Why do people hate Yu Ying and Basis so much?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

From my perspective, I have no problem with your goals in a vacuum, but feel that it is a corruption of the role of Charter schools. Selective schools should either be created by DCPS or left in the realm of private schools. Charters are supposed to serve all comers and provide opportunities to those who local schools are unsatisfactory. They are not supposed to save elite families the cost of private school tuition.

Sorry, forgot to add that we could not possibly afford private school tuition for the number of kids we have. And as a non-white family with one wage earner who works for the feds while the educations we obtained for ourselves were elite, we did not do it on our own dimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Basis has proved to be so successful in DC...oh wait they haven't even finished their first year here.

Exactly! And when the first Starbuck's opened in DC, everyone assumed it would be as successful as in Seattle. People just don't understand how the DC demographic changes everything!

ha, funny, except turns out the only reason basis tucson looks good is because of attrition effectively making it a test in school like TJ or others.

I know nothing about YY, but my speculation on Basis is that no one wants an excellent effectively test in charter school in DC, especially not people whose kids may be competing for the same colleges. We are like crabs in a barrel. In our elementary, many decided between Latin, Basis and private schools. The fear that you have made the wrong decision, especially if you are shelling out over 30k a year for it, will go on until your kids go to college or you are reassured. So the folks who have Wilson as their back up really have nothing else to agonize over. We wanted a TJ for several kids but could not count on all of them getting in because admission is 16%.

Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

I don't think success should be measured by how many kids get kicked out. taking public funds and then cherrypicking is not a marker of a succesful program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

From my perspective, I have no problem with your goals in a vacuum, but feel that it is a corruption of the role of Charter schools. Selective schools should either be created by DCPS or left in the realm of private schools. Charters are supposed to serve all comers and provide opportunities to those who local schools are unsatisfactory. They are not supposed to save elite families the cost of private school tuition.

Sorry, forgot to add that we could not possibly afford private school tuition for the number of kids we have. And as a non-white family with one wage earner who works for the feds while the educations we obtained for ourselves were elite, we did not do it on our own dimes.

I am also a non-white family with a very high achieving DC. I hope you are public with your views at Basis so we can avoid you and your family like the plague. I don't want these views rubbing off on my DC. We are not part of the "I got mine; you get yours" mindset. We are part of the "a rising tide lifts all boats" mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Basis has proved to be so successful in DC...oh wait they haven't even finished their first year here.

Exactly! And when the first Starbuck's opened in DC, everyone assumed it would be as successful as in Seattle. People just don't understand how the DC demographic changes everything!

ha, funny, except turns out the only reason basis tucson looks good is because of attrition effectively making it a test in school like TJ or others.

I know nothing about YY, but my speculation on Basis is that no one wants an excellent effectively test in charter school in DC, especially not people whose kids may be competing for the same colleges. We are like crabs in a barrel. In our elementary, many decided between Latin, Basis and private schools. The fear that you have made the wrong decision, especially if you are shelling out over 30k a year for it, will go on until your kids go to college or you are reassured. So the folks who have Wilson as their back up really have nothing else to agonize over. We wanted a TJ for several kids but could not count on all of them getting in because admission is 16%.

Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

I'm personally fine with a challenging program, I just think there needs to be another path for students who aren't prepared for it. If 25% of the class can handle the advanced curriculum then it's terrific that it is available for them. However, there needs to be an alternative set of choices for the 75% who are dropping out. Some kids may be several years ahead in math, but fairly average in reading. Let them focus their energy where they excel. I like this about the IB Program. What I don't like seeing on the taxpayer dime is 75% of students being counseled out - there should be less intense options which keep them in the school. I wouldn't be surprised if this a path which the PCSB is going to coerce or force Basis down, one way or another.

[Anonymous]

With regard to YY, I'm not a hater, but we will decline a spot if offered (and DH did stand in line at the crack of dawn). I find it very off-putting that at the various events (charter expo, open house) there have never been any parents or educators there to answer questions. And when I've asked existing parents, some (admittedly, not all) have said, "If you have questions, then go somewhere else. There are enough people who want the slot that we don't have to explain ourselves to you." We all take our children's education seriously, and committing to mandarin is a big deal (as YY families always warn on here), so I think it is entirely appropriate that I may have questions for the principal/teachers/parents. I did not appreciate the fact that when I have availed myself of opportunities to learn about the school, those questions have gone unanswered, sometimes with a very obnoxious reply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Basis has proved to be so successful in DC...oh wait they haven't even finished their first year here.

Exactly! And when the first Starbuck's opened in DC, everyone assumed it would be as successful as in Seattle. People just don't understand how the DC demographic changes everything!

ha, funny, except turns out the only reason basis tucson looks good is because of attrition effectively making it a test in school like TJ or others.

I know nothing about YY, but my speculation on Basis is that no one wants an excellent effectively test in charter school in DC, especially not people whose kids may be competing for the same colleges. We are like crabs in a barrel. In our elementary, many decided between Latin, Basis and private schools. The fear that you have made the wrong decision, especially if you are shelling out over 30k a year for it, will go on until your kids go to college or you are reassured. So the folks who have Wilson as their back up really have nothing else to agonize over. We wanted a TJ for several kids but could not count on all of them getting in because admission is 16%.

Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

I'm personally fine with a challenging program, I just think there needs to be another path for students who aren't prepared for it. If 25% of the class can handle the advanced curriculum then it's terrific that it is available for them. However, there needs to be an alternative set of choices for the 75% who are dropping out. Some kids may be several years ahead in math, but fairly average in reading. Let them focus their energy where they excel. I like this about the IB Program. What I don't like seeing on the taxpayer dime is 75% of students being counseled out - there should be less intense options which keep them in the school. I wouldn't be surprised if this a path which the PCSB is going to coerce or force Basis down, one way or another.

Where are you getting your numbers, PP? Where did you head that 75% are dropping out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Basis has proved to be so successful in DC...oh wait they haven't even finished their first year here.

Exactly! And when the first Starbuck's opened in DC, everyone assumed it would be as successful as in Seattle. People just don't understand how the DC demographic changes everything!

ha, funny, except turns out the only reason basis tucson looks good is because of attrition effectively making it a test in school like TJ or others.

I know nothing about YY, but my speculation on Basis is that no one wants an excellent effectively test in charter school in DC, especially not people whose kids may be competing for the same colleges. We are like crabs in a barrel. In our elementary, many decided between Latin, Basis and private schools. The fear that you have made the wrong decision, especially if you are shelling out over 30k a year for it, will go on until your kids go to college or you are reassured. So the folks who have Wilson as their back up really have nothing else to agonize over. We wanted a TJ for several kids but could not count on all of them getting in because admission is 16%.

Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

I'm personally fine with a challenging program, I just think there needs to be another path for students who aren't prepared for it. If 25% of the class can handle the advanced curriculum then it's terrific that it is available for them. However, there needs to be an alternative set of choices for the 75% who are dropping out. Some kids may be several years ahead in math, but fairly average in reading. Let them focus their energy where they excel. I like this about the IB Program. What I don't like seeing on the taxpayer dime is 75% of students being counseled out - there should be less intense options which keep them in the school. I wouldn't be surprised if this a path which the PCSB is going to coerce or force Basis down, one way or another.

It's nowhere even remotely near that. Please stop making stuff up.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

From my perspective, I have no problem with your goals in a vacuum, but feel that it is a corruption of the role of Charter schools. Selective schools should either be created by DCPS or left in the realm of private schools. Charters are supposed to serve all comers and provide opportunities to those who local schools are unsatisfactory. They are not supposed to save elite families the cost of private school tuition.

DCPS is not providing for the needs of advanced learners, so DCPS fails there, and they likewise fail if the only option for getting something meeting those needs is via private school, which many of us cannot afford.

Charters fill the gaps that DCPS has not filled, they accommodate those whose needs DCPS has not met.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Charters fill the gaps that DCPS has not filled, they accommodate those whose needs DCPS has not met.

That's fine as long as the Charters are inclusive and not exclusive. Any school that basis (no pun intended) its formula for success on attrition is by definition not being inclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With regard to YY, I'm not a hater, but we will decline a spot if offered (and DH did stand in line at the crack of dawn). I find it very off-putting that at the various events (charter expo, open house) there have never been any parents or educators there to answer questions. And when I've asked existing parents, some (admittedly, not all) have said, "If you have questions, then go somewhere else. There are enough people who want the slot that we don't have to explain ourselves to you." We all take our children's education seriously, and committing to mandarin is a big deal (as YY families always warn on here), so I think it is entirely appropriate that I may have questions for the principal/teachers/parents. I did not appreciate the fact that when I have availed myself of opportunities to learn about the school, those questions have gone unanswered, sometimes with a very obnoxious reply.

Since you are going to decline anyway, how about calling the school and taking yourself off the waitlist.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

From my perspective, I have no problem with your goals in a vacuum, but feel that it is a corruption of the role of Charter schools. Selective schools should either be created by DCPS or left in the realm of private schools. Charters are supposed to serve all comers and provide opportunities to those who local schools are unsatisfactory. They are not supposed to save elite families the cost of private school tuition.

I'm really puzzled by this statement, Jeff, because I don't think you actually mean this. Do you have a problem with St. Coletta's, the charter that serves an exclusively special-needs population? Do you have a problem with Options, one of the oldest charters in the city, which serves a high-risk student body population that has not been able to succeed in traditional schools? What about Roots? From the very beginning of the charter school movement, charters have been developed, approved and operated to serve specific sub-sets of the city school age population. And yet you really seem only to object when the specific sub-set is better educated or more advanced than the average.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

From my perspective, I have no problem with your goals in a vacuum, but feel that it is a corruption of the role of Charter schools. Selective schools should either be created by DCPS or left in the realm of private schools. Charters are supposed to serve all comers and provide opportunities to those who local schools are unsatisfactory. They are not supposed to save elite families the cost of private school tuition.

I'm really puzzled by this statement, Jeff, because I don't think you actually mean this. Do you have a problem with St. Coletta's, the charter that serves an exclusively special-needs population? Do you have a problem with Options, one of the oldest charters in the city, which serves a high-risk student body population that has not been able to succeed in traditional schools? What about Roots? From the very beginning of the charter school movement, charters have been developed, approved and operated to serve specific sub-sets of the city school age population. And yet you really seem only to object when the specific sub-set is better educated or more advanced than the average.

Well, honestly I don't know much about those other schools but I would object if they are routinely letting people fall out of their programs as a way of improving them. Charters already get a deserved-in-many-cases reputation for dumping their problem students as soon as the cut-off date passes and letting the neighborhood schools deal with them. This is something that I believe should be corrected. Obviously, I'm going to object when that actually becomes a selling point for a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With regard to YY, I'm not a hater, but we will decline a spot if offered (and DH did stand in line at the crack of dawn). I find it very off-putting that at the various events (charter expo, open house) there have never been any parents or educators there to answer questions. And when I've asked existing parents, some (admittedly, not all) have said, "If you have questions, then go somewhere else. There are enough people who want the slot that we don't have to explain ourselves to you." We all take our children's education seriously, and committing to mandarin is a big deal (as YY families always warn on here), so I think it is entirely appropriate that I may have questions for the principal/teachers/parents. I did not appreciate the fact that when I have availed myself of opportunities to learn about the school, those questions have gone unanswered, sometimes with a very obnoxious reply.

Since you are going to decline anyway, how about calling the school and taking yourself off the waitlist.

Good question, I have not done that yet because I have been holding out hope that if we actually got in someone might give a crap about answering my questions, and perhaps I would be suitably impressed despite my initial misgivings. So I haven't wanted to close off the option since many folks do speak so highly of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With regard to YY, I'm not a hater, but we will decline a spot if offered (and DH did stand in line at the crack of dawn). I find it very off-putting that at the various events (charter expo, open house) there have never been any parents or educators there to answer questions. And when I've asked existing parents, some (admittedly, not all) have said, "If you have questions, then go somewhere else. There are enough people who want the slot that we don't have to explain ourselves to you." We all take our children's education seriously, and committing to mandarin is a big deal (as YY families always warn on here), so I think it is entirely appropriate that I may have questions for the principal/teachers/parents. I did not appreciate the fact that when I have availed myself of opportunities to learn about the school, those questions have gone unanswered, sometimes with a very obnoxious reply.

Since you are going to decline anyway, how about calling the school and taking yourself off the waitlist.

Good question, I have not done that yet because I have been holding out hope that if we actually got in someone might give a crap about answering my questions, and perhaps I would be suitably impressed despite my initial misgivings. So I haven't wanted to close off the option since many folks do speak so highly of it.

We will be joining the school this year and have not had this experience (not that I am doubting you, PP). I even found some of the DCUM threads about supporting kids in Mandarin when you don't speak it at home to be helpful for getting a range of opinions and experiences. I am fortunate to be friendly enough with two sets of parents (one Mandarin-speaking, one not) to get honest feedback and I have never felt like my questions were dismissed. I hear a lot about the zone of secrecy at YY and have yet to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Looks like we got it. I am a Basis parent who is all in favor of attrition, who wants a better education for dcs than she had herself at a DC private, and believes Basis is actually better than privates or any other schools in the area. And we are done. Sibling preference and goes thru 12th grade. My kids will be there at the end, and they will be in good company. Especially having recently read one of the threads about trying to get kids into gifted and talented programs in Fairfax etc, so glad we are done. Only upset about giving up the opportunity for a larger house outside of DC, but completely worth the sacrifice. Call me out on my intellectual elitism, my selfishness, etc, but not on my honesty.

From my perspective, I have no problem with your goals in a vacuum, but feel that it is a corruption of the role of Charter schools. Selective schools should either be created by DCPS or left in the realm of private schools. Charters are supposed to serve all comers and provide opportunities to those who local schools are unsatisfactory. They are not supposed to save elite families the cost of private school tuition.

DCPS is not providing for the needs of advanced learners, so DCPS fails there, and they likewise fail if the only option for getting something meeting those needs is via private school, which many of us cannot afford.

Charters fill the gaps that DCPS has not filled, they accommodate those whose needs DCPS has not met.

Agree. Of course a school shouldn't actively be trying to get rid of students, but I don't see what's inherently wrong with a charter school that tries to provide an extremely (for DC) challenging curriculum. DCPS parents complain continually that DCPS is trying to teach to the bottom third of the class while providing little for the top third. Must all charters do the same? Maybe as Basis gets a little more established, parents will self-select a little better, like they do with the immersion options. My child, for example, would not do well at Basis, so we won't bother applying.