BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

Sounds like your kid couldn't handle the curriculum and washed out, and you are just bitter.

Hope that they are happy with wherever they ended up.

I have found that the people least happy with BASIS are the people with the highest flying kids.

This, ten times over. Particularly creative kids who excel at humanities and languages.

Parents who have kids like this shouldn’t be sending their kids to BASIS in the first place. You need to either move or hope Latin has a spot.

[Anonymous]

Which kids, exactly, should attend BASIS? Just math whizzes? My math whiz was only challenged at BASIS in math. The rest wasn't hard enough or taught well enough. Maybe he was too creative in his thinking or spoke Spanish too well? Latin didn't have a spot (and doesn't teach Spanish) and we didn't move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

The problem is more complex. Just because a BASIS middle school kid isn't ready for accelerated math at age 10, or 11 or 12, doesn't mean that they won't be able to handle seriously advanced math later on. What BASIS does is push acceleration on too many kids with strong math aptitude but aren't necessarily ready for algebra developmentally. I watched my own kid memorize his way through 7th grade algebra, without grasping some of the concepts. When he was forced to repeat algebra in 8th grade, he aced it and went on to score a 5 on BC Calc in high school. 20 or 30 years ago, educators didn't see kids who couldn't handle 7th grade algebra as math challenged. Indeed, 8th grade algebra was the norm for advanced math students through the 90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

The problem is more complex. Just because a BASIS middle school kid isn't ready for accelerated math at age 10, or 11 or 12, doesn't mean that they won't be able to handle seriously advanced math later on. What BASIS does is push acceleration on too many kids with strong math aptitude but aren't necessarily ready for algebra developmentally. I watched my own kid memorize his way through 7th grade algebra, without grasping some of the concepts. When he was forced to repeat algebra in 8th grade, he aced it and went on to score a 5 on BC Calc in high school. 20 or 30 years ago, educators didn't see kids who couldn't handle 7th grade algebra as math challenged. Indeed, 8th grade algebra was the norm for advanced math students through the 90s.

Sure, but Algebra in 8th grade and BC calculus senior year is not something you should need a niche, advanced STEM school for. And it's a path that exists already in DC at nearly every middle school, followed by JR or Walls. The problem is the unevenness across DCPS high schools for kids who need this completely normal level of acceleration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which kids, exactly, should attend BASIS? Just math whizzes? My math whiz was only challenged at BASIS in math. The rest wasn't hard enough or taught well enough. Maybe he was too creative in his thinking or spoke Spanish too well? Latin didn't have a spot (and doesn't teach Spanish) and we didn't move.

Latin has an excellent humanities curriculum, but doesn't challenge them enough in Math and Science... That's why we put BASIS at the top (and got the spot). I'm prepared to be disappointed in some ways but they do seem to teach the middle schoolers Math and Science. and I'm open to trying another school for high school (application, or maybe we can get financial aid at a private.) Where else do you think your kid would have been challenged in middle school?

Agree that humanities kids should absolutely not go to BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

True. I sympathize with parents who find themselves with so few options but before BASIS and Latin there were even fewer. Some of the original charters had gifted and talented tracks but extensive programs designed for higher performing students? Unfortunately, there have never been enough public options and there's no political will to have more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

The problem is more complex. Just because a BASIS middle school kid isn't ready for accelerated math at age 10, or 11 or 12, doesn't mean that they won't be able to handle seriously advanced math later on. What BASIS does is push acceleration on too many kids with strong math aptitude but aren't necessarily ready for algebra developmentally. I watched my own kid memorize his way through 7th grade algebra, without grasping some of the concepts. When he was forced to repeat algebra in 8th grade, he aced it and went on to score a 5 on BC Calc in high school. 20 or 30 years ago, educators didn't see kids who couldn't handle 7th grade algebra as math challenged. Indeed, 8th grade algebra was the norm for advanced math students through the 90s.

Your post exhibits no ownership or sense of personal responsibility. You go through great pains to set up that "kids aren't ready" and BASIS "pushes things on kids". In the end your kid had to repeat Algebra. That's not BASIS's or any school's fault. Your kid didn't actually learn the material (whatever the heck "memorizing algebra" means). No part of your post puts on your child (or your parenting) any responsibility. The reason BASIS is anomalous in DC is that it actually challenges kids and holds them to account for failure. Sounds like you want to have our cake and eat it too. Also sounds like you didn't do any due diligence before you sent your kid to BASIS. Based on your post I'm guessing you blame BASIS for your failures in that regard as well.

[Anonymous]

Regarding senior year at BASIS - our family thought it was a good thing.

The first trimester with the capstones and college application class made it so much easier to visit colleges when they were in session, instead of just on breaks. The college class really took the pressure off of the essay writing - it was nice to not cram that on top of APs. And then my student had a great internship for the remainder of the year (plus a part time job) and also did a senior project.

My student is about to graduate from college and is going through job interviews. You know what the interviewers like to ask about besides what they have been doing the last 4 years? The internship and senior project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

The problem is more complex. Just because a BASIS middle school kid isn't ready for accelerated math at age 10, or 11 or 12, doesn't mean that they won't be able to handle seriously advanced math later on. What BASIS does is push acceleration on too many kids with strong math aptitude but aren't necessarily ready for algebra developmentally. I watched my own kid memorize his way through 7th grade algebra, without grasping some of the concepts. When he was forced to repeat algebra in 8th grade, he aced it and went on to score a 5 on BC Calc in high school. 20 or 30 years ago, educators didn't see kids who couldn't handle 7th grade algebra as math challenged. Indeed, 8th grade algebra was the norm for advanced math students through the 90s.

Your post exhibits no ownership or sense of personal responsibility. You go through great pains to set up that "kids aren't ready" and BASIS "pushes things on kids". In the end your kid had to repeat Algebra. That's not BASIS's or any school's fault. Your kid didn't actually learn the material (whatever the heck "memorizing algebra" means). No part of your post puts on your child (or your parenting) any responsibility. The reason BASIS is anomalous in DC is that it actually challenges kids and holds them to account for failure. Sounds like you want to have our cake and eat it too. Also sounds like you didn't do any due diligence before you sent your kid to BASIS. Based on your post I'm guessing you blame BASIS for your failures in that regard as well.

.

Maybe. But the problem of many BASIS middle schoolers who go on to their high school being dramatically overraccelerated in math is real. Blaming poor parenting only gets you so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many questionable practices go unchecked at BASIS. For example, it's not uncommon for kids who leave on good form academically at whatever stage to be forced to retake math at other schools. This happens after they couldn't pass placement tests testing math they supposedly learned at BASIS. We had a couple middle school teachers who cried in front of classes they couldn't handle multiple times. The more desperate you are for a decent school, the more BS you put up with.

That's every school system. DC, for instance, requires Algebra II for graduation. Less than 10% of the kids who take the algebra PARCC in high school score proficient, but they're all getting passed through. And the broader phenomenon of title inflation in math classes and kids requiring remediation in college for math classes they took in high school is nationwide. It's not good. It would be great if BASIS were the only public school in DC not doing this. But also, your objection is not with BASIS specifically.

Yes, my objection is with BASIS specifically for requiring 7th grade algebra when at least half the kids aren't ready for it. These kids would probably be fine if they took 8th grade algebra.

They can do that in every other school in DC. The problem isn't the one school that's only appropriate for kids who are advanced at math, it's the lack of options for kids who are at grade level or slightly ahead.

The problem is more complex. Just because a BASIS middle school kid isn't ready for accelerated math at age 10, or 11 or 12, doesn't mean that they won't be able to handle seriously advanced math later on. What BASIS does is push acceleration on too many kids with strong math aptitude but aren't necessarily ready for algebra developmentally. I watched my own kid memorize his way through 7th grade algebra, without grasping some of the concepts. When he was forced to repeat algebra in 8th grade, he aced it and went on to score a 5 on BC Calc in high school. 20 or 30 years ago, educators didn't see kids who couldn't handle 7th grade algebra as math challenged. Indeed, 8th grade algebra was the norm for advanced math students through the 90s.

Your post exhibits no ownership or sense of personal responsibility. You go through great pains to set up that "kids aren't ready" and BASIS "pushes things on kids". In the end your kid had to repeat Algebra. That's not BASIS's or any school's fault. Your kid didn't actually learn the material (whatever the heck "memorizing algebra" means). No part of your post puts on your child (or your parenting) any responsibility. The reason BASIS is anomalous in DC is that it actually challenges kids and holds them to account for failure. Sounds like you want to have our cake and eat it too. Also sounds like you didn't do any due diligence before you sent your kid to BASIS. Based on your post I'm guessing you blame BASIS for your failures in that regard as well.

.

Maybe. But the problem of many BASIS middle schoolers who go on to their high school being dramatically overraccelerated in math is real. Blaming poor parenting only gets you so far.

60% of middle schoolers in DC who take algebra do not pass the PARCC algebra test. Over a third get a 1 or 2. Many retake. This is a very common issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regarding senior year at BASIS - our family thought it was a good thing.

The first trimester with the capstones and college application class made it so much easier to visit colleges when they were in session, instead of just on breaks. The college class really took the pressure off of the essay writing - it was nice to not cram that on top of APs. And then my student had a great internship for the remainder of the year (plus a part time job) and also did a senior project.

My student is about to graduate from college and is going through job interviews. You know what the interviewers like to ask about besides what they have been doing the last 4 years? The internship and senior project.

Good to hear. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding senior year at BASIS - our family thought it was a good thing.

The first trimester with the capstones and college application class made it so much easier to visit colleges when they were in session, instead of just on breaks. The college class really took the pressure off of the essay writing - it was nice to not cram that on top of APs. And then my student had a great internship for the remainder of the year (plus a part time job) and also did a senior project.

My student is about to graduate from college and is going through job interviews. You know what the interviewers like to ask about besides what they have been doing the last 4 years? The internship and senior project.

Good to hear. Thanks for sharing.

That's such an edge case! I can't imagine many interviewers asking about internships and senior projects completed while still in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding senior year at BASIS - our family thought it was a good thing.

The first trimester with the capstones and college application class made it so much easier to visit colleges when they were in session, instead of just on breaks. The college class really took the pressure off of the essay writing - it was nice to not cram that on top of APs. And then my student had a great internship for the remainder of the year (plus a part time job) and also did a senior project.

My student is about to graduate from college and is going through job interviews. You know what the interviewers like to ask about besides what they have been doing the last 4 years? The internship and senior project.

Good to hear. Thanks for sharing.

That's such an edge case! I can't imagine many interviewers asking about internships and senior projects completed while still in high school.

Why not? What else are you going to ask a 21 year old undergrad? What books they've written? Companies they have founded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regarding senior year at BASIS - our family thought it was a good thing.

The first trimester with the capstones and college application class made it so much easier to visit colleges when they were in session, instead of just on breaks. The college class really took the pressure off of the essay writing - it was nice to not cram that on top of APs. And then my student had a great internship for the remainder of the year (plus a part time job) and also did a senior project.

My student is about to graduate from college and is going through job interviews. You know what the interviewers like to ask about besides what they have been doing the last 4 years? The internship and senior project.

Good to hear. Thanks for sharing.

That's such an edge case! I can't imagine many interviewers asking about internships and senior projects completed while still in high school.

Why not? What else are you going to ask a 21 year old undergrad? What books they've written? Companies they have founded?

"Tell me a about a time your entitled, whiny parents refused to just let go the fact that you couldn't hack and continued to troll blogs for years after trying to make themselves feel better."