BASIS McLean -- What's the early feedback on this newly opened school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does BASIS DC do with disadvantaged kids? Will BASIS McLean have scholarships for those who can't afford it?

The high school students at Basis DC (which is still small) are doing well and getting a lot of interest from colleges. This is even more true for the students of color and the ones who are economically disadvantaged (not all minority kids there are low income). Will be interesting to see the first graduating classes' college acceptances although the first senior class is tiny (17 students).

PP is right that Basis McLean does not and will not offer financial aid. I actually think for profit schools can't for some esoteric tax code reason.

This is such BS, and this PP has to know that. BASIS drums out so many kids during the middle school years---often during the fall, after BASIS has received its charter payment for the student, but late enough in the year that the departing student has no choice left other than the neighborhood school--that the only kids left in high school are like the people in the final episodes of Survivor. And no one can first enroll in high school---ostensibly because the teaching method is so unique, but truly because they have winnowed out all the losers. The remaining high school students remain on to gut through their last four lost years of childhood. Why anyone would actually pay for this in McLean is beyond me. Truly is killing off your kid's childhood, and paying someone to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand why people chooses BASIS. For that amount of $ you could go to Sidwell or the Cathedral schools and get a solid thought- based education. Push on kids through math faster is not educationally sound.

BASIS McLean $27,000 for grades 5-12
Sidwell $39,360
Nysmith $32,000
Potomac $38,550

So BASIS is a little bit cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand why people chooses BASIS. For that amount of $ you could go to Sidwell or the Cathedral schools and get a solid thought- based education. Push on kids through math faster is not educationally sound.

BASIS McLean $27,000 for grades 5-12
Sidwell $39,360
Nysmith $32,000
Potomac $38,550

So BASIS is a little bit cheaper.

That's not a little cheaper. Is is 12,360 dollars cheaper per child. If you have 2 kids that is around 25,000 a year -2,000 a month. Multiply that by 12 years and it is 300,000 dollars. Plus there is NO fundraising at Basis. So at the other privates you have to pay tuition and then pay more for all the fundraisers.

[Anonymous]

A for profit school skeaves me out.

[Anonymous]

Do they have sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have no idea what you're talking about pp. drill and kill is what happens in traditional public schools, not Basis.

Glad our public schools aren't traditional then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they have sports?

http://mclean.basisindependent.com/student-life/clubs-and-athletics.php

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they have sports?

no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand why people chooses BASIS. For that amount of $ you could go to Sidwell or the Cathedral schools and get a solid thought- based education. Push on kids through math faster is not educationally sound.

BASIS McLean $27,000 for grades 5-12
Sidwell $39,360
Nysmith $32,000
Potomac $38,550

So BASIS is a little bit cheaper.

That's not a little cheaper. Is is 12,360 dollars cheaper per child. If you have 2 kids that is around 25,000 a year -2,000 a month. Multiply that by 12 years and it is 300,000 dollars. Plus there is NO fundraising at Basis. So at the other privates you have to pay tuition and then pay more for all the fundraisers.

How do they attract decent teachers with what is left to pay them and make a profit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A for profit school skeaves me out.

I still don't get why.

Just look up topic. You're paying $12k a year more for a "nonprofit" school than for a "for profit" school. So it's not like the "for profit" is milking you for max money to hand over to the shareholders. And in both places, you have classrooms and teachers. So what's the real diff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A for profit school skeaves me out.

I still don't get why.

Just look up topic. You're paying $12k a year more for a "nonprofit" school than for a "for profit" school. So it's not like the "for profit" is milking you for max money to hand over to the shareholders. And in both places, you have classrooms and teachers. So what's the real diff?

NP but it just feels odd/uncomfortable.

A for profit school is a corporate entity that exists to make money by delivering a product -- education. For those who think of education as a mission or calling, it seems weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A for profit school skeaves me out.

I still don't get why.

Just look up topic. You're paying $12k a year more for a "nonprofit" school than for a "for profit" school. So it's not like the "for profit" is milking you for max money to hand over to the shareholders. And in both places, you have classrooms and teachers. So what's the real diff?

Because the whole point of a for profit school is to make money. In fact, there is a fiduciary duty to the shareholders to do so. With a nonprofit, the mission is to educate.

[Anonymous]

BASIS Independent Mclean mom here. My kiddo is loving school so far. The facility wasn't open until the second week of school so they housed us at a nearby facility for the first week. People didn't really make a big deal about it...I think we all realized things like this were to be expected given it's the first year of operation. The curriculum is rich and refreshing, not drill and kill (in my opinion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand why people chooses BASIS. For that amount of $ you could go to Sidwell or the Cathedral schools and get a solid thought- based education. Push on kids through math faster is not educationally sound.

BASIS McLean $27,000 for grades 5-12
Sidwell $39,360
Nysmith $32,000
Potomac $38,550

So BASIS is a little bit cheaper.

That's not a little cheaper. Is is 12,360 dollars cheaper per child. If you have 2 kids that is around 25,000 a year -2,000 a month. Multiply that by 12 years and it is 300,000 dollars. Plus there is NO fundraising at Basis. So at the other privates you have to pay tuition and then pay more for all the fundraisers.

Finances may also vary based on where you live. If you live in DC, you may be paying quite a bit to transport your kid to and from McLean. And to pay a babysitter with a drivers license and good driving record to do it. I'd hope, though, there are carpools to minimize this cost. And it's certainly possible that there are families in DC with a parent working in McLean who can do the driving without disrupting the work day. Not a huge cost, but it may come into play on the edges. Also, many independent schools in DC provide significant financial assistance. My kids aren't there, but I remember that STA stated on its website that it may provide financial aid even two families who make over $200,000 per year. So I think the financial picture may vary family by family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know but I'm interested too!

You'll actually pay to have your kid subjected to drill and kill? Come to DC and you can get your kid beaten down for free at Basis and a few other for-profit charters.

Yeah, but that means having to live in DC.