BASIS charter expansion is up for public comment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Yep. Exactly what they’re studying at BASIS.

No, it’s not exactly what they are studying at BASIS.

NP. I have a child in 7th and the topics are very similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

[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:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

I have no affiliation with BASIS, but wonder why folks who have moved to the burbs continually troll the DCPS forum pointing to genetically “the suburbs” as some educational panacea. Does your 1 hour commute and total non-walkability suck so much you’re desperate for others to make the same choice to validate yours? Why not read the forums that are actually relevant to your lives instead? You never actually see folks from BASIS posting there about how you made the wrong choice, so how exactly is it that they’re the defensive ones?

[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:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

You’re making an ass out of yourself with these assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Yep. Exactly what they’re studying at BASIS.

No, it’s not exactly what they are studying at BASIS.

NP. I have a child in 7th and the topics are very similar.

Well that’s comforting. I can’t afford to move to Fairfax so I’m glad my kid is getting a similar education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Yep. Exactly what they’re studying at BASIS.

No, it’s not exactly what they are studying at BASIS.

NP. I have a child in 7th and the topics are very similar.

Well that’s comforting. I can’t afford to move to Fairfax so I’m glad my kid is getting a similar education.

Same feeling. All the suburb trolls are actually making me feel better about BASIS.

[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:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

I have no affiliation with BASIS, but wonder why folks who have moved to the burbs continually troll the DCPS forum pointing to genetically “the suburbs” as some educational panacea. Does your 1 hour commute and total non-walkability suck so much you’re desperate for others to make the same choice to validate yours? Why not read the forums that are actually relevant to your lives instead? You never actually see folks from BASIS posting there about how you made the wrong choice, so how exactly is it that they’re the defensive ones?

Simple. The BASIS boosters claim ad nauseam that their middle school offers more advanced academics across the board than general admissions suburban programs throughout the DMV. Fact is, it doesn't, particularly not for foreign language. PPs point out that in Arlington, middle school students can freely enroll in "intensified" (above-grade level) 7th and 8th grade classes for science, English and social studies. Around and around the arguments go.

When you claim that suburban offerings aren't "relevant" to the lives on DC families, please explain why at least half of my teen's friends on Capitol Hill have moved to NoVa for schools in the last decade. These are not wealthy people who can easily afford suburban real estate, but they sold up in Ward 6 and bought it anyway.

[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:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

I have no affiliation with BASIS, but wonder why folks who have moved to the burbs continually troll the DCPS forum pointing to genetically “the suburbs” as some educational panacea. Does your 1 hour commute and total non-walkability suck so much you’re desperate for others to make the same choice to validate yours? Why not read the forums that are actually relevant to your lives instead? You never actually see folks from BASIS posting there about how you made the wrong choice, so how exactly is it that they’re the defensive ones?

Simple. The BASIS boosters claim ad nauseam that their middle school offers more advanced academics across the board than general admissions suburban programs throughout the DMV. Fact is, it doesn't, particularly not for foreign language. PPs point out that in Arlington, middle school students can freely enroll in "intensified" (above-grade level) 7th and 8th grade classes for science, English and social studies. Around and around the arguments go.

When you claim that suburban offerings aren't "relevant" to the lives on DC families, please explain why at least half of my teen's friends on Capitol Hill have moved to NoVa for schools in the last decade. These are not wealthy people who can easily afford suburban real estate, but they sold up in Ward 6 and bought it anyway.

No! The claim is always simply comparing BASIS to other schools *in DC*. The actual city. Which is the actual choice that these parents are making. Should I send my kid to my In-bound school IN DC or to BASIS -- that's the decision.

I swear this is turning into one of those "I live in DC" "where?" "Arlington". No one else is talking about the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

Not only do we live in DC, but I don't actually want a school that's more accelerated than BASIS. If this is normal for the kids in Fairfax...good for them if it's working! But if you told me all the kids in Fairfax were taking calculus as freshman, I wouldn't think, "oh, that's what I want for my kid."

[Anonymous]

When people compare BASIS to FCPS and MoCo and even private schools in the DMV I, too, feel better and better about BASIS. To put a DC public school in the same sentence as these other schools and to assume that a BASIS family could choose all of these other great (but expensive!) options actually makes me feel great. If BASIS attracts many families who would also consider these other options, it’s a strong school filled with many families who value education in a way that most of DC does not.

[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:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

I have no affiliation with BASIS, but wonder why folks who have moved to the burbs continually troll the DCPS forum pointing to genetically “the suburbs” as some educational panacea. Does your 1 hour commute and total non-walkability suck so much you’re desperate for others to make the same choice to validate yours? Why not read the forums that are actually relevant to your lives instead? You never actually see folks from BASIS posting there about how you made the wrong choice, so how exactly is it that they’re the defensive ones?

Simple. The BASIS boosters claim ad nauseam that their middle school offers more advanced academics across the board than general admissions suburban programs throughout the DMV. Fact is, it doesn't, particularly not for foreign language. PPs point out that in Arlington, middle school students can freely enroll in "intensified" (above-grade level) 7th and 8th grade classes for science, English and social studies. Around and around the arguments go.

When you claim that suburban offerings aren't "relevant" to the lives on DC families, please explain why at least half of my teen's friends on Capitol Hill have moved to NoVa for schools in the last decade. These are not wealthy people who can easily afford suburban real estate, but they sold up in Ward 6 and bought it anyway.

Actually, what I said is that a thread about *BASIS* should not be relevant to the lives of *suburban* families. If you're so confident in your choice, why are you on THIS forum? That's what makes you seem ridiculously defensive. And yes, as a Hill resident, many of my kids' friends' families have moved to the burbs for school. Most, but not all, are reasonably to very happy with the education they're getting. Many, but not most, very much miss the Hill and can't wait to return post-kids. That's what I assume about all the suburban folks trolling the DCPS forum...

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Trolling? Pots calling the kettles…

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Anonymous wrote:Trolling? Pots calling the kettles…

BASIS families posting on a thread including the word BASIS in the title is considerably less weird than non-DC residents doing so repeatedly...

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Anonymous wrote:They are also open, by the way, about th fact that around 10 percent of the kids do not pass their comps at the end of the year and actually cannot return (without repeating the grade). The admin said that most of these kids do not return, so Definitely lots of the attrition is coming from that. It's the only public school in DC that doesn't do social promotion, and their curriculum is very accelerated on top of that.

I wish people in this thread would stop characterizing BASIS middle school as being “very accelerated.” It’s not. The math is completely normal for middle school. The science, while split into three classes (that only meet a couple times a week) is the same core science that is taught in middle school.

That is simply not true. They take Algebra 1/geometry in 7th, and Algebra 2/Geometry in 8th, and then take precalc in 9th. There are kids doing that in DC, but they have tested out of the highest level at their DCOS and it is an exception. To expect that of everyone at the school is highly unusual.

When I was in a gifted program 30 years ago, we took Alg 1 in 7th grade. It was definitely not the normal track.

I think it's important that prospective parents understand the track properly... Thinking it is "just normal math" is why so many students end up feeling unhappy and stressed out and leaving. It's not a brag about BASIS, but conveying facts that are helpful when deciding whether or not to enroll.

Assuming you have a child in the school older than 5th grade, go pull up a course description for any of the suburban high schools and compare what they're learning in 6th, 7th, 8th grade. It's all the same material that BASIS is teaching.

You mean like this? Here is the curriculum for Fairfax county schools, grade 7 math:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle/mathematics/grade-7

Thanks for this. Can you please tell me how I can enroll my kid there as a DC resident?

Nobody is telling you to enroll there. They’re telling you to stop gaslighting people about BASIS being incredibly advanced.

Weird response. Why are you in a DC schools forum telling us about schools not in DC? No one is choosing between BASIS and Exeter or Bronx Science of Boston Latin or FCPS.

Serious question: What did BASIS do to you that makes you this way? I am not as invested in my job or my kids' schools as you are in you are in continuing to make this same silly point.

Maybe PP wants you to move to the suburbs and will buy you the home you need to make that happen. That’s the only way it makes sense.

I don’t get it. Why are you Basis people so defensive? It’s no secret that the curriculum is not advance compared to the burbs and that the course offerings are much more limited in addition to limited facility, clubs, sports, etc..

If people don’t want to move to the burbs and are willing to settle for Basis, that’s fine. That’s your decision to make. But let’s not pretend that the overwhelming majority on here don’t have the options.

I have no affiliation with BASIS, but wonder why folks who have moved to the burbs continually troll the DCPS forum pointing to genetically “the suburbs” as some educational panacea. Does your 1 hour commute and total non-walkability suck so much you’re desperate for others to make the same choice to validate yours? Why not read the forums that are actually relevant to your lives instead? You never actually see folks from BASIS posting there about how you made the wrong choice, so how exactly is it that they’re the defensive ones?

Why do you assume any of the posters in this thread are in the suburbs?

BASIS boosters continually crowing about how advanced the curriculum is, when it’s actually just normal for a decent school, are part of what holds BASIS back from being a better version of itself. It’s the cult message that is sold by the HOS for why the administration and its weird choices are above reproach. If people realized that they’re basically just getting a normal education, they probably would not put up with all of the downsides to BASIS.

It’s like Stockholm syndrome.