| its not the drop between 8th and 9th because thats a natural exit point (to private/dcps application hs/other more typical hs option with more ecs etc.). its the attrition after 6th/7th and during hs that raises eyebrows. |
I’m a “Basis booster” as they say, but see no need to dunk on DCI and Latin, both of which work quite well for motivated students willing to take advantage of all their offerings. |
The jealously towards BASIS is BANANAS |
Latin has a much higher retention, but they also backfill at every grade level. First number is number of students enrolled, number in parentheses is the number of students who continued on from the prior year. SY19-20 5th grade class: 95 > 94 (92) > 91 (89) > 96 (91) > 94 (77) > 89 (89) SY20-21 5th grade class: 95 > 96 (94) > 95 (95) > 97 (93) > 95 (78) SY21-22 5th grade class: 96 > 93 (91) > 100 (93) > 98 (96) SY22-23 5th grade class: 99 > 99 (95) > 98 (97) SY23-24 5th grade class: 97 > 97 (96) |
Latin has way more poor kids than BASIS. They reserve more than four times as many seats as BASIS for kids who are homeless, get food stamps, etc. |
Backfilling at Latin is a nonissue because virtually no one leaves. Backfilling at BASIS would be a disaster, for the school and the students who are added. They'd have even more attrition. |
Same data for DCI. First number is number of students enrolled, number in parentheses is the number of students who continued on from the prior year. SY19-20 6th grade class: 254 > 260 (242) > 249 (241) > 247 (211) > 208 (205) > 203 (196) SY20-21 6th grade class: 262 > 258 (248) > 268 (249) > 241 (222) > 228 (227) SY21-22 6th grade class: 259 > 246 (235) > 246 (238) > 240 (201) SY22-23 6th grade class: 272 > 257 (253) > 247 (239) SY23-24 6th grade class: 274 > 262 (259) |
If we make the simplifying assumption that all Latin and DCI attrition comes from the original class, we get retention rates from original class as follows: BASIS retention through 8th: 59-73% BASIS retention through 9th: 42-43% DCI retention through 8th: 86-91% DCI retention through 9th: 70-74% Latin retention through 8th: 91-96% Latin retention through 9th: 72-76% |
And that is all very well and nice for Latin. EA has been quite disruptive and resented at YuYing and Mundo. Basis is doing enough and should not allow itself to be browbeat by shortsighted “equity” demands. |
This. Basis ROCKS! |
Now provide the percentages for kids below grade level at Latin and DCI that are socially promoted every year. Just because kids don’t leave doesn’t mean the school is any good. |
Here is a light bulb. If you have tracking, it doesn’t matter because kids will be grouped by ability level and the high performing kids won’t be in the same class as the lower performing kids. Classes will also progress at different pace and depth on what that group can handle. Lastly, when you have such low retention rates and lose 1/3rd of your class by 8th and 1/2 by 9th before even ending middle school, that is concerning and a red flag. These grades are not a typical transition like 9th to 10th. |
Back to you. When lots of kids leave, that might mean the school is not good either. |
I'm sorry your kid didnt get into Latin. You can commiserate with all the other BASIS parents. They preferred Latin too, but not everyone can win the lottery. |
Typo above meant 7th and 8th. Transition from 8th to 9th |