Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

So they choose to attend Basis and then choose to decline efforts to stay at Basis. That it doesn’t work out for all doesn’t mean it should be denied to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

So they choose to attend Basis and then choose to decline efforts to stay at Basis. That it doesn’t work out for all doesn’t mean it should be denied to others.

Oh FFS. Nobody's saying it should be denied to others. I'm saying BASIS boosters are disingenuous and therefore annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

So kids that do want the rigor and don't lotto well are SOL. On the other hand, kids that Lotto well, but can't handle the rigor get pushed out when they fail. The worst of both worlds. There should obviously be an admissions process.

The school does try very hard to let prospective parents know exactly what to expect and who would thrive there, so that some self-selection occurs.

The problem is that there are so many DCPS middle schools that are not adequate for moderately advanced kids, that parents are desperate for an option and go with BASIS even when it's not quite appropriate.

Untrue.

What would be your list?

All three of the Eastern feeders would be on my list of schools where “moderately advanced kids” can be challenged. Just because there isn’t an overwhelming majority of UMC families selecting a school, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t provide rigor and differentiation. At the open house I attended, the principal and AP made it very clear they were focussed on kids who needed extra support as well as kids who are ahead of grade level and need extra challenge. They put kids in cohorts based on CAPE scores, i-Ready data, placement tests, teacher feedback, etc. And they offer algebra and geometry for kids who are ready for it. And in talking to parents of high-achieving kids who attend those schools, this is consistent with their experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

So they choose to attend Basis and then choose to decline efforts to stay at Basis. That it doesn’t work out for all doesn’t mean it should be denied to others.

Oh FFS. Nobody's saying it should be denied to others. I'm saying BASIS boosters are disingenuous and therefore annoying.

What is disingenuous about stating the facts? And what’s the complaint about how basis does things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

So they choose to attend Basis and then choose to decline efforts to stay at Basis. That it doesn’t work out for all doesn’t mean it should be denied to others.

Oh FFS. Nobody's saying it should be denied to others. I'm saying BASIS boosters are disingenuous and therefore annoying.

What is disingenuous about stating the facts? And what’s the complaint about how basis does things?

Because randomly yelling out YAY BASIS when people are trying to have an actual substantive conversation is annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

So kids that do want the rigor and don't lotto well are SOL. On the other hand, kids that Lotto well, but can't handle the rigor get pushed out when they fail. The worst of both worlds. There should obviously be an admissions process.

The school does try very hard to let prospective parents know exactly what to expect and who would thrive there, so that some self-selection occurs.

The problem is that there are so many DCPS middle schools that are not adequate for moderately advanced kids, that parents are desperate for an option and go with BASIS even when it's not quite appropriate.

Untrue.

What would be your list?

All three of the Eastern feeders would be on my list of schools where “moderately advanced kids” can be challenged. Just because there isn’t an overwhelming majority of UMC families selecting a school, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t provide rigor and differentiation. At the open house I attended, the principal and AP made it very clear they were focused on kids who needed extra support as well as kids who are ahead of grade level and need extra challenge. They put kids in cohorts based on CAPE scores, i-Ready data, placement tests, teacher feedback, etc. And they offer algebra and geometry for kids who are ready for it. And in talking to parents of high-achieving kids who attend those schools, this is consistent with their experiences.

This sounds like the Title I elementary my kids attend. Strong principals and good teachers abound in DCPS. In an ideal world parents would look at that when deciding where to send kids, but of course one look at the waitlist tells you what people want--to be near students that are already doing well--that is what makes a "good" school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

DP. The bolded is not true. Where are you even getting this info? There is a small percentage of kids who must retest in order to get promoted, but nearly all of them retake the test and do the required work over the summer. It's fine if you dislike BASIS but at least get the fact straight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the core of what OP sees is an artifact of class differences in DC.

DC income distribution is U-shaped and it's directly related to educational trajectories. We have no middle class, by national standards.

High-income DC parents are almost strictly advanced degree holders. Our low-income parents have low educational attainment. Studies have shown that these flows directly into a child's educational attainment.

So the result is a system that can't be targeted broadly. We either have students who are almost immediately behind and students who are already ahead and the difference only accelerates across the grades.

So what is DC to do at a certain stage, probably around middle school? Differentiate.

If they don't, I can see a need for a BASIS. I would prefer differentiation within DCPS middle schools in order to promote integration.

My child did this, not at Deal, and has now gone onto one of the selective high schools. It was doable because there was more than one level of math and other specific courses available and sufficient students willing to do the work.

If the educated end of the DC population sends its kids to middle schools that aren't Deal, the differentiation can happen.

If they don't, DCPS will of course focus its staff on the needs of the low educational attainment population. The differences that can be made in their lives based on educational success can be huge.

If DCPS won't differentiate, though, go ahead and send your kids to BASIS. It makes sense to have your kids made a natural educational progression.

Income distribution in DC isn't really a U at all.

Here are some statistics about DC, because I think your perception is a bit off.
https://www.city-data.com/income/income-Washington-District-of-Columbia.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

So they choose to attend Basis and then choose to decline efforts to stay at Basis. That it doesn’t work out for all doesn’t mean it should be denied to others.

Oh FFS. Nobody's saying it should be denied to others. I'm saying BASIS boosters are disingenuous and therefore annoying.

What is disingenuous about stating the facts? And what’s the complaint about how basis does things?

Because randomly yelling out YAY BASIS when people are trying to have an actual substantive conversation is annoying.

YAY BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

DP. The bolded is not true. Where are you even getting this info? There is a small percentage of kids who must retest in order to get promoted, but nearly all of them retake the test and do the required work over the summer. It's fine if you dislike BASIS but at least get the fact straight.

+1. I know several people who studied and retook the tests over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

Right, they're turned away when they fail the comps. Way better.

No they aren’t- they are welcome to retest over summer or repeat the grade.

Technically that's the rule, but many people don't actually do it and you know it.

This kind of disingenuousness is why people hate BASIS boosters.

So they choose to attend Basis and then choose to decline efforts to stay at Basis. That it doesn’t work out for all doesn’t mean it should be denied to others.

Oh FFS. Nobody's saying it should be denied to others. I'm saying BASIS boosters are disingenuous and therefore annoying.

What is disingenuous about stating the facts? And what’s the complaint about how basis does things?

Because randomly yelling out YAY BASIS when people are trying to have an actual substantive conversation is annoying.

YAY BASIS

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not that simple, OP. In our experience, BASIS doesn't offer rigor as much as punishment. The building stinks. Too many of the MS students can't handle the curriculum so misbehave in class, a real drag for the good students. Many of the young teachers use the school as a training ground for better paid jobs in the burbs. The electives and high school ECs aren't attractive. Not only aren't kids who don't excel at math not celebrated, they're treated as though there's something's wrong with them. The curriculum encourages kids who come in with language skills to lose them. Push back against any of this for your tax dollars and you're a pest who didn't do their homework about BASIS. When you leave, you wish you'd done so earlier.

Bitter?

You sound like a piece of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think DC public schools should do anything in regards to privileged UMC types. Basis is just ridiculous in concept (and should not exist), but so is the idea of “differentiation” at any other school, which is just segregation by another name. OP is clearly a segregationist, but no worse than the rest of you who can’t stand to see your kids educated next to the poors. Shameful.

If you want public schools to work, then you need to attract the UMC not turn them off. That means we need options for parents that want both academic rigor and don’t mind sharing space with poors.

It would also help if we applied sales tax to private school tuition and better funded schools.

There is no such thing as a poorly funded school in Washington DC.

Just bring back tracking. Neighborhood schools should be able to accommodate kids who want to go to Harvard and kids who want to be plumbers.

Probably a lot of BASIS kids would stay at their local schools if they offered an honors track.

Ironically, Basis doesn’t track. Gives all access to advanced material. The equity folks should love it but still complain.

BASIS *is* the track. Instead of tracking within schools, we have tracking by schools. High performing kids self select themselves out of their neighborhood schools and go to BASIS.

Yes - but no one is turned away on the front end.

So kids that do want the rigor and don't lotto well are SOL. On the other hand, kids that Lotto well, but can't handle the rigor get pushed out when they fail. The worst of both worlds. There should obviously be an admissions process.

The school does try very hard to let prospective parents know exactly what to expect and who would thrive there, so that some self-selection occurs.

The problem is that there are so many DCPS middle schools that are not adequate for moderately advanced kids, that parents are desperate for an option and go with BASIS even when it's not quite appropriate.

Untrue.

What would be your list?

All three of the Eastern feeders would be on my list of schools where “moderately advanced kids” can be challenged. Just because there isn’t an overwhelming majority of UMC families selecting a school, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t provide rigor and differentiation. At the open house I attended, the principal and AP made it very clear they were focused on kids who needed extra support as well as kids who are ahead of grade level and need extra challenge. They put kids in cohorts based on CAPE scores, i-Ready data, placement tests, teacher feedback, etc. And they offer algebra and geometry for kids who are ready for it. And in talking to parents of high-achieving kids who attend those schools, this is consistent with their experiences.

This sounds like the Title I elementary my kids attend. Strong principals and good teachers abound in DCPS. In an ideal world parents would look at that when deciding where to send kids, but of course one look at the waitlist tells you what people want--to be near students that are already doing well--that is what makes a "good" school.

I’ll take great teachers and excellent admins over any other type of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS DC only draws so much controversy because the broader middle school landscape in DC—especially for academically advanced or middle-class families—is so limited.

If there were more truly rigorous, well-run, publicly accessible middle schools—BASIS wouldn’t be such a lightning rod. It would just be one option among many. But in the current ecosystem, it becomes symbolic—and that’s what fuels the friction.

⸻

Why BASIS Bears the Weight of the System’s Gaps

1. Because Latin, Deal, and BASIS Are the Only Widely Accepted Middle School “Launchpads”
• Deal is only accessible to families in the Wilson High School boundary zone—or by lottery (and it’s already massive)
• Latin is lottery-based and selective in tone, if not in admissions
• BASIS offers open lottery access and high rigor—but is often cast as “elitist” or “out of step” with the rest of the charter sector

If there were five more schools offering algebra in 5th or 6th, science labs, and strong writing instruction, BASIS wouldn’t stand out. But as it is, it becomes both an opportunity and a target.

⸻

2. Because Some Families Feel Trapped Between Too Easy and Too Intense
• Many schools “meet students where they are”—but don’t challenge those who are ahead
• BASIS doesn’t differentiate internally—it accelerates everyone
• Families who want some challenge but not full-throttle rigor often feel like they’re left with nothing that fits

That frustration gets aimed at BASIS—but the real problem is lack of middle-tier academically ambitious options.

⸻

3. Because System-Level Policy Doesn’t Incentivize True Academic Differentiation
• Most DCPS and charter middle schools are built around grade-level pacing
• “Acceleration” often means offering Algebra I in 8th—not 6th
• There’s little structural room for schools that push rigor without being framed as inequitable

So BASIS becomes the exception—and in a system built for uniformity, exceptions get judged, not studied.

⸻

BASIS Is Filling a Gap That Shouldn’t Exist

BASIS is not perfect or universally suited, but

“It shouldn’t be so controversial for a public school to offer academic depth, early acceleration, and high standards—because that shouldn’t be rare.”

And if DC offered a richer ecosystem of rigorous public middle schools?
BASIS could just be BASIS. Not a symbol. Not a battleground.

True enough.

According to USN&W, 11 of the top 100 public high schools in the United States are BASIS charter schools.

Yet you don't hear the same kind of vitriol and hate about the BASIS network from parents in, say, Phoenix, as you do from the DCUM public schools crowd.

Nailed it.

[Anonymous]

Biggest gap it fills is the empty wallets of the investors in Phoenix.