Basis DC

[Anonymous]

It’s a niche school experience that will appeal to a specific type of kid. As a parent, you probably already know if your child is a good fit. If you’re unsure, explore other options before making a final decision.

I work in a public middle school in D.C. and have taught many bright, high-performing kids who left Basis. I’ve also known awesome kids who left DCPS to attend Basis and were successful at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in our 2nd year at BASIS, and our 6th grader is thriving. Child learned a lot of executive functioning/organizational skills in 5th grade last year, and they complete their 6th grade homework on their own at school (study hall) or have minimal homework or studying at night as they have LOTS of extracurricular activities both via school or in the community. Our child thrives in math/science and loves to read, so BASIS seems to work well for them. I don’t think it’s a perfect school for everyone, but it certainly seems to be great for my kid.

For what it’s worth, I’m so tired of hearing about the school space as I really don’t think it bothers kids as much as it seems to bother some parents. My kid gets plenty of movement throughout the day going from class to class and does tons of activities outside of school, so I have no concern that they are not exposed to being out in the elements or doing other things.

+1.

The school is a public school in downtown DC, people. Move to Loudon if you want a suburban existence.

Nobody here has to listen to anybody telling them to move to the burbs if we want halfway decent school facilities for their tax dollars. I went to a public school downtown in Chicago where we had a basketball court on the roof. BASIS DC could have built one. They couldn't be bothered. You sound like you went to school in the burbs yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a niche school experience that will appeal to a specific type of kid. As a parent, you probably already know if your child is a good fit. If you’re unsure, explore other options before making a final decision.

I work in a public middle school in D.C. and have taught many bright, high-performing kids who left Basis. I’ve also known awesome kids who left DCPS to attend Basis and were successful at the school.

You're painting with much too broad a brush. At best, BASIS DC is a half-baked school experience narrowly focused on specific academics that appeals to few of the high school kids, even the highest-performing students.

My kid graduated from BASIS DC for an Ivy League school. But we'd still have left along the way if we had a better option.

Any kid can benefit from outdoor space at school, a strong arts program, robust ECs, good facilities, a stable teaching staff, a better and broader choice of academic subjects, a thoughtful use of senior year (rather than the underfunded, goof-around BASIS approach) and inspiring leadership.

We'd have gone for any of those "niches" in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

These threads are so exhausting. BASIS looked into trying to put a sports space on the roof and learned that it was structurally infeasible. It was NOT that they “couldn’t be bothered” to put one there. Please stop spreading misinformation.

There is not one family (or staff member it seems) at BASIS who doesn’t wish the building were different. Everyone agrees it stinks. The building is what it is and nobody could try to hide its limitations even if they wanted to. So it goes without saying that if a normal school building and traditional school experience is what you’re after, do NOT go to BASIS.

What some people on here can’t seem to accept is that not every student/family has made the building a deal breaker. If your kid can’t stand the building, don’t send/keep them at BASIS. But if you/the parent can’t stand the building, find out if your kid cares as much as you do. Send your kid to the shadow day program at BASIS and see what they think!

[Anonymous]

What do you know? Our HVAC contractor of many years, who worked on rehab of the BASIS building, says otherwise. Years ago, he told us that the HVAC contractor BASIS hired suggested that the air compressor intake units be configured differently on the roof to provide for outdoor space after reviewing structural specs. Stop spreading misinformation and pretending that the building is needlessly awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you know? Our HVAC contractor of many years, who worked on rehab of the BASIS building, says otherwise. Years ago, he told us that the HVAC contractor BASIS hired suggested that the air compressor intake units be configured differently on the roof to provide for outdoor space after reviewing structural specs. Stop spreading misinformation and pretending that the building is needlessly awful.

What do you know?

They don't have the money to put an outdoor space on the roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a niche school experience that will appeal to a specific type of kid. As a parent, you probably already know if your child is a good fit. If you’re unsure, explore other options before making a final decision.

I work in a public middle school in D.C. and have taught many bright, high-performing kids who left Basis. I’ve also known awesome kids who left DCPS to attend Basis and were successful at the school.

You're painting with much too broad a brush. At best, BASIS DC is a half-baked school experience narrowly focused on specific academics that appeals to few of the high school kids, even the highest-performing students.

My kid graduated from BASIS DC for an Ivy League school. But we'd still have left along the way if we had a better option.

Any kid can benefit from outdoor space at school, a strong arts program, robust ECs, good facilities, a stable teaching staff, a better and broader choice of academic subjects, a thoughtful use of senior year (rather than the underfunded, goof-around BASIS approach) and inspiring leadership.

We'd have gone for any of those "niches" in a heartbeat.

This posts are hysterical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in our 2nd year at BASIS, and our 6th grader is thriving. Child learned a lot of executive functioning/organizational skills in 5th grade last year, and they complete their 6th grade homework on their own at school (study hall) or have minimal homework or studying at night as they have LOTS of extracurricular activities both via school or in the community. Our child thrives in math/science and loves to read, so BASIS seems to work well for them. I don’t think it’s a perfect school for everyone, but it certainly seems to be great for my kid.

For what it’s worth, I’m so tired of hearing about the school space as I really don’t think it bothers kids as much as it seems to bother some parents. My kid gets plenty of movement throughout the day going from class to class and does tons of activities outside of school, so I have no concern that they are not exposed to being out in the elements or doing other things.

+1.

The school is a public school in downtown DC, people. Move to Loudon if you want a suburban existence.

Nobody here has to listen to anybody telling them to move to the burbs if we want halfway decent school facilities for their tax dollars. I went to a public school downtown in Chicago where we had a basketball court on the roof. BASIS DC could have built one. They couldn't be bothered. You sound like you went to school in the burbs yourself.

So dumb.

You went to a school in downtown Chicago with a basketball court on the roof so you know for a fact that "BASIS DC could have built one" but they "couldn't be bothered."

And you know that how?

And why do you think BASIS wants a basketball court on the roof or that the roof is adapted for such a court?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a niche school experience that will appeal to a specific type of kid. As a parent, you probably already know if your child is a good fit. If you’re unsure, explore other options before making a final decision.

I work in a public middle school in D.C. and have taught many bright, high-performing kids who left Basis. I’ve also known awesome kids who left DCPS to attend Basis and were successful at the school.

You're painting with much too broad a brush. At best, BASIS DC is a half-baked school experience narrowly focused on specific academics that appeals to few of the high school kids, even the highest-performing students.

My kid graduated from BASIS DC for an Ivy League school. But we'd still have left along the way if we had a better option.

Any kid can benefit from outdoor space at school, a strong arts program, robust ECs, good facilities, a stable teaching staff, a better and broader choice of academic subjects, a thoughtful use of senior year (rather than the underfunded, goof-around BASIS approach) and inspiring leadership.

We'd have gone for any of those "niches" in a heartbeat.

This posts are hysterical.

No, it isn't. As somebody with two kids who went all the way through BASIS, I can say without reservation that this PP is worth listening to. BASIS DC is deeply flawed. You can make it work for your kid with considerable hustle and investment in high school ECs. That's the best that can be said of BASIS DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in our 2nd year at BASIS, and our 6th grader is thriving. Child learned a lot of executive functioning/organizational skills in 5th grade last year, and they complete their 6th grade homework on their own at school (study hall) or have minimal homework or studying at night as they have LOTS of extracurricular activities both via school or in the community. Our child thrives in math/science and loves to read, so BASIS seems to work well for them. I don’t think it’s a perfect school for everyone, but it certainly seems to be great for my kid.

For what it’s worth, I’m so tired of hearing about the school space as I really don’t think it bothers kids as much as it seems to bother some parents. My kid gets plenty of movement throughout the day going from class to class and does tons of activities outside of school, so I have no concern that they are not exposed to being out in the elements or doing other things.

+1.

The school is a public school in downtown DC, people. Move to Loudon if you want a suburban existence.

Nobody here has to listen to anybody telling them to move to the burbs if we want halfway decent school facilities for their tax dollars. I went to a public school downtown in Chicago where we had a basketball court on the roof. BASIS DC could have built one. They couldn't be bothered. You sound like you went to school in the burbs yourself.

So dumb.

You went to a school in downtown Chicago with a basketball court on the roof so you know for a fact that "BASIS DC could have built one" but they "couldn't be bothered."

And you know that how?

And why do you think BASIS wants a basketball court on the roof or that the roof is adapted for such a court?

You fans of the BASIS building sound quite new to the scene. Some of us had kids at BASIS over a decade back, when the reno was brand new. There was a debate about building a sports space on the roof from the get go. Arizona ultimately decided the approach was too expensive and didn't run with it. It was a short-sighted decision and those responsible for it hit the road for Arizona soon after the building was completed. That's how a national charter franchise can work.

[Anonymous]

If you want advice from a parent who stayed through high school for one kid, while a second kid left for Walls, OP, think in terms of taking BASIS year by year.

Historically, most heads only last a year or two. Don't plan on this one staying. Don't plan on your kid thriving or liking it. Don't plan on joining a friendly and welcoming community. Don't plan on taking advantage of strong enrichment or ECs.

If it all works out, great. These threads aren't exhausting but BASIS can be.

[Anonymous]

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a niche school experience that will appeal to a specific type of kid. As a parent, you probably already know if your child is a good fit. If you’re unsure, explore other options before making a final decision.

I work in a public middle school in D.C. and have taught many bright, high-performing kids who left Basis. I’ve also known awesome kids who left DCPS to attend Basis and were successful at the school.

You're painting with much too broad a brush. At best, BASIS DC is a half-baked school experience narrowly focused on specific academics that appeals to few of the high school kids, even the highest-performing students.

My kid graduated from BASIS DC for an Ivy League school. But we'd still have left along the way if we had a better option.

Any kid can benefit from outdoor space at school, a strong arts program, robust ECs, good facilities, a stable teaching staff, a better and broader choice of academic subjects, a thoughtful use of senior year (rather than the underfunded, goof-around BASIS approach) and inspiring leadership.

We'd have gone for any of those "niches" in a heartbeat.

This posts are hysterical.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in our 2nd year at BASIS, and our 6th grader is thriving. Child learned a lot of executive functioning/organizational skills in 5th grade last year, and they complete their 6th grade homework on their own at school (study hall) or have minimal homework or studying at night as they have LOTS of extracurricular activities both via school or in the community. Our child thrives in math/science and loves to read, so BASIS seems to work well for them. I don’t think it’s a perfect school for everyone, but it certainly seems to be great for my kid.

For what it’s worth, I’m so tired of hearing about the school space as I really don’t think it bothers kids as much as it seems to bother some parents. My kid gets plenty of movement throughout the day going from class to class and does tons of activities outside of school, so I have no concern that they are not exposed to being out in the elements or doing other things.

+1.

The school is a public school in downtown DC, people. Move to Loudon if you want a suburban existence.

Nobody here has to listen to anybody telling them to move to the burbs if we want halfway decent school facilities for their tax dollars. I went to a public school downtown in Chicago where we had a basketball court on the roof. BASIS DC could have built one. They couldn't be bothered. You sound like you went to school in the burbs yourself.

So dumb.

You went to a school in downtown Chicago with a basketball court on the roof so you know for a fact that "BASIS DC could have built one" but they "couldn't be bothered."

And you know that how?

And why do you think BASIS wants a basketball court on the roof or that the roof is adapted for such a court?

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want advice from a parent who stayed through high school for one kid, while a second kid left for Walls, OP, think in terms of taking BASIS year by year.

Historically, most heads only last a year or two. Don't plan on this one staying. Don't plan on your kid thriving or liking it. Don't plan on joining a friendly and welcoming community. Don't plan on taking advantage of strong enrichment or ECs.

If it all works out, great. These threads aren't exhausting but BASIS can be.

The school is 12 years old…