Right middle school for artsy and sensitive kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would try for ITDS, Latin, and Sojourner Truth. Or Eliot-Hine would probably be okay.

This smaller schools with more options to select classes of interest might be a good fit. We liked ITDS overall left for unrelated reasons.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered any of the co-ops or home school or private??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

OP here - thank you for sharing this!! Was your child above grade level in math in elementary? I worry my grade level kid would get overwhelmed and discouraged.

He had 5s in both PARCCs in 3rd grade, but I don't think he was considered gifted or anything like that. Usually got mostly 3s in his report card.
But he was more introverted and non-sporty than most of his peers at his elementary IB. He does like science and that's what drew us to BASIS.

DP here and parent to a very quirky kid who is kind of a loner and also loves science. She is mostly on grade level in math with a few specific strengths (really took to geometry). But she's extremely strong on ELA -- currently reading at a 9th grade level or so and it's been a struggle in later elementary to keep up with her. Also really into art.

Would BASIS be a fit for a kid like this? I get that the kids tend to be very academically focused which is definitely a fit and the science focus is too. But what about arts? ELA? And foreign language? It feels like BASIS is so STEm focused that stuff might fall by the wayside?

I think you would find BASIS quite lacking in art and in foreign language. And I think the academic pressure would be difficult for her in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

Agree. BASIS has a lot of quirky kids.

Yes, Basis does have a lot of quirky kids and hardly any bullying, which is nice. But it's not a good place for a kid who doesn't like schoolwork and academics -- it's so much work! My son enjoys it, but you have to truly enjoy memorizations and homework and studying.

Please. BASIS obviously isn't a good school for creative types, no matter how good at math and memorization they may be. There's no stage, auditorium or designated performance space, no serious arts of any kind taught, no instrumental music instruction at all. The building is low on natural light, claustrophobic and dreary with gray walls and a mile of black lockers. Language instruction doesn't start until 8th grade, with all classes for beginners. Not a school that celebrates the artsy by any stretch of the imagination. My kid loves schoolwork and academics, enjoys memorization and homework and studying. Yet he couldn't wait to move on the Walls with most of his BASIS friends.

[Anonymous]

The stuff people post. BASIS for an artsy student. Absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for this!!

By the way, “move where specifically” wasn’t me but it’s a great question. If we were to move across town (which would actually be fine for the family in terms of parent commute and the other factors mentioned), we wondered about Hardy since it seems to be smaller / more personal. My husband actually works in Bethesda and reverse commutes so I guess we could consider there but the schools seem massively overcrowded with giant classes and I don’t really want to leave the city.

I love Hardy. I think it's a great fit for a lot of different kinds of kids. Very good choice. (We are not there but it was by far my favorite middle school choice.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

OP here - thank you for sharing this!! Was your child above grade level in math in elementary? I worry my grade level kid would get overwhelmed and discouraged.

He had 5s in both PARCCs in 3rd grade, but I don't think he was considered gifted or anything like that. Usually got mostly 3s in his report card.
But he was more introverted and non-sporty than most of his peers at his elementary IB. He does like science and that's what drew us to BASIS.

DP here and parent to a very quirky kid who is kind of a loner and also loves science. She is mostly on grade level in math with a few specific strengths (really took to geometry). But she's extremely strong on ELA -- currently reading at a 9th grade level or so and it's been a struggle in later elementary to keep up with her. Also really into art.

Would BASIS be a fit for a kid like this? I get that the kids tend to be very academically focused which is definitely a fit and the science focus is too. But what about arts? ELA? And foreign language? It feels like BASIS is so STEm focused that stuff might fall by the wayside?

I think you would find BASIS quite lacking in art and in foreign language. And I think the academic pressure would be difficult for her in math.

Poster says "kids tend to be very academically focused which is definitely a fit" . Any kid that wants to learn anything beyond the bare basics in MS is better off at BASIS than anywhere else (in DC).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an artsy sensitive kid at BASIS and it's a terrific fit. Latin can be full of "cool kids", BASIS is a school for geeks, which tend to be more forgiving of individual quirks.

OP here - thank you for sharing this!! Was your child above grade level in math in elementary? I worry my grade level kid would get overwhelmed and discouraged.

He had 5s in both PARCCs in 3rd grade, but I don't think he was considered gifted or anything like that. Usually got mostly 3s in his report card.
But he was more introverted and non-sporty than most of his peers at his elementary IB. He does like science and that's what drew us to BASIS.

DP here and parent to a very quirky kid who is kind of a loner and also loves science. She is mostly on grade level in math with a few specific strengths (really took to geometry). But she's extremely strong on ELA -- currently reading at a 9th grade level or so and it's been a struggle in later elementary to keep up with her. Also really into art.

Would BASIS be a fit for a kid like this? I get that the kids tend to be very academically focused which is definitely a fit and the science focus is too. But what about arts? ELA? And foreign language? It feels like BASIS is so STEm focused that stuff might fall by the wayside?

I think you would find BASIS quite lacking in art and in foreign language. And I think the academic pressure would be difficult for her in math.

Poster says "kids tend to be very academically focused which is definitely a fit" . Any kid that wants to learn anything beyond the bare basics in MS is better off at BASIS than anywhere else (in DC).

Actually, Deal or private you might be better off.

I wouldn't sent an academically inclined, artsy kid to BASIS. Yes, they can do the work and get good grades, but they will be miserable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for this!!

By the way, “move where specifically” wasn’t me but it’s a great question. If we were to move across town (which would actually be fine for the family in terms of parent commute and the other factors mentioned), we wondered about Hardy since it seems to be smaller / more personal. My husband actually works in Bethesda and reverse commutes so I guess we could consider there but the schools seem massively overcrowded with giant classes and I don’t really want to leave the city.

I love Hardy. I think it's a great fit for a lot of different kinds of kids. Very good choice. (We are not there but it was by far my favorite middle school choice.)

+1 Hardy would be a great choice

[Anonymous]

My kids are at Latin 2d St and I like it a lot. It isn’t great for visual art though, if your kid is really into that. There is just not that much coursework available. It is better for theater and for voice. Not great for instrumental music.