Basis PCS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ why is is pp advertising for Latin on this thread? It's very difficult to find an open space there because of all the siblings. For a lot of people, their IB public or BASIS in 5th or 6th is the only real option.

And talk with me, pp, about the non-advanced students there who aren't taking Arabic and Chinese simultaneously, because your child is clearly exceptional.

Start a "Wow, do I love Latin" thread, please.

Yes.
Latin is the anti BASIS. In Latin, teachers and administration have integrity to say the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ why is is pp advertising for Latin on this thread? It's very difficult to find an open space there because of all the siblings. For a lot of people, their IB public or BASIS in 5th or 6th is the only real option.

And talk with me, pp, about the non-advanced students there who aren't taking Arabic and Chinese simultaneously, because your child is clearly exceptional.

Start a "Wow, do I love Latin" thread, please.

Yes.
Latin is the anti BASIS. In Latin, teachers and administration have integrity to say the least.

That is a terrible thing to say.This isn't a passing match. You do not need to denigrate another institution to make yours look better. All of the Basis teachers and administration that I have encountered exhibited integrity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ why is is pp advertising for Latin on this thread? It's very difficult to find an open space there because of all the siblings. For a lot of people, their IB public or BASIS in 5th or 6th is the only real option.

And talk with me, pp, about the non-advanced students there who aren't taking Arabic and Chinese simultaneously, because your child is clearly exceptional.

Start a "Wow, do I love Latin" thread, please.

Yes.
Latin is the anti BASIS. In Latin, teachers and administration have integrity to say the least.

Only a loser would feel the need to post a comment like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+100, no sense. BASIS upper grades MS parents obviously need to organize to raise these curricular mismatch issues with the new 30-member DCPS-DCPC Cross-Sector Task Force that's coming together this fall, with parent representatives from each DC ward being appointed. As you may know, the task force is being set up to improve collaboration/cooperation between DCPS and the charter sector on various levels.

No doubt it's difficult to organize when your school has a booster club, rather than a bona fide parent organization, but find a way.

It's not just ridiculous to require HS geometry of kids who took this subject, and aced it, in MS, it's bad for everybody involved. Raise your voices and get this problem fixed. Don't rely on BASIS and Wilson admins to sort it out; take the matter up with the admins AND the Cross-Sector Task Force leadership. That's what they're there for.

Thank you so much for that advice. Had never heard of them and will definitely do it. Sean Aiken lost - no reason to think Mr. Eyerman would get a different outcome with the schools themselves.

But maybe it would be helpful for him to go speak to the task force as well representing BASIS. He can explain the math system, he has been a HOS in Arizona at BASIS before, and he can also explain World History. You can request that the College Board list AP scores that are more than 4 years old on the form you send to colleges and they will do it. The kids who got 3s won't, the kids who got 5s as 8th graders will (probably not Calculus AB because most kids just take BC the next year in 9th), but quite a few of our kids got 5s on the World History AP exam last year as well.

They expect about a 30-40% attrition rate at BASIS between MS and HS at all BASIS schools, which is why parents believe that our Head of School kind of has a moral obligation to those who leave because he knows they are going to. So maybe we should raise it with Mr. Eyerman as well.

But the problem is that no one wants anyone to know they are leaving until they have to tell - because they are afraid they will be treated differently and they may be right. The kids talk to each other - we knew that half of the kids with the top grades in the class were leaving for high school long before the administration ever did - but I can't really see parents announcing that before they have to (I guess whenever the lottery happens for Walls, for Wilson you don't have to do anything except not return), unless one kid has already left and that is the plan for the other - I only know one family like that they went private. And what happens if they don't get into Walls (has actually happened to a few BASIS kids) or the private schools they are applying to - if they are not zoned for Wilson they are stuck. And parents who have left have already lost the battles at Walls and Wilson so I can't see them doing it. Since the non bona fide parent organization shut down the list serve and the other one has been struggling to attract people and has administrators on it, not sure parents could pull it off because it would identify who is leaving.

My child would pass a placement test in Geometry. But at Wilson they won't administer one. It will look awfully odd to have a 5 on Calculus BC and then take Geometry in 10th grade on a college transcript. You usually move on to college level math. It will also look odd to get a 5 on the World History AP Exam and then have to take the class over (no need to take the AP exam over - if you aced it in 8th grade I think that is more impressive.)

What they were doing at Walls two years ago with a placement test just put the kids back in the class they had taken the previous year, and then I assume they will have to take Geometry. I think it was mostly Algebra II. If they use their transcript to decide whether or not to admit them, it seems kind of ridiculous to then make them take it again. But now kids are studying for the placement test - two years ago they did not know they were going to be given one, it was right after the summer so they were rusty - don't know what the outcome was this year. Maybe they are all taking Geometry. Saxon (the math text books and system we use combines Algebra II with Geometry because they think it is a waste to spend a year on it).

Some kids are also quite understandably not enthusiastic about taking World History over again when they just took it for 7th and 8th grade (sequence has now changed but many will still take the AP). A 3 is "passing" on the AP and while not stellar, it ought to be enough not for credit necessarily but to allow them not to have to take it over.

I don't think most who are leaving care about credits - just getting out of the classes - if you want to graduate early you stay at BASIS. But repeating courses which you have already taken, especially aftertwo years of World History, just seems cruel. They did not suggest my child would have to repeat AP Calculus BC. Or any other AP classes taken this year. THAT would be ridiculous. They are in 9th grade now after all, and it would just start to look more and more ridiculous. But we know that in 10th they will still place the child in Geometry. I don't know if World History is a graduation requirement at Wilson. It is at Walls. And I bet they would do the same to a 10th grader re World History.

But given the attrition, and given the perceived need for secrecy (especially because I think at most other BASIS schools most of the top kids stay) you can see how we would think it is Mr. Eyerman's responsibility. Especially in terms of Wilson where all you should do given what we have learned on this thread is have the grace once they have incorporated your AP scores into your final grades on your report card and you get your official transcript is to tell them that you are not going to return.

There are at least three of us who are leaving after 9th for Wilson. But there is no way we are going to out ourselves before they finalize a transcript incorporating the AP scores which usually come out in July, given the poster on this thread whose child left for Wilson after 10th because the grade on the report card changed and the teacher told the family and argued with the school about it. If you are in 10th grade, you know the way the grading system works, so there was clearly no AP involved and there are no comps in high school - finals are weighted depending on the teacher, but they are not half your grade for the year the way comps are, the LEAP Chemistry final for example last year was 30%, and since the teacher protested that the grade had been changed after it was submitted by the teacher (finals are graded by the teachers so to get the results they don't even have to go to AZ or to a scantron don't think).

At any rate, the real fallacy in the Boosters argument here is that the teacher knows whether the grade is final or not. The teacher gave the final grade and submitted it as a final grade - and the teacher is no longer at the school. Given that story, there is absolutely no way we are taking any risks with our child's transcript. Very few of the teachers who teach high school left. So we think we know who it is, and we think they would not put up with that kind of crap. Never put up with any crap from students, would never allow a student's grade that they submitted as final to be changed by the administration on their watch. We bet on quit as opposed to fired, landed safely and close by.

I do not believe all these conspiracy theories about grades being raised, because I don't believe BASIS would allow that to happen - I really believe in terms of grades it is a meritocracy - but changing a grade to be lower - the allegation is that this is something that BASIS DID, the teacher is actually GONE, the announcement about the departure happened VERY LATE in the summer, and I believe this story enough not to risk my child's transcript. Not piping up. Can't.


I worked in Basis administration before moving to a Private School. I saw grades changed....both raised and lowered. I think a lot of this was due to administrative error. There is a complicated weighting system that goes into how grades are calculated and some teachers at our school hadn't set the weighting for tests/assignments. When admin went back and re-weighted those grades, they changed significantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ why is is pp advertising for Latin on this thread? It's very difficult to find an open space there because of all the siblings. For a lot of people, their IB public or BASIS in 5th or 6th is the only real option.

And talk with me, pp, about the non-advanced students there who aren't taking Arabic and Chinese simultaneously, because your child is clearly exceptional.

Start a "Wow, do I love Latin" thread, please.

Yes.
Latin is the anti BASIS. In Latin, teachers and administration have integrity to say the least.

Only a loser would feel the need to post a comment like that.

I don't know about the integrity of the teachers and administration at Latin, but the present administration at BASIS has lost my vote for integrity and honesty. If you keep your head down and never have to confront them on anything you will probably be ok.

Latin is the anti BASIS in two ways - it is impossible to get into
and if your kid wants to advance in math they are SOL
Latin has a course that requires Algebra I AND 7th and 8th grades, no exceptions
and then kids who want to get ahead have to take both Geometry AND Algebra II in 9th grade
our kids were totally ready for the fast track in math - anything else would have bored them

[Anonymous]

Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

I suppose your kid too found by chance that certain students have the tests in advance camouflaged in study guide format

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

I suppose your kid too found by chance that certain students have the tests in advance camouflaged in study guide format

Are those the student who are struggling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

I suppose your kid too found by chance that certain students have the tests in advance camouflaged in study guide format

What a stupid thing to say. Every student gets them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

I suppose your kid too found by chance that certain students have the tests in advance camouflaged in study guide format

What a stupid thing to say. Every student gets them

There might be some foundation to the claim, PP. There's a lot of gaming of the system that goes on at BASIS. The obvious example is "Mastery Defense," where you can re-take questions on math tests repeatedly until you finally get them right. That's the easiest way to get an A in math. There are also plenty of opportunities to re-take quizzes in other classes during student hours, and our DC reported receiving advance notice of test questions by attending student hours. I even heard that a few kids were been promoted after failing their comps by completing packets over the summer.

BASIS is not as even handed as some would have you believe.

[Anonymous]

Since al of the claims above are true and ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERY STUDENT, since the point of tests is to show that you have learned the material, why is this not even-handed?

If a student chooses to not avail themselves of Mastery Defense and then does not get a good grade in the class, is that fair? If a student fails a class and gets the entire summer to complete a packet to then retake the comps before school begins, is that fair?

If one student takes advantage of these opportunities and another one doesn't, would it be fair for them to both get the same, presumably bad, grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

I suppose your kid too found by chance that certain students have the tests in advance camouflaged in study guide format

What a stupid thing to say. Every student gets them

There might be some foundation to the claim, PP. There's a lot of gaming of the system that goes on at BASIS. The obvious example is "Mastery Defense," where you can re-take questions on math tests repeatedly until you finally get them right. That's the easiest way to get an A in math. There are also plenty of opportunities to re-take quizzes in other classes during student hours, and our DC reported receiving advance notice of test questions by attending student hours. I even heard that a few kids were been promoted after failing their comps by completing packets over the summer.

BASIS is not as even handed as some would have you believe.

Those opportunities are for everyone. If your student doesn't take them, it's his fault, not the school's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry Latin requires Algebra I in 7th AND 8th grade

Math is learning things in depth, not a race of covering the book by skipping lessons to get to the last lesson in the book.

If students are advanced they can take Algebra and Geometry together, and learn each concept in depth.

yes but you mean Algebra II and Geometry together in 9th grade. Trig seems to be dead except in PreCalculus

My kid loved Algebra I in 5th and is loving Algebra II in 6th.
Please tell me how she does not have a deep understanding of each concept

or better yet, go away
you do not belong on this thread

feel lucky you are at Latin
for many of us that was our first choice even if we have STEM kids because we can supplement if we are STEM parents
but as the waitlist of over 1,000 5th graders demonstrates, you lucked out. So stop crowing.

More to the point at Latin there is no pyramid model - Latin is not making its money off the backs of the 5th-8th graders and pushing out anyone after 9th who won't get into a good college. Latin does not push kids out period.
If Basis wants you out, they will make you miserable until you leave. That is the only guarantee at Basis.
Oh, and silent lunches.

I suppose your kid too found by chance that certain students have the tests in advance camouflaged in study guide format

Specifically, everyone.