Basis DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe what I’m reading.
According to some of the posters, schools should only be geared toward what works for most students and since most students are not capable of a tough curriculum (a “fringe” idea) families should not expect the public school system to serve their bright students and they should figure out how to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to educate their kids before college. Because the public school system doesn’t belong to everyone, it belongs to only the lowest common denominator. This is absurd. There’s no point reasoning with unreasonable.

Of all the problems dcps has, it is not that the smartest kid isn’t allowed to learn anything beyond what the dumbest kid can learn.

The system should serve the broadest number of kids at the highest level while also making sure no one gets left behind.

Creating tailor made programs for above average students is a great idea and a lot of districts do so… There are advanced classes in dcps and there are kids who learn at a high level and go to elite schools and become highly successful people. The argument that some students need more is an interesting one, and maybe a good one, but a small group of parents who want their kids in some kind of fringe program that overloads college level courses and pushes out most students is not something that is a reasonable expectation. DCPS should be able to provide your kid with a solid education, and to goose the process we have some charters… but if a charter is a money suck making ppl in Arizona rich and failing to serve most kids, it shouldn’t be paid for with tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

There’s an obligation to take care of the weakest, you monster. You’re not special - public schools across America are tasked with providing a good basic education for everyone, not catering to the whims of a few. Want to tailor your kids education with weird fringe stuff, pay for it yourself.

[Anonymous]

Basis uses pretty standard curricula and pretty conventional teaching methods. It's more or less modeled on schools in Europe. That's now weird and fringe?

[Anonymous]

What’s weird and “fringe” is the idea that schools no longer have an obligation to educate the brighter students. Schools outside of DC have plenty of ways of providing differentiation at the middle and high school levels, but in DCPS and according to some posters here, brighter kids should not expect anything different than the “weakest” members of the class (who may be in high school and barely literate and also barely show up to school but who must must be prioritized at all costs!).

There is nothing “fringe” about wanting everyone to meet their own potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s weird and “fringe” is the idea that schools no longer have an obligation to educate the brighter students. Schools outside of DC have plenty of ways of providing differentiation at the middle and high school levels, but in DCPS and according to some posters here, brighter kids should not expect anything different than the “weakest” members of the class (who may be in high school and barely literate and also barely show up to school but who must must be prioritized at all costs!).

There is nothing “fringe” about wanting everyone to meet their own potential.

ITA. My kid wouldn’t make it at Basis but obviously we NEED education to make the most out of the skills & drive of the kids who are the future doctors and engineers. It’s absolutely insanely suicidal to argue otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

There’s an obligation to take care of the weakest, you monster. You’re not special - public schools across America are tasked with providing a good basic education for everyone, not catering to the whims of a few. Want to tailor your kids education with weird fringe stuff, pay for it yourself.

So are you against all gifted programs, AP classes, advanced math tracks, and selective public universities? Come on. Your anti-charter obsession is tipping over to derangement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

There’s an obligation to take care of the weakest, you monster. You’re not special - public schools across America are tasked with providing a good basic education for everyone, not catering to the whims of a few. Want to tailor your kids education with weird fringe stuff, pay for it yourself.

So are you against all gifted programs, AP classes, advanced math tracks, and selective public universities? Come on. Your anti-charter obsession is tipping over to derangement.

I’m all for ap classes, and the good news is DCPS and all the other glial public systems offer them! but I’m not for mandatory high-pressure ones where 14yos who can’t handle a full college load are berated and pushed out. If you want all AP curriculum, a cohort strictly limited to kids who test well under pressure, no electives, no extra curricular, no sports, no art, no music and silent lunches… send your kid to private school. Save the money we’re sending to those creeps in Arizona for adding more APs at DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

There’s an obligation to take care of the weakest, you monster. You’re not special - public schools across America are tasked with providing a good basic education for everyone, not catering to the whims of a few. Want to tailor your kids education with weird fringe stuff, pay for it yourself.

So are you against all gifted programs, AP classes, advanced math tracks, and selective public universities? Come on. Your anti-charter obsession is tipping over to derangement.

I’m all for ap classes, and the good news is DCPS and all the other glial public systems offer them! but I’m not for mandatory high-pressure ones where 14yos who can’t handle a full college load are berated and pushed out. If you want all AP curriculum, a cohort strictly limited to kids who test well under pressure, no electives, no extra curricular, no sports, no art, no music and silent lunches… send your kid to private school. Save the money we’re sending to those creeps in Arizona for adding more APs at DCPS.

What are you even talking about? 9th graders only need to take 1 AP class, and it’s an easy one. They also do get an elective, the school has sports, and it has extracurriculars. Kids who want to take art or music can find a wide variety of elective classes.

[Anonymous]

There is absolutely nothing “mandatory” about BASIS whatsoever. The actual “good news” is that you don’t have to send your kid to BASIS. Imagine that?!

You think you shouldn’t have to pay for BASIS? Well it’s no different than families at BASIS not wanting to pay for their failing in-bound DCPS. There’s a total waste of money for you!

But the funny thing about taxes is that they always go toward services we both use and don’t use. What a revelation!

So how about you just stop worrying about BASIS (a relatively tiny school in a city chock full of options more suitable to your preferences) and start putting in all of this time and effort into your DCPS that you think is so great. Leave BASIS to the folks with bright kids seeking academic challenge who can’t afford the private school you think they should have to fund for themselves. Sorry that’s so abhorrent to you but your educational philosophy is bonkers.

[Anonymous]

A big part of this never-ending fight is the repeated assertions and implications that BASIS is good for all “bright kids seeking academic challenge,” when actually it’s suitable for only a subset of them. And of course that means that the bright kids are being split up to everyone’s detriment. I don’t blame the families who choose Basis, and I don’t blame the families who avoid it. But it’s pernicious to imply that being smart and hardworking is enough to thrive at Basis. That’s how you lure smart and hardworking kids into a situation that winds up being toxic for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

There’s an obligation to take care of the weakest, you monster. You’re not special - public schools across America are tasked with providing a good basic education for everyone, not catering to the whims of a few. Want to tailor your kids education with weird fringe stuff, pay for it yourself.

So are you against all gifted programs, AP classes, advanced math tracks, and selective public universities? Come on. Your anti-charter obsession is tipping over to derangement.

I’m all for ap classes, and the good news is DCPS and all the other glial public systems offer them! but I’m not for mandatory high-pressure ones where 14yos who can’t handle a full college load are berated and pushed out. If you want all AP curriculum, a cohort strictly limited to kids who test well under pressure, no electives, no extra curricular, no sports, no art, no music and silent lunches… send your kid to private school. Save the money we’re sending to those creeps in Arizona for adding more APs at DCPS.

I'm almost certain we are all arguing with one person-- the "secondhand" experience person who uses language like "eff BASIS", and who has never set foot in the building. I think her teeth are locked into this fight and we need to back away slowly.

Bottom line to me is that BASIS is great for some kids and horrible for some kids. IMO we are all getting better at sending the right kids there. My son is entering and said almost everyone in his orientation self-identified as a Ravenclaw. They just graduated their biggest class ever (not huge, 62, but still). So, thanks to this forum for the info.

[Anonymous]

the problem with the average DCPS student, which DC does not appear able to fix, is that they are not on a trajectory to a stable job, i.e., they are not learning enough to get to community college and they are not being otherwise brought along with other skills programs. we're drifting toward another generation without prospects.

in a world where that is most of what is happening in DCPS, extra AP and all that isn't most of what DCPS needs to do.

Almost all of our kids are going to college (or some exciting alternative) even if they aren't doing their best. BASIS people are trying to make the difference between them going to UDC or UMD and them going to Stanford or Michigan.

In a world with priorities, why expand the nice-to-have while the must-do isn't done?

I don't like not being served, but I get where DC should put its priorities.

[Anonymous]

But getting rid of BASIS does not in any way solve the admittedly “un-solvable” problem you mention. So why is “nothing for no one” the right answer?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Pretty much anyone can go to college. For some families, particularly at DCI, which has lots of first gen families, going to college at all is a big deal. But clearly some families are aiming much higher. BASIS develops the kind of work ethic and executive functioning skills that students aiming high in college admissions can rely on to be competitive.

Or it burns kids out and makes them feel like failures and prevents them from having ongoing successful academic careers.

One close friend of the family had to send her daughter to legit therapy because the girl sobbed every night because she said she was a failure because she couldn't keep up with her all AP class schedule as a 15yo. Of course she couldn't, those are classes that are meant for college students. HS students being able to do any of them is a privilege and a real accomplishment—it should never be forced on anyone. Took months of therapy and private school tuition to get her feeling like she could go to college. Eff BASIS—seriously.

Oh good grief. Basis doesn't jump up that much in difficulty between 9th grade classes and 10th grade AP classes. The kids who struggle in 10th grade APs are the ones who were also struggling in previous grades. The parents and kid just buried their heads in the sand and hoped that the school would magically turn into a good fit. If it took months of therapy to get over Basis, then there were like a hundred red flags flying in the previous few years.

AP classes aren't even college difficulty level anymore. They're regular classes for bright kids, and tons of kids across the country take a lot of APs with no issue. With the exception of math advancement, Basis courses are no harder and workloads are no greater than what I had in honors classes 30 years ago. Grades are no harsher than what I saw in those classes 30 years ago. The only difference is that most high schools these days have watered down the rigor and puffed up the grades enormously in the last 30 years, while Basis is similar to what we all had when completing high school. It's not some grand experiment or education for the few. It's more or less comparable to a solid, old-school education with minimal technology, note taking by hand, exams, and expectations.

New poster here. There is something more intense about the culture than the workload. It is the high stakes all or nothing end of year testing at the end of the school year for pre-teens that stokes the fear or failure culture.

The end of year tests are very generously curved, and the baseline for passing is pretty low. They also spend a lot of time at the end of the year reviewing for the tests. Almost everyone's grade increases after the comp exams. The kids who fail usually were struggling all year.

I can see why it would be too intense for kids with anxiety or other issues, but for most kids, it really shouldn't be a big deal. It's honestly not dissimilar to final exams and other high stakes testing that we all had 30 years ago. The main difference is that kids these days are much more fragile.

Given the attrition it clearly is problematic for most kids.

The attrition isn't due to comps, it is the rigor and workload throughout the year. Very few kids fail comps and the vast majority of those that do were struggling throughout the year.

So... bad curriculum, but kinda nice comp tests? Okay, still seems like a place my kid shouldn't go.

The curriculum is fine for bright, motivated kids. It’s far superior than regular publics, which ignore advanced kids and teach to the bottom. If your kid is not bright and motivated, the curriculum is a bad fit. Fortunately, almost every DC public would be a good fit.

Sounds like a great idea for a private school.

Why should people have to pay for private school just to get an appropriate education for their bright kids? There would be little demand for a school like Basis if regular schools had some degree of tracking and gifted programming. Why, in your worldview, is "remedial instruction for all" a good thing, but "advanced instruction for those who want and need it" a bad thing?

It’s the job of the public school system to provide the best education for the most students. If charter schools that can prove they do a good job for ALL students and are open to everyone can be meshed into the system they should, but it’s not the taxpayers job to pay extra for your precious little Poooky to get a fringe education. You want a fringe education, go private. The BASIS money would be much better used improving dcps as a whole or spending on a charter that works for everyone, like Walls.

And before you say “dcps would just waste the money!” I would say you’re not wrong, but then the answer is reforming it, not sending your little creep to a special school because you think he’s a high achiever.

But it's the taxpayers job to pay extra for the "special ed" kids and "special needs" kids etc etc etc. Sorry, but my kid is equal to those kids.

And pay super-extra for your future songwriter, screenwriter, or stage manager at Duke Ellington.