BASIS attrition after middle school- why?

[Anonymous]

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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?

As the parent of a 9th grader, I don’t understand at all how senior year works. But from my student’s perspective, the relatively easy senior year was a factor in her choice to stay at Basis for high school. School is a grind and then college is a whole new grind, and she thinks it will be worth it to work harder in 9th-11th grade if it means some time to relax and coast for a while in 12th.

But we’re slackers by Basis standards and aren’t aiming for Ivy-type college admissions, so I can’t speak to how the 12th-grade experience impacts admissions chances.

10th grade parent. Could have written the above last year. Now I’m just so impressed on how well they know to rush for a deadline and take a break when they can. It is impressive to watch. I think 12th is an extension of that.

[Anonymous]

We are sad and pathetic. Lord take me now!

[Anonymous]

As the parent of a 6th grader suffering through precomps, I completely understand now why people leave after middle school. I, let alone my kid, hate this so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a 6th grader suffering through precomps, I completely understand now why people leave after middle school. I, let alone my kid, hate this so much.

Kids either thrive in this sort of environment or hate it. The goal is to figure out which camp your kid is in as soon as possible and be happy with the path that fits the kid best.

[Anonymous]

You’re painting with too broad a brush. It’s far from ideal for kids/teens to spend at least 40 hrs a week on a cramped, dreary campus with little natural light and no greenery. Come on, the cafeteria has black walls and no windows. But it’s true that some tolerate the arrangement far better than others. That’s the story with BASIS DC in the big picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re painting with too broad a brush. It’s far from ideal for kids/teens to spend at least 40 hrs a week on a cramped, dreary campus with little natural light and no greenery. Come on, the cafeteria has black walls and no windows. But it’s true that some tolerate the arrangement far better than others. That’s the story with BASIS DC in the big picture.

That's why the best situation is when all those who don't like the school leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a 6th grader suffering through precomps, I completely understand now why people leave after middle school. I, let alone my kid, hate this so much.

Spare me the drama.

[Anonymous]

Precomps aren't hard. They are just testing what your kid already knows. There's no need for your kid to be suffering.

[Anonymous]

I like the BASIS pre-comp/comp model. I never had review weeks in middle school. I had mid-terms at random times with no coordination, and teachers taught what was being tested up to the day before the test. Here there's so much hand-holding and time before tests that it's easy to sort out what you learned/didn't learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Precomps aren't hard. They are just testing what your kid already knows. There's no need for your kid to be suffering.

The high stakes testing what is hard. I don't get why people put their tweens through this.

Some stress yes but this can get insane.

[Anonymous]

The high stakes of the comps was mildly stressful for my 1st kid and more stressful for the 2nd. In both cases, they've done well on the comps and have built confidence in their ability to handle testing. Plus, they have good study skills and can handle managing their own time to both maintain good grades and do things outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Precomps aren't hard. They are just testing what your kid already knows. There's no need for your kid to be suffering.

The high stakes testing what is hard. I don't get why people put their tweens through this.

Some stress yes but this can get insane.

It's not really high stakes? I feel like you have to actively try to fail to actually fall below the bar by the end of the year. Certain kids will struggle with this model, but imo it's not because it's high stakes; it's because those kids don't take well to tests, and need follow a different model. If your kid is a person who is okay with testing (like they've taken a PARCC exam before and it wasn't a big deal) then these are like that.

[Anonymous]

The tests are just testing what you know. If you don't do well, then you can see what you don't know, and learn from that. Even if you fail at the end of the year, you can use the summer to learn what you missed, take the test, and pass. Or you can repeat the year. None of this should be stressful. Your kid isn't going to die if they fail. It's just a learning experience.

[Anonymous]

If you think precomps are stressful, just wait for the SAT. BASIS students get comfortable with testing before you know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think precomps are stressful, just wait for the SAT. BASIS students get comfortable with testing before you know it.

I'm guessing most posters here took the SAT themselves? It also isn't hard or stressful. It's just a test. If you don't get the score you want, you can study and take it again.