My kid is bored...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are several 6th graders taking 7th grade Algebra right now.

Working ahead of grade level is permitted, that's it.

[Anonymous]

In math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if it's truly because your child is so advanced, then see if he could test into skipping a grade. If not, then ask the teachers if he can bring a book to read once he's done with his class work.

Even advanced kids generally aren't advanced in all areas. You might want to check with his pediatrician to see what else might be going on.

At BASIS, no way. Admins aren't allowed to consider it, not the model, not in marching orders from AZ.

Is this actual knowledge? Seems to me Basis would be on board if a kid were truly so advanced they could skip to the next year - why not? But - proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say. Your kid better be able to pass those (7th grade) comps (every class) - if he can do that - by all means, why not skip a grade? I haven't yet heard what the OP's kids grades are. Is he getting 100% in all his classes? Or his he too "bored" to bother to get good grades?

Yes, actual knowledge. The answer to a question about skipping a grade will be absolutely not, the stock answer from BASIS admins in response to almost any question requesting flexibility within in the curriculum. Admins are known for being inflexible, per the franchise's model for middle school. Example: BASIS won't support, or even tolerate, advanced middle school language studies under any circumstances Advanced language students are forced to study a second language at the beginning level, no exceptions. It's the BASIS way or the highway
at every turn, period. To my knowledge, no student can skip a grade at BASIS DC under any circumstances.

But your example is entirely unrelated to a kid who is above grade in ALL subjects. I find it highly unlikely that basis would block such a kid from skipping a grade. (Assuming socio- emotional skills are there).

Admins won't let kids take the comps to enable them to qualify to skip a grade. The question has been asked in the past. The answer has been no.

[Anonymous]

Kids need to be bored and manage their emotions with that. Parents are failing if they constantly entertain their kids. Parents fail when they try to stop boredom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

Obviously, you don't know much about Basis DC, Mr/Ms. MIT grad who works in STEM. Maybe in your day kids hung out in the library and computer lab, but I don't think that this is a "thing" nowadays. Moreover, kids in DC can walk to libraries and--breaking news--many even have their own computers. Maybe not where you live? In fact, Basis kids on Capitol Hill can stroll over to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and use that if they wish.

Here is a link if people are interested about activities at Basis:

https://www.basised.com/washington-dc/files/2021/01/dc-tour-kit.pdf

One update from the above: USN&WR recently ranked Basis DC the number #1 public middle school in DC.

His statement that BASIS doesn't have a library or computer lab is factually correct. His statement that BASIS has high staff turnover, coupled with low pay, as compared to high-performing suburban middle schools in this Metro area is also factually correct. He's 2-2. Your activities list sounds great, but BASIS DC can only run so many high quality activities with the facilities and resources available to it (shoe-string budget for extra-curriculars).
...
#1 MS public MS in DC obviously isn't a high bar to clear. That's why the award goes to a school with a crappy building, mediocre ELA scores and so-so college acceptances, other than for a handful of grads bound for MIT and one or two Ivies.

So, you concede that everything else was factually incorrect? Great.

In fact, Basis DC had significantly higher retention last year than DCPS as a whole this last year. So, that point is factually incorrect as well.

Comparing DCPS to other school districts is apples and oranges.

Sorry...what were you saying...oh, that's right....you don't have any kids in DCPS but you are posting on the DC schools forum.

Thanks for sharing. Now get lost.

NP here who does not have nearly the emotional investment you have in this argument, but I do work for DCPS and the retention rate is horrible. Saying Basis has a better teacher retention rate than DCPS does not make Basis sound great. DCPS middle schools are awful to work at in general. And Basis does have a high turnover rate. It is a function of the school building, charter salary and kill-and-drill methods.

[Anonymous]

That's fine OP. Learning to deal with boredom is part of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's fine OP. Learning to deal with boredom is part of life.

Sometimes the wise way to deal with boredom is to change environments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's fine OP. Learning to deal with boredom is part of life.

Sometimes the wise way to deal with boredom is to change environments.

Sometime the way to LEARN to deal with boredom is to just deal. This is not an adult who has the skills. Kids need to develop them.

Best he learn to be bored in 7th grade than 11th

[Anonymous]

I am bored reading all these comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

Obviously, you don't know much about Basis DC, Mr/Ms. MIT grad who works in STEM. Maybe in your day kids hung out in the library and computer lab, but I don't think that this is a "thing" nowadays. Moreover, kids in DC can walk to libraries and--breaking news--many even have their own computers. Maybe not where you live? In fact, Basis kids on Capitol Hill can stroll over to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and use that if they wish.

Here is a link if people are interested about activities at Basis:

https://www.basised.com/washington-dc/files/2021/01/dc-tour-kit.pdf

One update from the above: USN&WR recently ranked Basis DC the number #1 public middle school in DC.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But your example is entirely unrelated to a kid who is above grade in ALL subjects. I find it highly unlikely that basis would block such a kid from skipping a grade. (Assuming socio- emotional skills are there).

Admins won't let kids take the comps to enable them to qualify to skip a grade. The question has been asked in the past. The answer has been no.

It's exceptionally unlikely that any kid would be above grade in all subjects and already know most of the material for all subjects at a school like BASIS. It's much more likely that any parents who asked for a grade skip have grossly overestimated their child's capabilities and school performance. It is also highly likely that OP's kid is not bored because he's so advanced that he should be grade skipped. He's either too addicted to electronics, is depressed, or isn't very interested in learning.

My kid skipped ahead 2 years in math and has an IQ over 145. While the classes are on the easier side for him, he's still learning a ton, loves school, and is rarely bored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

Obviously, you don't know much about Basis DC, Mr/Ms. MIT grad who works in STEM. Maybe in your day kids hung out in the library and computer lab, but I don't think that this is a "thing" nowadays. Moreover, kids in DC can walk to libraries and--breaking news--many even have their own computers. Maybe not where you live? In fact, Basis kids on Capitol Hill can stroll over to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and use that if they wish.

Here is a link if people are interested about activities at Basis:

https://www.basised.com/washington-dc/files/2021/01/dc-tour-kit.pdf

One update from the above: USN&WR recently ranked Basis DC the number #1 public middle school in DC.

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Another powerful critique from the anti-BASIS crowd...

[Anonymous]

Why do people care about IQ? It has no basis in success, unless your child is significantly below average but then again, that can be ascertained without an IQ test. Having significantly above doesn’t secure you a wonderful job that you love either. Bragging rights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about IQ? It has no basis in success, unless your child is significantly below average but then again, that can be ascertained without an IQ test. Having significantly above doesn’t secure you a wonderful job that you love either. Bragging rights?

IQ correlates with success but doesn’t dictate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you sent your kid to a MS with weak facilities, enrichment and extra curriculars and teachers and staff who aren't paid well enough to stick around for many years.

If he were at a MS in Fairfax or maybe MoCo or Arlington, he'd have a good library and computer lab to haunt in search of inspiration. He's probably have access to a robotics lab, band and orchestra sessions during class time, a serious chess club, debate club, a range of languages to choose from, school musicals to get involved with etc. His teachers and school counselor would probably be more experienced than at BASIS.

BASIS was too short on fun, staff cohesion and inspiration for us. I'm an MIT grad who works in STEM.

Obviously, you don't know much about Basis DC, Mr/Ms. MIT grad who works in STEM. Maybe in your day kids hung out in the library and computer lab, but I don't think that this is a "thing" nowadays. Moreover, kids in DC can walk to libraries and--breaking news--many even have their own computers. Maybe not where you live? In fact, Basis kids on Capitol Hill can stroll over to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and use that if they wish.

Here is a link if people are interested about activities at Basis:

https://www.basised.com/washington-dc/files/2021/01/dc-tour-kit.pdf

One update from the above: USN&WR recently ranked Basis DC the number #1 public middle school in DC.

His statement that BASIS doesn't have a library or computer lab is factually correct. His statement that BASIS has high staff turnover, coupled with low pay, as compared to high-performing suburban middle schools in this Metro area is also factually correct. He's 2-2. Your activities list sounds great, but BASIS DC can only run so many high quality activities with the facilities and resources available to it (shoe-string budget for extra-curriculars).
...
#1 MS public MS in DC obviously isn't a high bar to clear. That's why the award goes to a school with a crappy building, mediocre ELA scores and so-so college acceptances, other than for a handful of grads bound for MIT and one or two Ivies.

So, you concede that everything else was factually incorrect? Great.

In fact, Basis DC had significantly higher retention last year than DCPS as a whole this last year. So, that point is factually incorrect as well.

Comparing DCPS to other school districts is apples and oranges.

Sorry...what were you saying...oh, that's right....you don't have any kids in DCPS but you are posting on the DC schools forum.

Thanks for sharing. Now get lost.

NP here who does not have nearly the emotional investment you have in this argument, but I do work for DCPS and the retention rate is horrible. Saying Basis has a better teacher retention rate than DCPS does not make Basis sound great. DCPS middle schools are awful to work at in general. And Basis does have a high turnover rate. It is a function of the school building, charter salary and kill-and-drill methods.

Yes, it does, and if your kid attends for a number of years, this becomes painfully obvious. From my perspective, kill and drill methods aren't the problem as much as the one-size-fits-all curriculum, which doesn't play to most of the middle school students' strengths. Electives are weak at BASIS and the cramped facility coupled with short recess and lack of outdoor space motivates too many of the middle school boys to climb the walls. It's just not a healthy arrangement for pre teens and teens, though some manage to thrive anyway.