Basis DC

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s not just the silent lunch in a dark windowless lunch room. It is the high stakes testing, cramped building, ever smaller number of peers and the sometimes poor teaching. There are some excellent teachers. What sucks is when there are poor teachers who get fired or leave mid year the kids who are harmed by this do not get adequate support to catch up, and the high stakes tests don’t change. So it is a cumulative bummer.

Disagree. Huge advantage of all charters vs DCPS is ability to dump bad teachers mid-year. At DCPS they'd be dead weight for years and years.

+1. Plenty of good and bad teachers at DCPS schools like Walls and they can’t get rid of the bad ones.

They could get rid of them. But they don’t.

The problem is BASIS gets rid of the good ones who realize they can have stability and better pay working for Fairfax Public.

That makes no sense.

Teachers can make more money, have easier jobs and job security if they work virtually anywhere else. They obviously aren't going to leave BASIS to go work in some garbage DCPS school, but if there's a nice gig in some cushy high-achieving suburban district, they're going to go. And they do. My friends' kids lost all their best teachers from BASIS and had to go on wild goose hunts in the burbs to track them down and try to get college references.

This isn't even a complaint about BASIS, it's just what happens when you don't have union teachers. You can attract some good ones, but you'll never be able to keep them in the long-run. The good ones, at least.

OK, you don’t have any kids at BASIS.

I do and can only think of a couple of teachers that went to any schools in the burbs.

Your friends “lost all their best teachers”?

Nope. That didn’t happen.

I mean, it did. It was their high school teachers. If your kids have been in the HS at any point in the last four years, you'd know EXACTLY who I'm talking about. If you haven't... you've got some surprises coming your way—if your kid has a favorite teacher that might be helpful for recs, get their personal contact ASAP!

There was a pretty big exodus of teachers two years ago. I can think of four off the top of my head who went to DCPS.

I can think of around 4 from then but some went to private schools and one or two have returned to Basis.

So then a bunch did leave because I can think of four who were in DCPS this year and last year.

Sounds like turnover can happen. I mean, this isn't rocket science. Non-union jobs pay less and mean teachers can leave. Also means you can maybe get some better quality teachers, but it's tougher to hang onto. Why are we fighting about this?

No one is fighting but people keep making false claims like basis teachers don’t go to DCPS only the suburbs and not many teachers leave. These teachers did not just leave for better pay. The ones I personally know left because they were unhappy with the school and leadership.

I think we can all agree that BASIS has a lot of turnover, wherever they're going.

No. That is incorrect. You are just another DCUM poster just making stuff up. Maybe focus on fixing whatever school your child attends instead of spreading false information about BASIS.

Last year (SY 2023-24), teacher turnover in schools was 26% (as measured by teachers staying in the same school).

BASIS DC teacher retention is way higher than that.

Correct.

https://osse.dc.gov/page/district-columbia-educator-retention#:~:text=In%20the%202023%2D24%20school,previous%20school%20year's%2071%20percent.

That's the district numbers, are BASIS' numbers broken out anywhere?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I’m the PP and quoted the wrong thread

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

I don't have a dog in the fight either -- though am sort of fascinated that the same thread gets re-written every few months and I don't see it happen with any other school. But, I would say that if you're sending your kids to a school that ends with them having the choice between BASIS and Walls after 8th, it is a win. We know many DCI parents that were ready to leave and didn't have the option.

[Anonymous]

Did the BASIS elementary pass tonight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

I need a middle school for my kid now. I'd be thrilled if they either liked it and stayed through high school or went to Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

I'm a BASIS parent and will say that the BASIS middle school is very appealing (they learn so much and really learn how to organize themselves and to study),l compared to the other public options, but that the high school is not as appealing (very small, not enough class offerings compared to other high schools, etc). I think staying for middle and going elsewhere for high school is a pretty fine, and common, plan.

[Anonymous]

For a lot of people (shaw/bloomingdale, capitol hill, etc.), basis is a relatively nearby and free public school alternative to the dcps middle schools. if you have a child who was completely bored in 3rd and 4th grade, you probably at least think about trying it for reasons that have nothing to do with the high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did the BASIS elementary pass tonight?

Just the hearing today. Vote is 8/19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

It’s three kids from BASIS DC who will be freshmen at Walls. One or two more for 10th or 11th. Not a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

No, and it never has been. The appeal for Basis is that the kid will get a strong foundation in middle school, when there are few options. A lot of high schools have rigorous programs and a full slate of AP classes, so there's less of a need to stay at Basis unless the kid is very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

No, and it never has been. The appeal for Basis is that the kid will get a strong foundation in middle school, when there are few options. A lot of high schools have rigorous programs and a full slate of AP classes, so there's less of a need to stay at Basis unless the kid is very happy there.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

I'm a BASIS parent and will say that the BASIS middle school is very appealing (they learn so much and really learn how to organize themselves and to study),l compared to the other public options, but that the high school is not as appealing (very small, not enough class offerings compared to other high schools, etc). I think staying for middle and going elsewhere for high school is a pretty fine, and common, plan.

Disagree. I think that the high school is better than the middle school.

1) Courses at BASIS are very advanced, and kids can make multiple AP classes starting in 9th grade and they have a lot more freedom in class; 2) a lot of the disruptive and less academically inclined kids have dropped out; 3) classes are smaller and teaching is better overall. In essence, kids are getting a private school experience for free,

And remember the only other realistic public high options in DC are Walls and J-R. Walls is OK but it is hard to get in. Moreover, while it is better than BASIS DC in some ways (e.g., extracurriculars, sports), it is worse in others (e.g., academics). J-R is mixed (it is large and chaotic, has lots of fights and kids below grade level, and 9th grade is a waste). Plus, you need to live in bounds. Otherwise, you are looking at private.

So, the bottom line is that BASIS is a great option for high school for some kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

I'm a BASIS parent and will say that the BASIS middle school is very appealing (they learn so much and really learn how to organize themselves and to study),l compared to the other public options, but that the high school is not as appealing (very small, not enough class offerings compared to other high schools, etc). I think staying for middle and going elsewhere for high school is a pretty fine, and common, plan.

Disagree. I think that the high school is better than the middle school.

1) Courses at BASIS are very advanced, and kids can make multiple AP classes starting in 9th grade and they have a lot more freedom in class; 2) a lot of the disruptive and less academically inclined kids have dropped out; 3) classes are smaller and teaching is better overall. In essence, kids are getting a private school experience for free,

And remember the only other realistic public high options in DC are Walls and J-R. Walls is OK but it is hard to get in. Moreover, while it is better than BASIS DC in some ways (e.g., extracurriculars, sports), it is worse in others (e.g., academics). J-R is mixed (it is large and chaotic, has lots of fights and kids below grade level, and 9th grade is a waste). Plus, you need to live in bounds. Otherwise, you are looking at private.

So, the bottom line is that BASIS is a great option for high school for some kids.

Um. Banneker? McKinley. Or do you mean for white kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to gather good info, listen to parents of top performers who left BASIS 3, 4 or 5 years in. All ears? Be open to moving to NoVa if you can't afford private school.

Doesn't this mean that it's the best public option in DC?

Not necessarily. We switched from BASIS to SH after 5th. Kid is on his way to Walls in the fall, while his elementary school pals at BASIS who tried for Walls weren't offered spots. We supplemented in various ways at SH, especially for science and social studies, but that worked better for us than BASIS, which we disliked.

I hear this. Very open to moving our kid if he really hates it. And with the newly announced DCPS change, his backup is now SWWFS.

I don’t have a dog in this Basis fight (I’m WOTP) but my kid came home from the Walls summer bridge reporting there were a lot of kids coming from Basis. Can someone explain why kids/parents seem to use Basis as a means to and end (Walls)? Isn’t part of the Basis appeal that you start early and stay through HS?

Why is your kid at Walls? Isn’t part of the WOTP appeal that you can go to JR?