what are the entrance grades for Basis?

For example, I know that Latin starts at 5th, admits by attrition for 6th, 7th, 8th, and I think adds a few slots in 9th. But at Latin, I believe that 9th is the last grade new students are allowed in.

what is the last year a student can start at Basis? what years are there increased number of slots?

The entrance year for BASIS is 5th grade.

My understanding is that they will admit a small number into higher grades in order to bring the number in the grade up to a multiple of the section size, but they will not grow the grades significantly. For example, if they have only 71 8th graders next year and plan to have 3 sections of 8th graders with up to 25 kids per section, they might admit 4 8th graders. However, they will not add a section of incoming 8th graders just because there is demand. Furthermore, those new 8th graders will have to demonstrate mastery of the material that was taught in the 7th grade. In particular, they would have to have taken and done well in Algebra I. A prospective 8th grader who has not mastered Algebra I will be placed in a lower grade.

Of course, since BASIS DC is new, it is possible that it will experience higher than expected attrition and have to admit more kid to grades higher than 5th next year. I certainly would not bank on that possibility, though. I took a look at the enrollment numbers at an Arizona BASIS school a few months ago, and after growing a little in the 6th grade class sizes shrink all the way to graduation, with a retention rate in the mid 80%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what are the entrance grades for Basis?

For example, I know that Latin starts at 5th, admits by attrition for 6th, 7th, 8th, and I think adds a few slots in 9th. But at Latin, I believe that 9th is the last grade new students are allowed in.

what is the last year a student can start at Basis? what years are there increased number of slots?

The entrance year for BASIS is 5th grade.

My understanding is that they will admit a small number into higher grades in order to bring the number in the grade up to a multiple of the section size, but they will not grow the grades significantly. For example, if they have only 71 8th graders next year and plan to have 3 sections of 8th graders with up to 25 kids per section, they might admit 4 8th graders. However, they will not add a section of incoming 8th graders just because there is demand. Furthermore, those new 8th graders will have to demonstrate mastery of the material that was taught in the 7th grade. In particular, they would have to have taken and done well in Algebra I. A prospective 8th grader who has not mastered Algebra I will be placed in a lower grade.

Of course, since BASIS DC is new, it is possible that it will experience higher than expected attrition and have to admit more kid to grades higher than 5th next year. I certainly would not bank on that possibility, though. I took a look at the enrollment numbers at an Arizona BASIS school a few months ago, and after growing a little in the 6th grade class sizes shrink all the way to graduation, with a retention rate in the mid 80%.

Sorry, should have said "re-enrollment rate in the mid 80%."

[Anonymous]

I was under the impression that not only would an 8th grader transferring over need to have had and done well in algebra, but the student would have also had a year of physics, biology, and chemistry, respectively. Not sure about what level of Latin would be necessary or if the student could just stick with modern languages.

[Anonymous]

All I know is that if you have any inkling of having your child attend Basis and they are currently 5th through 8th grade then I would send them now. I know of at least 2 new admitted students this week from what I understand. I was also told not to wait till next school year since it will be much more difficult to get in next school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I know is that if you have any inkling of having your child attend Basis and they are currently 5th through 8th grade then I would send them now. I know of at least 2 new admitted students this week from what I understand. I was also told not to wait till next school year since it will be much more difficult to get in next school year.

That's called marketing boo-boo. Remember how if you didn't yank your child out of their elementary school and get them enrolled for the summer session you would be stuck with the horrors of your inboundary school?

The Basis model is developmentally inappropriate for 5th graders and relies on anxious DC parents to fill the gap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That's called marketing boo-boo. Remember how if you didn't yank your child out of their elementary school and get them enrolled for the summer session you would be stuck with the horrors of your inboundary school?

The Basis model is developmentally inappropriate for 5th graders and relies on anxious DC parents to fill the gap.

My 5th grader seems to be handling it very well I do not think it is developmentally inappropriate at all. I think the lack of rigor and lack of instruction in the fundamentals that is often found in DCPS is inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the prior discussion of disciplinary issues, we have seen the exact opposite. DC reports no disruption in his classes (5Ba), the few instances of disruption were early on and very quickly dealt with, and now are practically nonexistent, everyone's been getting the routine down, and DC has been enjoying it. And, many of the parents that we have been speaking to who've come from other schools like Brent have breathed a sigh of relief that none of the serious troublemakers from any of their schools have come over to Basis. The only thing now is that a few parents express their kids are having a little anxiety over the workload, but we're hearing less of that as time goes on as well, and as kids get into their routines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I know is that if you have any inkling of having your child attend Basis and they are currently 5th through 8th grade then I would send them now. I know of at least 2 new admitted students this week from what I understand. I was also told not to wait till next school year since it will be much more difficult to get in next school year.

That's called marketing boo-boo. Remember how if you didn't yank your child out of their elementary school and get them enrolled for the summer session you would be stuck with the horrors of your inboundary school?

The Basis model is developmentally inappropriate for 5th graders and relies on anxious DC parents to fill the gap.

It may be inappropriate for your child, but my 5th grader is also doing very well boo-boo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding the prior discussion of disciplinary issues, we have seen the exact opposite. DC reports no disruption in his classes (5Ba), the few instances of disruption were early on and very quickly dealt with, and now are practically nonexistent, everyone's been getting the routine down, and DC has been enjoying it. And, many of the parents that we have been speaking to who've come from other schools like Brent have breathed a sigh of relief that none of the serious troublemakers from any of their schools have come over to Basis. The only thing now is that a few parents express their kids are having a little anxiety over the workload, but we're hearing less of that as time goes on as well, and as kids get into their routines.

I have a child in 5 Ba who also reports no disruptions. It sounds like a really nice class of kids. My DC loves BASIS.

[Anonymous]

MY DC is in 5V and also reports no problems in class.

[Anonymous]

5th grade seems problem free judging from PP's. However, 7th grade not so much. Depends on the group I guess but my DC is not so fortunate. Likes it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All I know is that if you have any inkling of having your child attend Basis and they are currently 5th through 8th grade then I would send them now. I know of at least 2 new admitted students this week from what I understand. I was also told not to wait till next school year since it will be much more difficult to get in next school year.

That's called marketing boo-boo. Remember how if you didn't yank your child out of their elementary school and get them enrolled for the summer session you would be stuck with the horrors of your inboundary school?

The Basis model is developmentally inappropriate for 5th graders and relies on anxious DC parents to fill the gap.

Latin does the same thing. Doesn't every charter MS in DC doing this? Don't they all start in 5th grade (assuming they don't start in K or 1st) and thus put parents who wait to switch until 6th grade in the position of having to enter a lottery for only a handful of spots?

Is there a charter MS that starts in the 6th grade in DC?