BASIS attrition after middle school- why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current HoS at BASIS just announced that he is leaving at the end of this school year to lead a different BASIS school and the current Director of Student Affairs will be replacing him as HoS next school year. This is how you know who actually attends BASIS or is genuinely interested in the school and who is just trolling…

If you want to have private discussions about BASIS, please do it on internal school list servs used by parents of students currently enrolled, not here. Not your role to determine who's "genuinely interested" in the school on DCUM. Hint: BASIS has a variety of stakeholders and is supported by taxpayers' dollars. The departure of the current HoS sounds good to me. I dealt with him briefly as a volunteer senior project sponsor and wasn't impressed. He came off as a real know-it-all who doesn't seem to have kept up with the times in college admissions, at least not in admissions to my IvyPlus alma mater and grad school.

No! Please keep the DCUM conversation. I have a 4th grader and have to decide in the next two months whether or not to add BASIS to the list, and this is all very valuable.

The new HoS thing -- could this actually mean a better experience for middle schoolers? Might they actually have recess?

For the love of god please DO NOT put BASIS on your list! You are precisely the kind of parent who is shown everything behind the curtain, chooses to enter and then complains about everything you knew was there. If recess is your primary concern then I assure you BASIS is very much not for you.

Sounds right. We are a very mathy family and my kid wants to pursue math/science and got a 5 on the math PARCC, but I do think recess is really essential to mental health. Kids need a break from being bossed around. So it's unfortunately a deal breaker.

BASIS aside, you are going to prioritize recess over academics? Elementary school age parents are adorable!

Don’t make fun of the short-term thinker. Some people have trouble grasping that things change when time passes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you enter hoping for more than pre-AP test prep and yAP test prep you will also be dissappointed. BASIS is a test prep program in the guise of a school. If that bothers you don’t enroll, or enroll and don’t stay for high school.

Not in our experience.

And the school’s high rankings refute your point as well.

BTW, check your spelling.

The school’s rankings are based entirely on the fact that they are a test prep program. What do you think the rankings are measuring?

-NP

Troll.

You don't understand rankings or BASIS.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia

You are so dumb. Google what US News is measuring. Hint: it’s how many kids take and pass APs.

I love people who call other people dumb when they say totally wrong stuff and act arrogant and patronizing.

Try googling the Dunning-Kruger effect.

1) Kids don't take AP classes in middle school.

2) How many kids take and pass APs is just one factor considered for high school rankings by USN&WR. Read for yourself:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

Actually, at BASIS DC they do take at least one AP course in 8th grade (some take more) and have the option of taking the test at the end of the year. It's unclear whether these would actually count for anything in college, but they do take the courses.

BASIS considers 8th grade upper school (that is, high school). That is in part because most of your coursework (including APs) is done by 11th grade.

In any event, APs aren't considered by USN&WR for middle school rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current HoS at BASIS just announced that he is leaving at the end of this school year to lead a different BASIS school and the current Director of Student Affairs will be replacing him as HoS next school year. This is how you know who actually attends BASIS or is genuinely interested in the school and who is just trolling…

If you want to have private discussions about BASIS, please do it on internal school list servs used by parents of students currently enrolled, not here. Not your role to determine who's "genuinely interested" in the school on DCUM. Hint: BASIS has a variety of stakeholders and is supported by taxpayers' dollars. The departure of the current HoS sounds good to me. I dealt with him briefly as a volunteer senior project sponsor and wasn't impressed. He came off as a real know-it-all who doesn't seem to have kept up with the times in college admissions, at least not in admissions to my IvyPlus alma mater and grad school.

No! Please keep the DCUM conversation. I have a 4th grader and have to decide in the next two months whether or not to add BASIS to the list, and this is all very valuable.

The new HoS thing -- could this actually mean a better experience for middle schoolers? Might they actually have recess?

For the love of god please DO NOT put BASIS on your list! You are precisely the kind of parent who is shown everything behind the curtain, chooses to enter and then complains about everything you knew was there. If recess is your primary concern then I assure you BASIS is very much not for you.

Sounds right. We are a very mathy family and my kid wants to pursue math/science and got a 5 on the math PARCC, but I do think recess is really essential to mental health. Kids need a break from being bossed around. So it's unfortunately a deal breaker.

BASIS aside, you are going to prioritize recess over academics? Elementary school age parents are adorable!

Don’t make fun of the short-term thinker. Some people have trouble grasping that things change when time passes.

Highly doubt that recess is being prioritized over academics. This is a person with choices and those choices likely include a "good" neighborhood school or accessible private school so BASIS academics isn't the only thing they have the privilege of considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you enter hoping for more than pre-AP test prep and yAP test prep you will also be dissappointed. BASIS is a test prep program in the guise of a school. If that bothers you don’t enroll, or enroll and don’t stay for high school.

Not in our experience.

And the school’s high rankings refute your point as well.

BTW, check your spelling.

The school’s rankings are based entirely on the fact that they are a test prep program. What do you think the rankings are measuring?

-NP

Troll.

You don't understand rankings or BASIS.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia

You are so dumb. Google what US News is measuring. Hint: it’s how many kids take and pass APs.

I love people who call other people dumb when they say totally wrong stuff and act arrogant and patronizing.

Try googling the Dunning-Kruger effect.

1) Kids don't take AP classes in middle school.

2) How many kids take and pass APs is just one factor considered for high school rankings by USN&WR. Read for yourself:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

Actually, at BASIS DC they do take at least one AP course in 8th grade (some take more) and have the option of taking the test at the end of the year. It's unclear whether these would actually count for anything in college, but they do take the courses.

BASIS considers 8th grade upper school (that is, high school). That is in part because most of your coursework (including APs) is done by 11th grade.

In any event, APs aren't considered by USN&WR for middle school rankings.

How developmentally inappropriate.

None of this will get your kids into a better college, job or life. But hey anxious kids are fun and interesting adults

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you enter hoping for more than pre-AP test prep and yAP test prep you will also be dissappointed. BASIS is a test prep program in the guise of a school. If that bothers you don’t enroll, or enroll and don’t stay for high school.

Not in our experience.

And the school’s high rankings refute your point as well.

BTW, check your spelling.

The school’s rankings are based entirely on the fact that they are a test prep program. What do you think the rankings are measuring?

-NP

Troll.

You don't understand rankings or BASIS.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia

You are so dumb. Google what US News is measuring. Hint: it’s how many kids take and pass APs.

I love people who call other people dumb when they say totally wrong stuff and act arrogant and patronizing.

Try googling the Dunning-Kruger effect.

1) Kids don't take AP classes in middle school.

2) How many kids take and pass APs is just one factor considered for high school rankings by USN&WR. Read for yourself:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

Actually, at BASIS DC they do take at least one AP course in 8th grade (some take more) and have the option of taking the test at the end of the year. It's unclear whether these would actually count for anything in college, but they do take the courses.

BASIS considers 8th grade upper school (that is, high school). That is in part because most of your coursework (including APs) is done by 11th grade.

In any event, APs aren't considered by USN&WR for middle school rankings.

How developmentally inappropriate.

None of this will get your kids into a better college, job or life. But hey anxious kids are fun and interesting adults

Disagree. It is a smart strategy that allows kids to focus in college apps senior year instead of taking a really tough courseload.

[Anonymous]

This parent of a BASIS grad doesn’t think that the franchise has struck the right balance in the senior year schedule. Much of the college counseling done isn’t worth the nutty time lavished on it. Too much tedious time gobbling nonsense in the mix on counseling. The kids ECs and interests suffer in the mad rush to cram in their AP work by the end of jr year. Some families bail to privates, JR or other school districts to find a better balance, particularly those aiming high in college admissions who can afford to leave after 10th or 11th grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This parent of a BASIS grad doesn’t think that the franchise has struck the right balance in the senior year schedule. Much of the college counseling done isn’t worth the nutty time lavished on it. Too much tedious time gobbling nonsense in the mix on counseling. The kids ECs and interests suffer in the mad rush to cram in their AP work by the end of jr year. Some families bail to privates, JR or other school districts to find a better balance, particularly those aiming high in college admissions who can afford to leave after 10th or 11th grades.

You think your BASIS grad would have a better college outcome going to JR?

[Anonymous]

No, but they would have had more time to learn and process learning, with AP classes continuing through sr year. They would also have had more time for ECs before sr year. We hired a college counselor at BASIS in the end and would surely have done the same at JR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you enter hoping for more than pre-AP test prep and yAP test prep you will also be dissappointed. BASIS is a test prep program in the guise of a school. If that bothers you don’t enroll, or enroll and don’t stay for high school.

Not in our experience.

And the school’s high rankings refute your point as well.

BTW, check your spelling.

The school’s rankings are based entirely on the fact that they are a test prep program. What do you think the rankings are measuring?

-NP

Troll.

You don't understand rankings or BASIS.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia

You are so dumb. Google what US News is measuring. Hint: it’s how many kids take and pass APs.

I love people who call other people dumb when they say totally wrong stuff and act arrogant and patronizing.

Try googling the Dunning-Kruger effect.

1) Kids don't take AP classes in middle school.

2) How many kids take and pass APs is just one factor considered for high school rankings by USN&WR. Read for yourself:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

Actually, at BASIS DC they do take at least one AP course in 8th grade (some take more) and have the option of taking the test at the end of the year. It's unclear whether these would actually count for anything in college, but they do take the courses.

BASIS considers 8th grade upper school (that is, high school). That is in part because most of your coursework (including APs) is done by 11th grade.

In any event, APs aren't considered by USN&WR for middle school rankings.

How developmentally inappropriate.

None of this will get your kids into a better college, job or life. But hey anxious kids are fun and interesting adults

Disagree. It is a smart strategy that allows kids to focus in college apps senior year instead of taking a really tough courseload.

So what do BASIS students do first semester of senior year? Spend 8 hours a day for 4 months working on their college apps? Why does it take them that long?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current HoS at BASIS just announced that he is leaving at the end of this school year to lead a different BASIS school and the current Director of Student Affairs will be replacing him as HoS next school year. This is how you know who actually attends BASIS or is genuinely interested in the school and who is just trolling…

If you want to have private discussions about BASIS, please do it on internal school list servs used by parents of students currently enrolled, not here. Not your role to determine who's "genuinely interested" in the school on DCUM. Hint: BASIS has a variety of stakeholders and is supported by taxpayers' dollars. The departure of the current HoS sounds good to me. I dealt with him briefly as a volunteer senior project sponsor and wasn't impressed. He came off as a real know-it-all who doesn't seem to have kept up with the times in college admissions, at least not in admissions to my IvyPlus alma mater and grad school.

No! Please keep the DCUM conversation. I have a 4th grader and have to decide in the next two months whether or not to add BASIS to the list, and this is all very valuable.

The new HoS thing -- could this actually mean a better experience for middle schoolers? Might they actually have recess?

For the love of god please DO NOT put BASIS on your list! You are precisely the kind of parent who is shown everything behind the curtain, chooses to enter and then complains about everything you knew was there. If recess is your primary concern then I assure you BASIS is very much not for you.

Sounds right. We are a very mathy family and my kid wants to pursue math/science and got a 5 on the math PARCC, but I do think recess is really essential to mental health. Kids need a break from being bossed around. So it's unfortunately a deal breaker.

BASIS aside, you are going to prioritize recess over academics? Elementary school age parents are adorable!

I'm an adult and I prioritize recess for myself. Why wouldn't I prioritize it for my child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current HoS at BASIS just announced that he is leaving at the end of this school year to lead a different BASIS school and the current Director of Student Affairs will be replacing him as HoS next school year. This is how you know who actually attends BASIS or is genuinely interested in the school and who is just trolling…

If you want to have private discussions about BASIS, please do it on internal school list servs used by parents of students currently enrolled, not here. Not your role to determine who's "genuinely interested" in the school on DCUM. Hint: BASIS has a variety of stakeholders and is supported by taxpayers' dollars. The departure of the current HoS sounds good to me. I dealt with him briefly as a volunteer senior project sponsor and wasn't impressed. He came off as a real know-it-all who doesn't seem to have kept up with the times in college admissions, at least not in admissions to my IvyPlus alma mater and grad school.

No! Please keep the DCUM conversation. I have a 4th grader and have to decide in the next two months whether or not to add BASIS to the list, and this is all very valuable.

The new HoS thing -- could this actually mean a better experience for middle schoolers? Might they actually have recess?

No, they will never have recess. The curriculum is not set by the HoS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This parent who left not long ago is pleased to hear that he's leaving himself. Call me a troll glad to hear good news during a winter when we've been short of it.

Former Basis parent here as well - I'm petty and not sad for him to go. Who is taking over? I cant remember who was student affairs director when we were there. Ms Inc? I loved her - we may not have left had I known she was coming!

I think we try not to use people’s full names on here, for Google reasons,but her initials are CC.

Our family is in the “anyone’s better than the current guy” camp (our Basis student most of all), so will be curious to see whether and how much things change next year.

I'm in the "CC is even worse than the current guy" camp (our Basis student most of all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you enter hoping for more than pre-AP test prep and yAP test prep you will also be dissappointed. BASIS is a test prep program in the guise of a school. If that bothers you don’t enroll, or enroll and don’t stay for high school.

Not in our experience.

And the school’s high rankings refute your point as well.

BTW, check your spelling.

The school’s rankings are based entirely on the fact that they are a test prep program. What do you think the rankings are measuring?

-NP

Troll.

You don't understand rankings or BASIS.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/district-of-columbia

You are so dumb. Google what US News is measuring. Hint: it’s how many kids take and pass APs.

I love people who call other people dumb when they say totally wrong stuff and act arrogant and patronizing.

Try googling the Dunning-Kruger effect.

1) Kids don't take AP classes in middle school.

2) How many kids take and pass APs is just one factor considered for high school rankings by USN&WR. Read for yourself:

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/how-us-news-calculated-the-rankings

Actually, at BASIS DC they do take at least one AP course in 8th grade (some take more) and have the option of taking the test at the end of the year. It's unclear whether these would actually count for anything in college, but they do take the courses.

BASIS considers 8th grade upper school (that is, high school). That is in part because most of your coursework (including APs) is done by 11th grade.

In any event, APs aren't considered by USN&WR for middle school rankings.

How developmentally inappropriate.

None of this will get your kids into a better college, job or life. But hey anxious kids are fun and interesting adults

Disagree. It is a smart strategy that allows kids to focus in college apps senior year instead of taking a really tough courseload.

So what do BASIS students do first semester of senior year? Spend 8 hours a day for 4 months working on their college apps? Why does it take them that long?

It's only one of their courses - can't remember how many, but fewer than other grades. Maybe 3 or 4?

[Anonymous]

As parent of a kid who left in 9th grade for a private, I regret it. The ones who stayed got a lot of attention and help, including public speaking and a major project, at least from what I know of his friend who stayed for HS. But you know, kids who are going to thrive will do so anywhere; those who are going to languish, take my word for it, will languish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current HoS at BASIS just announced that he is leaving at the end of this school year to lead a different BASIS school and the current Director of Student Affairs will be replacing him as HoS next school year. This is how you know who actually attends BASIS or is genuinely interested in the school and who is just trolling…

If you want to have private discussions about BASIS, please do it on internal school list servs used by parents of students currently enrolled, not here. Not your role to determine who's "genuinely interested" in the school on DCUM. Hint: BASIS has a variety of stakeholders and is supported by taxpayers' dollars. The departure of the current HoS sounds good to me. I dealt with him briefly as a volunteer senior project sponsor and wasn't impressed. He came off as a real know-it-all who doesn't seem to have kept up with the times in college admissions, at least not in admissions to my IvyPlus alma mater and grad school.

No! Please keep the DCUM conversation. I have a 4th grader and have to decide in the next two months whether or not to add BASIS to the list, and this is all very valuable.

The new HoS thing -- could this actually mean a better experience for middle schoolers? Might they actually have recess?

For the love of god please DO NOT put BASIS on your list! You are precisely the kind of parent who is shown everything behind the curtain, chooses to enter and then complains about everything you knew was there. If recess is your primary concern then I assure you BASIS is very much not for you.

Sounds right. We are a very mathy family and my kid wants to pursue math/science and got a 5 on the math PARCC, but I do think recess is really essential to mental health. Kids need a break from being bossed around. So it's unfortunately a deal breaker.

The kids do get a break from being "bossed around" as you say. It just doesn't come in the form of recess. The 5th graders have lunch followed immediately by study hall which is basically just a free period. Some kids do work, others just hang out with friends. Starting in 8th grade kids can go off campus during their lunch period.

I expected my very active child to miss recess but they say they don't. It helps that they are very active in sports outside of school.