How's basis going so far?

[Anonymous]

Ha ha found this thread through google. Parent of the original BASIS Tucson here, and good friends with several teachers at new campus. Judging by the interest on this thread, the one thing BASIS does is attract kids with parents who care desperately and who feel there are no decent alternatives short of expensive private schools. BASIS does well because it attracts and retains these families. The BASIS model itself however (aside from emitting "educational salvation" pheremones) leaves a little to be desired. Basically, and despite the best efforts of dedicated caring teachers, it is a Chinese model of education. Here in Tucson the goal is to see how early we can get kids doing calculus and AP testing. Right now our "elite" 5th graders are doing algebra 1 on track for AB Calc by 9th grade. But this simply does not work for the mass of students. And even those that hang on there are massive sacrifices in terms of emotional & creative development. AP tests are all well and good, but school should be much more than an AP boot camp. Remember, the US News rankings are based solely on number of AP tests taken! But again, what are the alternatives? So students and parents slog it out (although of course many leave), with periodic burn outs and grumbling. As a parent the biggest plus is that is self-selects for "good kids." Say what you want about educational opportuninty... I will not have my child in a school with metal detectors at the door and drug dealers in the bathrooms. The kids at BASIS tucson are really quite amazing, I just think it is a shame they are not given a more well-rounded education. They do well at BASIS in large part despite what BASIS does, not because of it. But it seems they have watered down the DC curriculum to retain enrollment numbers, which actually might be a perfect balance. I would be more worried about their plans to bring DC more into line with Arizona BASIS curriculum down the line.
One thing I would encourage is parent organization. Now no school can be at the mercy of every parent's whim, but parents are the true clients of the school and should develop a communal voice and have their common concerns addressed by BASIS. This is pretty much how a private schools work (and BASIS is a public private school). I would recommend that you start a facebook group to share stories, concerns, strategies for succes, homework assignments, likes and dislikes, and then to communicate with BASIS with one voice to address any critical failures in the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Who knows what the story is"?

Lots of people. BASIS has a model and a system, they are using the same model and system for every school they open, and so far it has worked for every school they have opened, regardless of the demographic or SES situation (which varies widely from school to school that BASIS runs in Arizona).

There's far less left to speculation and guesswork than the doubters here would want you to believe.

So the doubters lack reason to doubt? What about the fundamental problem of most of the high-SES/white parents bailing from every DCPS and DCP Charter middle school their children have ever attend? That happens in the Arizona communities where Basis operates?

In DC, no public high school gets, or keeps, more than one-quarter of the white/high-SES kids living in its district (see Wilson and Deal enrollment stats), and most attract a far lower percentage than that. Moreover, Latin has failed to draw more than a third of the upper-middle-class kids starting in 5th grade to its 9th grade let alone its 12th grade. Attrition of whites is particularly high between 5th and 6th grades, and 8th and 9th grades everywhere, including Upper NW and at Latin.

My kid attend Watkins on Capitol Hill where we lose at least 75% of the white families who enroll in 1st grade before middle school despite a quarter-century of efforts by the Cluster School to keep these kids. So now, magically, Basis will keep most high SES families through the AP level simply by offering a better curriculum and instruction, and more one-on-one support, than other schools?

I don't doubt that Basis will offer a much high quality education than other DC middle schools, and probably high schools. I do doubt that Basis will keep most of its white middle school kids to 12th grade just the same because no DC public school has ever pulled that one off. As long as schools, education reform leaders and, yes, parents in this city aren't willing to take the "social issues" that promote broad attrition of white kids head on, the problem will vanish simply because the Basis boosters wish it to? Basis can wish the no-selective-admissions issue away?

Boosters, do you disagree? Or care? On what basis (no pun intended)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha ha found this thread through google. Parent of the original BASIS Tucson here, and good friends with several teachers at new campus. Judging by the interest on this thread, the one thing BASIS does is attract kids with parents who care desperately and who feel there are no decent alternatives short of expensive private schools. BASIS does well because it attracts and retains these families. The BASIS model itself however (aside from emitting "educational salvation" pheremones) leaves a little to be desired. Basically, and despite the best efforts of dedicated caring teachers, it is a Chinese model of education. Here in Tucson the goal is to see how early we can get kids doing calculus and AP testing. Right now our "elite" 5th graders are doing algebra 1 on track for AB Calc by 9th grade. But this simply does not work for the mass of students. And even those that hang on there are massive sacrifices in terms of emotional & creative development. AP tests are all well and good, but school should be much more than an AP boot camp. Remember, the US News rankings are based solely on number of AP tests taken! But again, what are the alternatives? So students and parents slog it out (although of course many leave), with periodic burn outs and grumbling. As a parent the biggest plus is that is self-selects for "good kids." Say what you want about educational opportuninty... I will not have my child in a school with metal detectors at the door and drug dealers in the bathrooms. The kids at BASIS tucson are really quite amazing, I just think it is a shame they are not given a more well-rounded education. They do well at BASIS in large part despite what BASIS does, not because of it. But it seems they have watered down the DC curriculum to retain enrollment numbers, which actually might be a perfect balance. I would be more worried about their plans to bring DC more into line with Arizona BASIS curriculum down the line.


One thing I would encourage is parent organization. Now no school can be at the mercy of every parent's whim, but parents are the true clients of the school and should develop a communal voice and have their common concerns addressed by BASIS. This is pretty much how a private schools work (and BASIS is a public private school). I would recommend that you start a facebook group to share stories, concerns, strategies for succes, homework assignments, likes and dislikes, and then to communicate with BASIS with one voice to address any critical failures in the system.

+100. An informed voice of reason in the wilderness, bless you and your Googling. As a Chinese immigrant escaping the dreaded Chinese model, I'm going to cheer for the DC Basis parents who dare to challenge it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100. An informed voice of reason in the wilderness, bless you and your Googling. As a Chinese immigrant escaping the dreaded Chinese model, I'm going to cheer for the DC Basis parents who dare to challenge it.

Remember that BASIS now in Tucson is really gearing up the Chinese model, but for its first 10 years it was not this way by necessity (to keep enrollment numbers up). DC is Tucson 10 years ago. I'd be interested to compare 5th grade curriculum.

Here we have Math, Science, Geography, English every day, then a mix of Classics, Latin, PE, Art & Music. Math is challenge #1. It is 7th grade pre-algebra taught at an accelerated pace with significant problem sets each night. All classes are test/quiz heavy with an emphasis on rote memorization, multiple choice, etc. School runs from 745 to 3pm and then about 2 hours minimum is required for homework... but the main problem is that even though we struggle just to get the homework done, we also have to help her understand the material. One day learning improper fractions. Got a problem? Go to study hours because tomorrow we are moving on to decimals. In science, here is a flashcard defining gravity. Oh it uses words you don't understand and hasn't been explained? Well, just memorize it because it is going to be on the test. Latin? Well we only have two days a week but we have 2 years curriculum to cover so do your best. (I am not dissing the teachers here, they are doing the best they can, although there are a few weaker teachers and that is just deadly combo given the intense academic nature of each course). Our child is surviving thanks to intensive parental support, but looking at the road ahead we can't see how this is a good game plan to develop a happy, healthy, creative, confident child/scholar.

But in Tucson we really don't like any of our public school alternatives and neither do many of our friends. And that is why BASIS has managed to survive.

Oh another point to mention is that BASIS is really changing now that the focus is on franchising. The owners are making bank on this but to do so they have to have a product they can spore. So everything needs to be centralized and conformed. And the model they have chosen is simply accelerated academics with a focus on AP testing. This is NOT the original BASIS credo, which was to blend rigor with creativity & personal development. I don't think the new model is sustainable, certainly not for the general population, but it will be enough to make them millionaires many times over.

I am interested in hearing how BASIS DC is selling the school, what level of rigor it is imposing from day 1, and what they have said about long term curriculum plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Who knows what the story is"?

Lots of people. BASIS has a model and a system, they are using the same model and system for every school they open, and so far it has worked for every school they have opened, regardless of the demographic or SES situation (which varies widely from school to school that BASIS runs in Arizona).

There's far less left to speculation and guesswork than the doubters here would want you to believe.

So the doubters lack reason to doubt? What about the fundamental problem of most of the high-SES/white parents bailing from every DCPS and DCP Charter middle school their children have ever attend? That happens in the Arizona communities where Basis operates?

In DC, no public high school gets, or keeps, more than one-quarter of the white/high-SES kids living in its district (see Wilson and Deal enrollment stats), and most attract a far lower percentage than that. Moreover, Latin has failed to draw more than a third of the upper-middle-class kids starting in 5th grade to its 9th grade let alone its 12th grade. Attrition of whites is particularly high between 5th and 6th grades, and 8th and 9th grades everywhere, including Upper NW and at Latin.

My kid attend Watkins on Capitol Hill where we lose at least 75% of the white families who enroll in 1st grade before middle school despite a quarter-century of efforts by the Cluster School to keep these kids. So now, magically, Basis will keep most high SES families through the AP level simply by offering a better curriculum and instruction, and more one-on-one support, than other schools?

I don't doubt that Basis will offer a much high quality education than other DC middle schools, and probably high schools. I do doubt that Basis will keep most of its white middle school kids to 12th grade just the same because no DC public school has ever pulled that one off. As long as schools, education reform leaders and, yes, parents in this city aren't willing to take the "social issues" that promote broad attrition of white kids head on, the problem will vanish simply because the Basis boosters wish it to? Basis can wish the no-selective-admissions issue away?

Boosters, do you disagree? Or care? On what basis (no pun intended)?

First of all, I reject your shorthand and concern about retaining "white students". I am equally concerned about retaining middle class students of all races and backgrounds. Why do African American families never get mentioned as leaving the schools by middle school? Certainly African American, Hispanic and Asian families with high educational standards and goals for their kids who have an option to leave dcps are doing so in great numbers, to the detriment of the school system and the city. Forget about white students for a minute. Who cares?

Second, the Cluster school has failed to retain its original families through middle and high school over two decades mostly because they are hamstrung by DCPS Central Ofiice chaos and "false equality" attitudes and by silly parents who subscribe to the same view. Charters in the district do NOT have these problems and will, in my estimation, succeed in retaining middle class families through high school. Just sit back now and watch Latin take off with its new facilities/campus and well-rounded student-athlete-artist-citizen goals. And the rigorous math/science curriculum that is not even available at many private schools in the area will pull them through, with policies that make sure only the most motivated students matriculate to high school. Watch for more charters to take root here and thrive through high school. Meanwhile, let's all hope that DCPS gets a clue on how to structure their own programs to compete. It's up to them. The $$$$ is there

[Anonymous]

" I don't think the new model is sustainable, certainly not for the general population, but it will be enough to make them millionaires many times over. "

Thanks so much for posting. I agree completely but I'm furious as a DC taxpayer that I get to foot the bill for private public school that will make BASIS founders very, very wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Who knows what the story is"?

Lots of people. BASIS has a model and a system, they are using the same model and system for every school they open, and so far it has worked for every school they have opened, regardless of the demographic or SES situation (which varies widely from school to school that BASIS runs in Arizona).

There's far less left to speculation and guesswork than the doubters here would want you to believe.

So the doubters lack reason to doubt? What about the fundamental problem of most of the high-SES/white parents bailing from every DCPS and DCP Charter middle school their children have ever attend? That happens in the Arizona communities where Basis operates?

In DC, no public high school gets, or keeps, more than one-quarter of the white/high-SES kids living in its district (see Wilson and Deal enrollment stats), and most attract a far lower percentage than that. Moreover, Latin has failed to draw more than a third of the upper-middle-class kids starting in 5th grade to its 9th grade let alone its 12th grade. Attrition of whites is particularly high between 5th and 6th grades, and 8th and 9th grades everywhere, including Upper NW and at Latin.

My kid attend Watkins on Capitol Hill where we lose at least 75% of the white families who enroll in 1st grade before middle school despite a quarter-century of efforts by the Cluster School to keep these kids. So now, magically, Basis will keep most high SES families through the AP level simply by offering a better curriculum and instruction, and more one-on-one support, than other schools?

I don't doubt that Basis will offer a much high quality education than other DC middle schools, and probably high schools. I do doubt that Basis will keep most of its white middle school kids to 12th grade just the same because no DC public school has ever pulled that one off. As long as schools, education reform leaders and, yes, parents in this city aren't willing to take the "social issues" that promote broad attrition of white kids head on, the problem will vanish simply because the Basis boosters wish it to? Basis can wish the no-selective-admissions issue away?

Boosters, do you disagree? Or care? On what basis (no pun intended)?

Take Two:

First of all, I reject your shorthand and concern about retaining "white students". I am equally concerned about retaining middle class students of all races and backgrounds. Why do African American families never get mentioned as leaving the schools by middle school? Certainly African American, Hispanic and Asian families with high educational standards and goals for their kids who have an option to leave dcps are doing so in great numbers, to the detriment of the school system and the city. Forget about white students for a minute. Who cares?

Second, the Cluster school has failed to retain its original families through middle and high school over two decades mostly because they are hamstrung by DCPS Central Ofiice chaos and "false equality" attitudes and by silly parents who subscribe to the same view. Charters in the district do NOT have these problems and will, in my estimation, succeed in retaining middle class families through high school. Just sit back now and watch Latin take off with its new facilities/campus and well-rounded student-athlete-artist-citizen goals. And the BASIS rigorous math/science curriculum that is not even available at many private schools in the area will pull them through, with policies that make sure only the most motivated students matriculate to high school. Watch for more charters to take root here and thrive through high school. Meanwhile, let's all hope that DCPS gets a clue on how to structure their own programs to compete. It's up to them. The $$$$ is there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:" I don't think the new model is sustainable, certainly not for the general population, but it will be enough to make them millionaires many times over. "

Thanks so much for posting. I agree completely but I'm furious as a DC taxpayer that I get to foot the bill for private public school that will make BASIS founders very, very wealthy.

Do you not even care about the amount of corruption, theft and mooching that occurs/occurred in the DCPS system over decades while robbing students of an actual education. Where is that fury? How about the administrators who CHEAT on DC CAS tests and then are handed thousands of dollars in bonuses and promotions. And the money paid to cover it all up. That's your money too.

At least in the Basis scenario, students get educated. There is bang for your buck. By the way, you are paying much more per student in DCPS for a crappy education than for an excellent one at Basis. Basis is providing a chance for every kid in the district to get an great education--if they are willing to work for it. DCPS has NEVER done that. What are you furious about again?

[Anonymous]

^ Mostly nonsense. We've been a Cluster family through 4th, are now a Latin family, and may well become a Basis family next year.

DC1 is in 8th grade at Latin and we're not planning to stay for hs mainly because almost all her friends, mostly high-SES kids, will be leaving for privates, the burbs, and Wilson after this year. The PP above is just offering another sweep-the-issues under the rug argument in a city where white is a proxy for upper-middle-class. It's true that the social issues are almost never addressed. Open lottery admissions and ghetto mindsets continue to scare away many of the very parents who would rally to make a school great, not merely good, as Latin is.

From where I sit, the crux of the problem is that far too many of the charter founders, administrators and instructors have drunk the Koolaid that tells them that poor AA kids don't need upper-middle-class classmates (overwhelmingly white in DC) to succeed in middle school, high school and college. As an AA parent who grew up poor, I reject this notion wholeheartedly. Middle-class peers at my NYC test-in magnets were the people who opened my world, by inviting me to museums with their families on weekends, sailing trips, camping trips and so on. Just showing me pictures of their summer camps and trips abroad gave me a yen to want to join them and, when I couldn't, to ensure that, one day, my own children could.

Duck the critical issues and get the same mediocre result over and over, even at Basis. You should care. We, the lucky AA few, vote with our feet to offer you evidence. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Oh another point to mention is that BASIS is really changing now that the focus is on franchising. The owners are making bank on this but to do so they have to have a product they can spore. So everything needs to be centralized and conformed. And the model they have chosen is simply accelerated academics with a focus on AP testing. This is NOT the original BASIS credo, which was to blend rigor with creativity & personal development. I don't think the new model is sustainable, certainly not for the general population, but it will be enough to make them millionaires many times over.

I am interested in hearing how BASIS DC is selling the school, what level of rigor it is imposing from day 1, and what they have said about long term curriculum plans.

Ech. Disturbing reading for the parent of a Basis 5th grader. Thanks a lot for this. They don't seem to have said anything much about long-term/HS curriculum plans, other than the 8-10 AP classes/tests, ad nauseum. I took 8 AP tests in HS without kill and drill as prep, and very little rote learning, and went on to an Ivy and a happy career as an engineer. not sure if we'll stay the course....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: And the rigorous math/science curriculum that is not even available at many private schools in the area will pull them through, with policies that make sure only the most motivated students matriculate to high school. Watch for more charters to take root here and thrive through high school. Meanwhile, let's all hope that DCPS gets a clue on how to structure their own programs to compete. It's up to them. The $$$$ is there

What policies? At Latin, if my DC can be believed, motivated students matriculate to high school, and unmotivated students matriculate. And capable students matriculate and not-so-capable students matriculate. The middle school doesn't track/ability group, other than a little for math, and the high school doesn't track nearly as much as it could. DCPS wouldn't exactly have to kill itself to compete, and neither will rote-learning oriented Basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Oh another point to mention is that BASIS is really changing now that the focus is on franchising. The owners are making bank on this but to do so they have to have a product they can spore. So everything needs to be centralized and conformed. And the model they have chosen is simply accelerated academics with a focus on AP testing. This is NOT the original BASIS credo, which was to blend rigor with creativity & personal development. I don't think the new model is sustainable, certainly not for the general population, but it will be enough to make them millionaires many times over.

I am interested in hearing how BASIS DC is selling the school, what level of rigor it is imposing from day 1, and what they have said about long term curriculum plans.

Ech. Disturbing reading for the parent of a Basis 5th grader. Thanks a lot for this. They don't seem to have said anything much about long-term/HS curriculum plans, other than the 8-10 AP classes/tests, ad nauseum. I took 8 AP tests in HS without kill and drill as prep, and very little rote learning, and went on to an Ivy and a happy career as an engineer. not sure if we'll stay the course....

Honestly, from the research I have done, I am not seeing that Basis lacks the fostering of creativity or personal development at all. Of course, there is accelerated academics and a lot of so-called "rote" learning which is not a bad thing at all. One must master the basics via some "rote" learning in order to fly so to speak. All too often these days, schools neglect the basics of grammar, writing, vocabulary, math facts and operations, history and science which results in students not being able to go on to higher order thinking and creativity. Basis also fosters personal responsibility, organizational skills, and character traits. The school also offers many classes and after school activities in the arts and music. So I just do not see that the school is only focused on accelerated learning and AP classes which are good things in themselves IMO. Basis also has detailed curriculum plans for every year of school up to 12th grade as well. I am also not seeing any watering down as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Oh another point to mention is that BASIS is really changing now that the focus is on franchising. The owners are making bank on this but to do so they have to have a product they can spore. So everything needs to be centralized and conformed. And the model they have chosen is simply accelerated academics with a focus on AP testing. This is NOT the original BASIS credo, which was to blend rigor with creativity & personal development. I don't think the new model is sustainable, certainly not for the general population, but it will be enough to make them millionaires many times over.

I am interested in hearing how BASIS DC is selling the school, what level of rigor it is imposing from day 1, and what they have said about long term curriculum plans.

Ech. Disturbing reading for the parent of a Basis 5th grader. Thanks a lot for this. They don't seem to have said anything much about long-term/HS curriculum plans, other than the 8-10 AP classes/tests, ad nauseum. I took 8 AP tests in HS without kill and drill as prep, and very little rote learning, and went on to an Ivy and a happy career as an engineer. not sure if we'll stay the course....

Honestly, from the research I have done, I am not seeing that Basis lacks the fostering of creativity or personal development at all. Of course, there is accelerated academics and a lot of so-called "rote" learning which is not a bad thing at all. One must master the basics via some "rote" learning in order to fly so to speak. All too often these days, schools neglect the basics of grammar, writing, vocabulary, math facts and operations, history and science which results in students not being able to go on to higher order thinking and creativity. Basis also fosters personal responsibility, organizational skills, and character traits. The school also offers many classes and after school activities in the arts and music. So I just do not see that the school is only focused on accelerated learning and AP classes which are good things in themselves IMO. Basis also has detailed curriculum plans for every year of school up to 12th grade as well. I am also not seeing any watering down as well.

True about the benefit of actually knowing stuff! My concern (from first hand experience) is (a) that there is too much focus throughout... I mean OK teach accelerated math and maybe science, too, but for an average 11 year old how much more are you going to ask? Learning 30 latin words a week, 50 states and capitals, umpteen definitions in classics and geography...

The difference between the brochure and the reality on arts and music is a big kicker. Our student has art, but with multiple choice tests included! Same with music. They are crammed into an already over-full day so actually just add to the stress, not relieve it. Is it possible to manage all of this. Yes, with luck, ability, and determination. Is it an optimal environment for students and parents? Not from my experience. I remain involved with BASIS however because I like much of what I see. I think the system needs parental input to restore the appropriate balance between rigor and well-roundedness. I often joke of starting my own charter and calling it "BASIS for humans"!

[Anonymous]

My Ds is in the 5th grade, and the test have been a mixture of matching, mulitple choice, fill in the blank, and essay questions.( all on one test)

[Anonymous]

To PP 13:07 What do you mean that Latin doesn't track in HS? ALL the 9th grade classes have a Honors track, and I imagine that the other grades do also. I guess you want High Honor Honors. I do know that if a student is excelling even past the Honors or AP courses that are offered, they will allow the student to do some sort of independent higher learning in whatever class. They really are committed to ensuring that the students needs are met IMO. I know this is a BASIS post, so I don't want to get to far off track, but High SES AA/White/Asian, whatever, really need to take a good look at what Latin offers. The reason that Latins' HS doesn't do as well is because of the flight from the high achiving students (both White and AA). I think this school year they retained some of the highest numbers from the 8th grade, and I suspect that will increase scores (if that matters to people), and will have more of Latins' 8th graders looking at the school as a real option for next year.