BASIS attrition after middle school- why?

[Anonymous]

BASIS board meeting minutes from December are online. It says the search for an elementary school property continues. At this point I'm really wondering if this can happen in their target high-income neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at schoolreportcard.dc.gov, I see that only 60% of BASIS grads are enrolled in postsecondary education. That seems weirdly low, what's going on? J-R has 68% and Latin has 84.3%.

Weird data anomaly based small graduation rates. The 60% is the 6 month enrollment number but at 12 months it is 85%. Latin and SWW don't change between their 6 and 12 month markers. BASIS graduates a very small class. If one or two kids enroll 2nd semester or take a gap year that moves the percentage significantly. The way that data works, the worry would be kids who are enrolled at 6 months but not at 12. That would indicate that kids are "graduating" but not ready for college and dropping out. Not what's happening at BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at schoolreportcard.dc.gov, I see that only 60% of BASIS grads are enrolled in postsecondary education. That seems weirdly low, what's going on? J-R has 68% and Latin has 84.3%.

That's "Post-Secondary Enrollment within 6 Months of Graduation by Student Group." However, that same report says "85% of students from the class 2024 of were enrolled in post-secondary programs within 12 months of graduation." I'd guess that means that many students are taking a gap year, especially those who chose to graduate after 11th grade. I think the vast majority, if not all, of Basis graduates attend college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does one join this informal parents association?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody posting here is unhinged or nuts. The HoS is just a weak cog in a stronger franchise machine. What competence you see mostly emanates from BASIS Arizona and good teachers previous heads hired.

You repeatedly bash the HOS as a clown and a joke while providing zero evidence of that. You then brag that your kid is excelling at BASIS DC and was just accepted at a top college. That certainly sounds unhinged. You don’t think the HOS of school had anything to do with your kid’s performance?

Let’s look at some real evidence:

The current HOS has been there for a number of years and during that time the school has jumped to be the top ranked public middle school in DC, top public non-selective high school in DC, and top charter school in DC. If the HOS was a clown and a joke that would not have happened.

The school does surveys every year of how staff members including the HOS are performing, and the current HOS always gets top marks. Obviously, most parents don’t share your view of the HOS.

In short, you obviously have some sort of weird vindictive beef against the HOS and apparently plenty of free time to spend your time attacking him anonymously in this forum. That is just sad.

I'm confused as to who you're coming at. A bunch of PPs have complained about the HoS on this thread. If the guy were doing the kick ass job you describe a sizeable, informal parents association wouldn't have formed during SY 2022-2023 to push back against some of his dodgier practices. Their work continues. He doesn't get "top marks" from many of us upper grades HS parents, particularly those whose children crack colleges admitting in the single digits, and student attrition remains high. You have some weird, knee-jerk impulse to defend his honor. Just his, or the Blocks, too? You could always donate to their far right causes to give them a boost.

It is actually quite low in HS. Also, help me to understand why parents of kids who "crack colleges in the single digits" are mad at BASIS?

[Anonymous]

It's an interesting question why BASIS attracts so many students who can't handle it. Since everyone who leaves BASIS is dumb, lazy, or both, right? I'm puzzled why BASIS can't attract enough high-performing kids to create a long-lasting cohort. Why are such families not choosing BASIS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an interesting question why BASIS attracts so many students who can't handle it. Since everyone who leaves BASIS is dumb, lazy, or both, right? I'm puzzled why BASIS can't attract enough high-performing kids to create a long-lasting cohort. Why are such families not choosing BASIS?

I understand you were trying to be sarcastic but your attempt at snark ignores "facts". BASIS is a pure lottery admission school. They take kids who match from the lottery. There is no admission test or pre-qualification. BASIS isn't "choosing" unqualified kids for lack of better options. BASIS attracts a lot of kids who are not good fits because the middle school options in DC are terrible across the board (as are HS options). Parents take the lifeline they are offered and worry about what happens next at a later date. If your choice is warm water or dehydration you choose warm water.

I don't see of lot of accusations that kids who depart are dumb or lazy. There are myriad reasons someone might not be a good fit. Some relate to advanced academics and workload, some may be a dearth of arts options or sports teams. We have CHOICE in DC. Parents are free to leave where they are and come to BASIS and then to leave for a better option or fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody posting here is unhinged or nuts. The HoS is just a weak cog in a stronger franchise machine. What competence you see mostly emanates from BASIS Arizona and good teachers previous heads hired.

You repeatedly bash the HOS as a clown and a joke while providing zero evidence of that. You then brag that your kid is excelling at BASIS DC and was just accepted at a top college. That certainly sounds unhinged. You don’t think the HOS of school had anything to do with your kid’s performance?

Let’s look at some real evidence:

The current HOS has been there for a number of years and during that time the school has jumped to be the top ranked public middle school in DC, top public non-selective high school in DC, and top charter school in DC. If the HOS was a clown and a joke that would not have happened.

The school does surveys every year of how staff members including the HOS are performing, and the current HOS always gets top marks. Obviously, most parents don’t share your view of the HOS.

In short, you obviously have some sort of weird vindictive beef against the HOS and apparently plenty of free time to spend your time attacking him anonymously in this forum. That is just sad.

I'm confused as to who you're coming at. A bunch of PPs have complained about the HoS on this thread. If the guy were doing the kick ass job you describe a sizeable, informal parents association wouldn't have formed during SY 2022-2023 to push back against some of his dodgier practices. Their work continues. He doesn't get "top marks" from many of us upper grades HS parents, particularly those whose children crack colleges admitting in the single digits, and student attrition remains high. You have some weird, knee-jerk impulse to defend his honor. Just his, or the Blocks, too? You could always donate to their far right causes to give them a boost.

It is actually quite low in HS. Also, help me to understand why parents of kids who "crack colleges in the single digits" are mad at BASIS?

You want to know, or you're intent on slamming fellow families? There isn't nearly enough choice per the curriculum, or the time, support or flexibility to pursue serious ECs either, with course work compressed into 3 years. The set-up doesn't make for a happy experience for many kids. They mainly cram for AP exams, vs. are encouraged to apply knowledge. Guided upper class group research isn't an option, like at many schools. The kids do lonely individual research/intern gigs sr. year with little support. Language instruction is subpar - you pay to supplement. The college counseling provided has taken up a great deal of his time without being v. good. Too many of the best teachers left mid-way through the HS experience. There are some fine teachers, and nice peers, but my teen has gutted it out, can't wait to exit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an interesting question why BASIS attracts so many students who can't handle it. Since everyone who leaves BASIS is dumb, lazy, or both, right? I'm puzzled why BASIS can't attract enough high-performing kids to create a long-lasting cohort. Why are such families not choosing BASIS?

For parents who don't like their middle school or high school options, BASIS looks good. And if your child always received "5"s in DCPS, then you think it will be a good fit. However, it can often become very obvious how little the child actually was taught in DCPS. This is where insecure skills in reading, writing, comprehension, organization and math show up.

It's not a matter of being dumb or lazy, just woefully underprepared and not everyone is interested in putting in the amount of work and time when they are 10-11 years old. BASIS has been better in recent years with helping the students get up to speed to handle the different workload, but it still is often surprising. Add to that limited extra curricular due to cohort size and some families decide to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You want to know, or you're intent on slamming fellow families? There isn't nearly enough choice per the curriculum, or the time, support or flexibility to pursue serious ECs either, with course work compressed into 3 years. The set-up doesn't make for a happy experience for many kids. They mainly cram for AP exams, vs. are encouraged to apply knowledge. Guided upper class group research isn't an option, like at many schools. The kids do lonely individual research/intern gigs sr. year with little support. Language instruction is subpar - you pay to supplement. The college counseling provided has taken up a great deal of his time without being v. good. Too many of the best teachers left mid-way through the HS experience. There are some fine teachers, and nice peers, but my teen has gutted it out, can't wait to exit.

The cramming for AP exams is what the school does, and I'm happy with the results for our senior.

Not sure about guided upper class group research - valid point.

As for "lonely individual research/intern gigs" - I do find the support given a little lacking. Luckily they have no obligation to do the senior project.

No opinion on language instruction - my kid scored well on the AP exam for his language and got the certificate/seal of biliteracy <whatever it's called>; honestly, not sure if it's meaningful or helpful, but he was happy with his language instruction

College counseling - kind of agree; it all depends on which CC you get (there are two of them), based on what I've heard

All of these common issues, however, don't indicate that Basis is a failed school, or that the HOS is doing a terrible job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...if your child always received "5"s in DCPS, then you think it will be a good fit. However, it can often become very obvious how little the child actually was taught in DCPS. This is where insecure skills in reading, writing, comprehension, organization and math show up.

Elementary parents: Don't be scared off. Yes, Basis is more challenging than most DCPS schools, but students don't have to be geniuses or even come in above grade level to do well. My child (now in HS at Basis) has found Basis to be generally pretty easy. And yes, they're reasonably smart, but they didn't get a single 5 on a PARCC in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

It’s been hard to distinguish complaints about the school model and facility shortcomings from complaints with the HoS. It’s unclear what any HoS could or should do differently when it comes to the BASIS curriculum, which is implemented nationally by the charter network, right? And what could or would any HoS do about the facilities problem? The complaint about good teachers leaving perhaps could have to do with school management but teacher turnover is just so common right now, isn’t it hard to gauge the reasons they leave? (Unless teachers specifically complain to parents about the reasons).

A better building would allow for better ECs through the school, which in turn would take up less time for families to deal with after school, which in turn frees up more time for getting the HW and studying done each night. The BASIS model doesn’t leave so much extra room for interests outside of school, especially when those interests require driving across DC. A better building would presumably solve for some of this, and make for a much happier overall experience, with more outdoor time and space for students and families to congregate and socialize.

We have the impression that the HoS does recognize the need for a better building and would pursue any feasible possibility if one arises. Who knows if/when this could happen, but it would solve so many problems at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s been hard to distinguish complaints about the school model and facility shortcomings from complaints with the HoS. It’s unclear what any HoS could or should do differently when it comes to the BASIS curriculum, which is implemented nationally by the charter network, right? And what could or would any HoS do about the facilities problem? The complaint about good teachers leaving perhaps could have to do with school management but teacher turnover is just so common right now, isn’t it hard to gauge the reasons they leave? (Unless teachers specifically complain to parents about the reasons).

A better building would allow for better ECs through the school, which in turn would take up less time for families to deal with after school, which in turn frees up more time for getting the HW and studying done each night. The BASIS model doesn’t leave so much extra room for interests outside of school, especially when those interests require driving across DC. A better building would presumably solve for some of this, and make for a much happier overall experience, with more outdoor time and space for students and families to congregate and socialize.

We have the impression that the HoS does recognize the need for a better building and would pursue any feasible possibility if one arises. Who knows if/when this could happen, but it would solve so many problems at once.

The curriculum of public schools in each state has to comply with state law. It's not just up to BASIS HQ. They can and do allow DC to be different from schools in other states. A more effective HOS could advocate for DC to be different from other BASIS schools in all sorts of ways. He just doesn't want to, or he isn't effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The curriculum of public schools in each state has to comply with state law. It's not just up to BASIS HQ. They can and do allow DC to be different from schools in other states. A more effective HOS could advocate for DC to be different from other BASIS schools in all sorts of ways. He just doesn't want to, or he isn't effective.

I don't necessarily want the school to change their curriculum at the request of a group of parents that feel they know best. I wanted a place with good college acceptance outcomes, and that's what the school is delivering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...if your child always received "5"s in DCPS, then you think it will be a good fit. However, it can often become very obvious how little the child actually was taught in DCPS. This is where insecure skills in reading, writing, comprehension, organization and math show up.

Elementary parents: Don't be scared off. Yes, Basis is more challenging than most DCPS schools, but students don't have to be geniuses or even come in above grade level to do well. My child (now in HS at Basis) has found Basis to be generally pretty easy. And yes, they're reasonably smart, but they didn't get a single 5 on a PARCC in elementary school.

Well, I have a kid who got 5s in his first go round on PARCC and we are a mathy family that loves rigor.
but we are not going to lottery for Basis because: the teachers are too inexperienced and there is too much turnover, the middle schoolers all looked depressed, the lack of windows coupled with never leaving the windowless building, the lack of freedom for kids (like no recess when they can do what they want), the "drill and kill" vibe of middle school classwork, and a bad feeling from the HoS (seemed like a bullshitter who is acting smarter than he is)

The high school actually seemed better on all those fronts, but we would not put our kids in the middle school.