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

[Anonymous]

BASIS McLean just opened and I am curious what the feedback is from new students and parents? We are considering for our son.

[Anonymous]

I don't know but I'm interested too!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I heard that weren't ready to open so soon.

[Anonymous]

Isn't Vern Williams going to teach there? That, at least, is interesting, and gives one hope that they will not "math by drill and kill."

That said, these schools for gifted/Accelerated kids make me suspicious. Why send a kid there and pay 30-40k, when they can go to the AAP Center Longfellow (or Carson or Rocky Run, etc)? Many of the Nysmith kids, at least, are there because they didn't place into AAP. I'd BASIS catering to the same crew(my kid is gifted. FCPS just doesn't realize it...) The public schools have Algebra II for advanced 8th graders, and ship a few kids to the high school for Pre-Calc. Plus a smart, (TJ) driven cohort-- and a strong TJ placement track record. So what does BASIS gain you?

[Anonymous]

Why pay for Basis in Virginia when the same program is free other places? Sounds like a bad bargain.

[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.

Drill and kill is not our thing, this is too bad to hear. I didn't realize it was a for profit school either! Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Vern Williams going to teach there? That, at least, is interesting, and gives one hope that they will not "math by drill and kill."

That said, these schools for gifted/Accelerated kids make me suspicious. Why send a kid there and pay 30-40k, when they can go to the AAP Center Longfellow (or Carson or Rocky Run, etc)? Many of the Nysmith kids, at least, are there because they didn't place into AAP. I'd BASIS catering to the same crew(my kid is gifted. FCPS just doesn't realize it...) The public schools have Algebra II for advanced 8th graders, and ship a few kids to the high school for Pre-Calc. Plus a smart, (TJ) driven cohort-- and a strong TJ placement track record. So what does BASIS gain you?

I feel comfortable responding because we know multiple families there. While a few are average students, the rest are very bright, former AAP kids or kids in the top of their classes at other area privates.

These are the same kinds of criticisms all of the private NOVA schools receive. Why send your child to private when the publics are so strong? There are thousands of children in the NOVA privates (Potomac, Flint Hill, Langley, Congressional, Nysmith, ) so there is clearly a strong market for private education. Within this market, I definitely see an opportunity for a school like Basis to succeed if they do it right. While the K-8 options are plentiful, we have very few private HS options in NOVA. Potomac seems to want more athletes, the commute to FH is a challenge for those in Arlington/McLean and that's pretty much it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Vern Williams going to teach there? That, at least, is interesting, and gives one hope that they will not "math by drill and kill."

That said, these schools for gifted/Accelerated kids make me suspicious. Why send a kid there and pay 30-40k, when they can go to the AAP Center Longfellow (or Carson or Rocky Run, etc)? Many of the Nysmith kids, at least, are there because they didn't place into AAP. I'd BASIS catering to the same crew(my kid is gifted. FCPS just doesn't realize it...) The public schools have Algebra II for advanced 8th graders, and ship a few kids to the high school for Pre-Calc. Plus a smart, (TJ) driven cohort-- and a strong TJ placement track record. So what does BASIS gain you?

I feel comfortable responding because we know multiple families there. While a few are average students, the rest are very bright, former AAP kids or kids in the top of their classes at other area privates.

These are the same kinds of criticisms all of the private NOVA schools receive. Why send your child to private when the publics are so strong? There are thousands of children in the NOVA privates (Potomac, Flint Hill, Langley, Congressional, Nysmith, ) so there is clearly a strong market for private education. Within this market, I definitely see an opportunity for a school like Basis to succeed if they do it right. While the K-8 options are plentiful, we have very few private HS options in NOVA. Potomac seems to want more athletes, the commute to FH is a challenge for those in Arlington/McLean and that's pretty much it.

Actually, if you read the response, it is more--why sent your ES/MS AAP kid (especially at a strong Center) to a Basis or Nysmith? Unless they don't qualify for AAP (in which case, what makes these "schools for the gifted"?). DC was on an academic team at an AAP MS and Nysmith also competed. Rocky Run, Carson, Longfellow? Impressive kids that routinely did very well. (And the Carson team hands down blew everyone out of the water). Sidwell and Norwood kids? Also impressive and placed well. Nysmith? Pretty much dead last across the board. Very unimpressive. DH looked up the tuition, pointed out that Nysmith is directly across the street from Carson, and asked why?? Good question. I have no idea. Maybe Basis will be better. It's really too soon to tell (although getting Vern Williams is a coup, and a good start).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Vern Williams going to teach there? That, at least, is interesting, and gives one hope that they will not "math by drill and kill."

That said, these schools for gifted/Accelerated kids make me suspicious. Why send a kid there and pay 30-40k, when they can go to the AAP Center Longfellow (or Carson or Rocky Run, etc)? Many of the Nysmith kids, at least, are there because they didn't place into AAP. I'd BASIS catering to the same crew(my kid is gifted. FCPS just doesn't realize it...) The public schools have Algebra II for advanced 8th graders, and ship a few kids to the high school for Pre-Calc. Plus a smart, (TJ) driven cohort-- and a strong TJ placement track record. So what does BASIS gain you?

I feel comfortable responding because we know multiple families there. While a few are average students, the rest are very bright, former AAP kids or kids in the top of their classes at other area privates.

These are the same kinds of criticisms all of the private NOVA schools receive. Why send your child to private when the publics are so strong? There are thousands of children in the NOVA privates (Potomac, Flint Hill, Langley, Congressional, Nysmith, ) so there is clearly a strong market for private education. Within this market, I definitely see an opportunity for a school like Basis to succeed if they do it right. While the K-8 options are plentiful, we have very few private HS options in NOVA. Potomac seems to want more athletes, the commute to FH is a challenge for those in Arlington/McLean and that's pretty much it.

BASIS has zero in common with schools like Potomac or Flint Hill. It truly is drill and kill and will take the childhood away from your child. An unhappy place designed solely to raise standardized test scores while making a profit for the owners. It's sad that BASIS and similar businesses have gotten their hooks into DC and some other school districts as charters. But why anyone would actually pay tuition to subject their DC to this mind-crushing repetition is beyond me.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

common core is the opposite of drill and kill

[Anonymous]

In what way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:common core is the opposite of drill and kill

BASIS is drill and kill for common core. Hours and hours of worksheets every night. My kids don't go to BASIS, but there are kids in our neighborhood in DC who go there, and everyone (especially kids) feel sorry for them. Sad.

And of course, Basis has nothing in common with a school like Potomac that fosters independent thought and critical discussions as class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Vern Williams going to teach there? That, at least, is interesting, and gives one hope that they will not "math by drill and kill."

That said, these schools for gifted/Accelerated kids make me suspicious. Why send a kid there and pay 30-40k, when they can go to the AAP Center Longfellow (or Carson or Rocky Run, etc)? Many of the Nysmith kids, at least, are there because they didn't place into AAP. I'd BASIS catering to the same crew(my kid is gifted. FCPS just doesn't realize it...) The public schools have Algebra II for advanced 8th graders, and ship a few kids to the high school for Pre-Calc. Plus a smart, (TJ) driven cohort-- and a strong TJ placement track record. So what does BASIS gain you?

I know a lot of Nysmith kids, ours included, who got into AAP and chose not to go. To each his own, but don't speak without facts please!