basis woes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: So, enroll your child if you think this model works for your child and if you find that it does not, leave when you are ready, if that day comes. For many children who leave it is not because they could not do the work, they chose not to follow the Basis path. There are many pathways to academic excellence and Basis is simply one of many (although in DC you may need to move or go private to find them).

Finally a voice of reason!

All this would be grand if scores of Capitol Hill families weren't banking on BASIS working out for middle school and high school to stay in the neighborhood. There aren't many pathways to academic excellence on the Hill, aren't any at all that don't involve paying through the nose. BASIS has become one of two de facto middle schools for half the Hill (the other is Latin of course) yet, under the scenario you predict, only around a quarter of the fifth graders will make it to the end. Realtors will love the uptick in inventory fueled by departing Maury and Brent families.


Frankly, a lot of Hill families do not relish the grueling commute to Latin. BASIS is actually walking distance for many Hill families - and for those of us who do the walking commute, a chunk of that's walking the National Mall, fantastic on these beautiful sunny days. And for those who think it's just/only about test scores, you are ever so wrong, whether misinformed or underinformed. BASIS DC already has many successes under its belt even in less than its first year in business, such as sweeping the DC Science Bowl and the Library of Congress Letters About Literature contests - these are already resume builders on a national level for the 5th and 6th graders that participated. Plus they have plenty of extracurriculars that are not even remotely paralleled in many other schools. DC's day at BASIS typically does NOT end at 3:30, it's usually closer to 5 and often 6 each day with extracurriculars, and DC comes home (walks home with one or both of us most days) completely energized with creative thoughts and ideas. It's a good thing only getting better each day.

[Anonymous]

BASIS dismisses at 3:45 -- this is because they have an additional class period per day in comparison to DCPS.