How to help child succeed at BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do families ever hire tutors to prepare for the BASIS comps? Are there tutors in the area who specifically specialize in BASIS comps tutoring? Based on a different thread regarding comps, it seems some students barely study compared to others so I know there’s a range of experiences. Just wondering if tutoring is at all common or if the students essentially rely on the school and perhaps study groups to prepare?

We are a 5th grade family, so no experience with comps yet. We did hire a tutor for math this year. My kid's previous elementary did not prepare him well for the pace of math instruction at BASIS. This was in line with our expectations and also one of the reasons we decided to take the BASIS seat. We were worried about DCPS instruction slowing down too much after COVID learning loss. My kid likes the school so far and is doing really well socially and academically. We are eyes wide open that this may change year to year and have an exit plan for high school, though my understanding is that many kids are staying for high school nowadays.

So, back to the OP's question - I would ask your parent-friend group for tutor recommendations and just have them on hand in case you need them this fall.

DS took comps for the first time this year in 6th and didn't study at home at all. We haven't gotten the comps back yet, but on the precomps he did very well.

Don't stress about it, folks. The school spends lots of time doing reviews and teaching them how to study.

[Anonymous]

For the families choosing to go private for high school, have you found that your child’s middle school experience/success at BASIS is largely what caused your child to be admitted to the private school? Do you think that, without BASIS, your child may not have been admitted?

[Anonymous]

Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the families choosing to go private for high school, have you found that your child’s middle school experience/success at BASIS is largely what caused your child to be admitted to the private school? Do you think that, without BASIS, your child may not have been admitted?

Who knows. If we could have afford private middle and high school, we wouldn't have gone with BASIS for the former. We didn't rely on the school for extra curricular achievement. We plugged away outside with music and art, which paid off. DD auditioned for music scholarships at privates and was successful at one. We hire a writing tutor and have pushed for the kids to progress in a language taught at BASIS but only from 7th grade (from 8th grade as of this fall). All of this cost us almost as much as a basic parochial school would have. The kids' strong math and science grades and scores on entrance exams can't have hurt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

The head of the school mentioned that there was only one spot remaining in an e-mail I received last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

The head of the school mentioned that there was only one spot remaining in an e-mail I received last week.

Aw man. My son really wants to go for 5th and he's 10th on the WL. Thanks for the info, I'll reset expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

The head of the school mentioned that there was only one spot remaining in an e-mail I received last week.

Aw man. My son really wants to go for 5th and he's 10th on the WL. Thanks for the info, I'll reset expectations.

He'll get in by October.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

Based on this thread, it should be moving rapidly as no one wants to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A high % of BASIS families live on or around Capitol Hill. The kids often come out of of tight-knit ES programs and maintain the social ties they developed as little kids while at BASIS. Others may disagree, but wouldn't say that there's a growing sense of community. In our experience, the school doesn't welcome parental input for anything but fundraising. We're looking forward to moving on, grateful that we can afford private school after this year.

We live on Capitol Hill, and have had the exact opposite experience. Most of my son's friends went to Latin, so I was a bit worried that he would have a tough time at Basis. I shouldn't have worried. He's made so many new friends, and tbh, the great kids have been the best part of the experience so far.

[Anonymous]

That is so wonderful to hear! Clearly, different families have such different experiences at the school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

Based on this thread, it should be moving rapidly as no one wants to go.

Give us a break. Where else can these kids go for middle school without an awful commute and/or learning experience. Eliot Hine, Jefferson Academy?

[Anonymous]

Many posts on here indicate BASIS is largely comprised of students from Capitol Hill. I am wondering about what percentage of the 5th grade class is from the Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many posts on here indicate BASIS is largely comprised of students from Capitol Hill. I am wondering about what percentage of the 5th grade class is from the Hill?

I’m not sure there’s available data on that. But my guesstimate is about 40 percent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many posts on here indicate BASIS is largely comprised of students from Capitol Hill. I am wondering about what percentage of the 5th grade class is from the Hill?

I’m not sure there’s available data on that. But my guesstimate is about 40 percent.

At least. There are a ton of incoming 5th graders from the Hill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any BASIS waitlist updates? Is it still moving for 5th?

The head of the school mentioned that there was only one spot remaining in an e-mail I received last week.

Aw man. My son really wants to go for 5th and he's 10th on the WL. Thanks for the info, I'll reset expectations.

I think you still have a shot. It's early in the summer and the Latin waitlist is still shaking out.