Basis DC feedback sought

[Anonymous]

So from reading these trends, one can assume that the advantage of BASIS over other middle schools is the fact that there is accelerated math for most/all and that AP's start in middle school.
I am also reading that these same students with 3 or 4 years of accelerated math are not necessarily doing well in placement tests. Those students who have already taken the AP history test in middle school are getting upset because their AP is not being recognized by DCPS schools. If a student wants to go to Wall for a totally different experience, I do not understand why retaking a class is causing such a huge problem. Shouldn't they just cruise through the course if they received "5"s on the exam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So from reading these trends, one can assume that the advantage of BASIS over other middle schools is the fact that there is accelerated math for most/all and that AP's start in middle school.
I am also reading that these same students with 3 or 4 years of accelerated math are not necessarily doing well in placement tests. Those students who have already taken the AP history test in middle school are getting upset because their AP is not being recognized by DCPS schools. If a student wants to go to Wall for a totally different experience, I do not understand why retaking a class is causing such a huge problem. Shouldn't they just cruise through the course if they received "5"s on the exam?

AP World is the only AP content which all BASIS 8th grade students take; about 25% take the actual AP exam in May. Those students who take the exam are generally the "strongest" history students in their class, and they get a range of scores, but most pass. [My DC got a 5 and was ready to move on to other subjects; didn't want an easy A, but wanted to learn something new] World History goes for 2 years at BASIS middle school; so doing it again at SWW is a lot of time on the same content, especially for a kid who got it the first time.

There are 4 different math options for kids in all middle school grades. Some are very accelerated (5th graders in Alg 1), others aren't. My 11th grader is in Calculus AB; most of DC"s classmates are 1-2 years younger than he is. My younger DC is in Alg 2/Geometry in 8th grade. Most of DC2's classmates are in 7th. The students DC1 knew who went to SWW for HS did not have to repeat any math, although they were grumpy about having to take 7-8 separate placement tests over a 6 week period in the spring/summer. Clearly, they got over it, as did the ones who took World History a second time.

After 5 years of operations, everyone coming out of BASIS knows that other DC high schools may not recognize some or all their middle school work as satisfying DCPS high school requirements -- although they may still bitch and complain about it. The school informs everyone during prospective student info sessions and it is repeated frequently. For some kids it's a factor in their high school decisions, for others it's not.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like BASIS is part of the problem here, wasting the Walls-bound kids' time on AP World History. With many of the BASIS 8th graders heading to Walls, this can't be a great idea.

Why don't they just offer a different AP social studies course in 8th grade, or more than one? How about US History or US Government and Politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like BASIS is part of the problem here, wasting the Walls-bound kids' time on AP World History. With many of the BASIS 8th graders heading to Walls, this can't be a great idea.

Why don't they just offer a different AP social studies course in 8th grade, or more than one? How about US History or US Government and Politics?

Probably because both US History and US Government and Politics are required AP courses at Basis for high school graduation and students must take the AP exams, which are factored into their course grades. The College Board won't allow an exam to be required for 8th graders -- and only ~20 BASIS students take the AP World Exam after 8th.

BASIS' curriculum is standard across its network of school. BASIS isn't going to change its sequence for the 10-12 DC students this affects and DCPS isn't going to either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC is in the upper school at BASIS and has been doing well. For sure it's been a lot of work. 5th wasn't bad but it ramped up considerably over the next couple of years but surprisingly now DC has less homework than in previous years despite having a pretty big number of AP courses. I think those first couple of years laid down a good foundation and DC built up organizational skills and self discipline along with getting a good handle on essay writing and mechanics of AP testing. We honestly don't know what good alternative there'd be. We know a few families that left for Walls, but there are distinctly mixed reviews there - in many cases, Walls actually had kids going backward and retaking stuff they had already mastered which bewildered and frustrated families, I suspect because Walls can't really support accelerated students.

At least in math, some of those Basis students transferring to Walls are reTaking classes because they couldn’t perform on the placement tests. Perhaps basis taught it too fast, too young and the material wasn’t retained.

This is bullshit. I heard the assessment test was only 10 questions which to is not an accurate assessment. Also, many of these kids took Algebra several year prior to taking the SWW test. Frankly, I think SWW should honor the passing grades in math from BASIS and allow the student to take the next logical class if they passed the classes at BASIS. It should be apparent within a few weeks whether the placement was correct or not which would still be time enough to move to another math class if needed.

Also, BASIS math classes are proven and tried and true. The curriculum has been used since the BASIS inception in Arizona about 2 decades ago. The students average 3000 to 3500 problems in math a year, weekly assessments, pre-term comps, and final comps. Their have an excellent track record for students passing AP calculus too. Enough said.

Again if Basis changed the transcript to say a full year of Algebra I, DCPS would give credit as they do with all middle schools. Alg I\Geometry is seen as half a credit of Algebra I. I'm not saying I agree with making these kids take a placement test, but that's DCPS credit requirements.

Also if these kids have taken Algebra II and PreCalculus they should still pass an Algebra I placement test. Algebra I skills are the foundation for upper level math.

[Anonymous]

So, SWW only wants to have DCPS middle school alumni, right? Do they realize they are PUBLIC?

Also, is DCPS this rigorous in making sure that all graduating seniors across the system are performing at a baseline level? Not seeing it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, SWW only wants to have DCPS middle school alumni, right? Do they realize they are PUBLIC?

Also, is DCPS this rigorous in making sure that all graduating seniors across the system are performing at a baseline level? Not seeing it here.

I don't disagree with you, but that is DCPS policy in terms of credits. Whether the class was actual Algebra I content or not, it has to be a full year on a student's transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, SWW only wants to have DCPS middle school alumni, right? Do they realize they are PUBLIC?

Also, is DCPS this rigorous in making sure that all graduating seniors across the system are performing at a baseline level? Not seeing it here.

I don't disagree with you, but that is DCPS policy in terms of credits. Whether the class was actual Algebra I content or not, it has to be a full year on a student's transcript.

Yeah but when the transcripts read

Alg 1
Alg 2
Pre Calc

DCPS still made them test out of those classes — and retake Geometry.

Now BASIS students going to DCPS are allowed to at least try to test out of Geometry, in addition to Alg.

FWIW kids who go to a DCPS from SWW will have the same problem in the future since they also do an integrated math sequence.

[Anonymous]

My apologies for the typo ^ I meant

DCI students who go to SWW will have the same issue as Basis students because they, too take integrated math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like BASIS is part of the problem here, wasting the Walls-bound kids' time on AP World History. With many of the BASIS 8th graders heading to Walls, this can't be a great idea.

Why don't they just offer a different AP social studies course in 8th grade, or more than one? How about US History or US Government and Politics?

No actually DCPS central command is the problem in not allowing more flexibility for students. BASIS kids who have done well in AP World History would greatly benefit from being allowed to take another AP class such as AP Human Geography at Walls or another history.

[Anonymous]

These just aren't complicated curricular problems. Can't the stakeholders take up the AP World History issue with the Chancellor's office and Grosso? How about the DC PS Ombudsman, and the Mayor's Office? Explain to ed movers and shakers how the BASIS curriculum is standardized etc. DCPS answers to the Mayor and CC. Sounds like the Committee on Education members could get the problem fixed in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These just aren't complicated curricular problems. Can't the stakeholders take up the AP World History issue with the Chancellor's office and Grosso? How about the DC PS Ombudsman, and the Mayor's Office? Explain to ed movers and shakers how the BASIS curriculum is standardized etc. DCPS answers to the Mayor and CC. Sounds like the Committee on Education members could get the problem fixed in a heartbeat.

All of that has been tried. Seriously. Five successive classes of students have gone through this.

Anyway it isn’t helpful to this thread’s question. abut anyone who goes to Basis should be forewarned — and delighted if this ever gets resolved in a way that helps the students.

[Anonymous]

DCPS does give credit for Geometry if students pass all components of the test. However Saxon math only partially covers the Geometry curriculum, even after doing the precalculus book. It is concerning when students have done 3 years of partial Geometry, received top grades but can barely solve 50% of the problems. Not pointing fingers; just a fact.

[Anonymous]

So screwed up. BASIS and Walls can't align the curriculum to a greater extent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So screwed up. BASIS and Walls can't align the curriculum to a greater extent?

BASIS will not change because this is their national curriculum and would prefer the students stay at BASIS. Walls thinks it is an island and doesn't feel like making it easier for taxpayers students who didn’t go to DCPS middle schools to attend. “Without Walls” is a joke!