Matched at BASIS -- any thoughts from current families, or those who left and why?

[Anonymous]

Well, we matched for 5th at BASIS, and it was not my first choice. We have a decent chance of getting in to Latin, and attend a reasonably OK ES right now.

1- if you are a current family at BASIS, can you share your positives/negatives?
2- is classroom management an issue? DC shadowed there, and felt like there were a lot of "bad kids" and that teachers talked over those kids rather than took steps to quiet them down first.
3. is it a sink or swim environment?
4. is the school accelerated, or just rushed?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My DC is 6th grade at Stuart Hobson. 2 students who had been at Basis for 5th joined beginning of year, 3 transferred in mid-year from Basis. Assume the 3 transferring are all in boundary.

don't know these families. just notice the direction of the movement.

[Anonymous]

My 2 go to Basis (5th and 6th)-DC1 is more into science and could not picture himself anywhere else, even though we thought it would be a rougher transition for DC1. DC2 likes it and adores DC2's teachers and friends and all DC2 is learning, but isn't crazy about being tested so often. Both love to read and write.

[Anonymous]

So does acceleration allow for in-depth learning, or just surface knowledge?

I'm interested in BASIS mainly because I want a curriculum that gets beyond reading, writing and math, and I assume that BASIS does that.

[Anonymous]

RE good and bad kids-the teachers have control over the classroom as much as any other charter I have seen, and the admin is on it.

It is not sink or swim-you just had e to ask for help if you need it. It is definitely accelerated, but the first year may feel rushed to some since a lot of that year is overview/survey for the upcoming years-5th grade

Science covers all types of sciences, each during a different term, and in 6th they have the children take physics, chemistry and bio separately.

[Anonymous]

PP is right-in science it's general the first year, then in depth following years. English is mostly grammar the first year, with basic writing/analysis taught while reading Peter Pan and The Little Prince.

[Anonymous]

Why do people put choices on their list if they don't want to go there? OP, don't go. Stay at your IB school. Look the gift horse in the mouth. Don't cry when you realize what your options are for 9th grade.

BTW -- most SH parents are sour grapes about BASIS (and sometimes Latin) because so many Hill 5th/6th graders abandoned DCPS. Having heard the work that SH students do from DCs friends, my DC would have been bored silly if we had stayed, and the "bad kids" are everywhere.

[Anonymous]

8:16 -- are you a BASIS parent?

I put both schools on my list because I don't have a good middle school option for my child. Now that we're matched, I need to make the best decision for my child, and that means getting more in-depth knowledge of my choices. No need to be so nasty about it -- if you are a BASIS parent, share what makes it good choice for your family. If you left, share what led to that decision. If you are on the waitlist, don't take that out on me.

[Anonymous]

Op, does your child enjoy math and science? If so, go go go!

[Anonymous]

DC loves math- current school has a very poor science curriculum, so nothing to judge that on, but I think that DC will like science. We are just hoping that some of her classmates might also make it in, or that the school might hold a meet and greet so that we can meet other families and feel more connected

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If DC likes math, it is your best middle school option in DCPCS or DCPS. I will also say that although I would love DC to be on a larger campus with some green space other than the MAll, the location is really great-totally convenient and safe.

[Anonymous]

8:16 here. I thought it was obvious from my post that I am a BASIS parent and a very happy one. The school challenges my bright DC, the administration and teachers have been very responsive to me whenever I have had questions/problems, there are some really nice kids there. That said, there are a lot of growing pains because it is only the 2nd year and DC is more complicated than AZ. It is public, so there will be those students that act out.

If you are not feeling it, though, stay at your current school and wait for Latin. They will go through at least part of the waitlist, though you may not have things locked in until August.

[Anonymous]

If you accept the spot at BASIS, do you get kicked off the waitlist at Latin? Or can people enroll at their matched school and then transfer if they work their way up the waitlist at their higher ranked schools. How does that work?

[Anonymous]

8:16-- it is obvious. I hope that your approach to prospective parents is not the typical approach. Unnecessarily rude and unwelcoming. You are giving your school a bad name. Why not answer the specific questions I had so that I can start "feeling it," or is it your position that unless one is completely and totally committed, absent any outside information from other families, should not consider BASIS?

8:35 -- the lack of green space does concern me, although we have that same situation at DC's current school. My kid is athletic, and I'm a bit concerned that BASIS is all about the brain and not about the body at all. I can make up for that on my own, but that's something else that I'm taking into consideration.

[Anonymous]

Current BASIS parent here. There are positives and negatives to all schools. There are good and bad kids in all schools too. The new admin did a much better job with behavior issues this year. My DC has done very well at BASIS. She has gained remarkable confidence. She loves science but was fearful of accelerated math. She no longer fears math and her scores have drastically improved. She is so relaxed for the DC CAS this week. It's also not just math and science -- she has also enjoyed Latin, classics, and art. the teacher for Tai Kwon Do is quite beloved and they do get outside if/when the weather improves this year! It is definitely a school where you are expected to work hard, but they offer lots of help and student hours. At a recent awards ceremony, one of the more difficult kids in my daughter's class got the "most improved" award. It was very special to see how much his classmates noticed and cheered for him. All in all, I would recommend that you take the spot.