BASIS students, what school were they in last year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you really arguing that 4th and 5th graders in DCPS are actually just fine and the DC CAS is at fault for making it appear as if their are abysmal rates of students performing on grade level? You are perfectly happy with the level of teaching and learning in most upper elementary dcps classrooms?

different poster here. From what I see and hear, the problem is "teaching to the test" - i.e. lessons are overly aligned with the DC-CAS.

A competent teacher who is forced to teach limited content will not be as effective as she could be otherwise. and a less competent teacher can look pretty good at the end of the year if successful in getting her kids to bubble in the correct answers.

If that's truly the case, then that makes the DCPS CAS results even more of a dismal failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anyway, this is besides the point of this thread but makes me wonder if there are some following Basis threads (maybe from private schools?) who's only aim is to discredit what the rest of is is getting for a lot less. Fortunately or hopefully, there are enough well educate parents in DCPS and DC charters at this point who can see through the brainwash.

I agree, PP. There appears to be an aggressive anti-BASIS FUD campaign being mounted on DCUM, and I often wonder who would derive such benefit from the failure of BASIS DC that they would spend time writing these posts.

[Anonymous]

Yup, a high quality, rigorous publically funded school in DC seems to upset some deep seated prejudices about what public schooling should look like ( versus private ). It seems to threaten both people who feel they have the necessity to pay a lot of money for a decent education and those who seem to have a wierd, paternalistic, co dependent need to have public schools be kind of crappy or "good enough" at best. Or else, that is just how it ever was and to think otherwise is heresy. I wouldn't be AT ALL surprised if the majority of people who are so skeptical/ down on Basis actually have their own kids in a private high school or else a selective one. And they purport to be worried about those "left behind" by schools like basis.

Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need.

This push back on even the IDEA of a school like basis as a public school really highlights the more cultural/psychological barriers to widespread improvements in the American school system.

[Anonymous]

"Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need. "

Kind of like miracle charter school Washington Latin that serves only 10% low income kids?

FYI, the non stop braying of BASIS boosters is tiring and opens the school up to more criticism.

Why not shut up for awhile and let things die down? Yu Ying is due for another nasty thread in a day or two. Let them take the hits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obama's girls attended private schools in Chicago when he was not the president and presumably not under threat.
I don't give a damn where his spoiled girls go to school. I do mind when he forbids poorer families to attend Sidwell (or other private schools) by taking away the vouchers/fellowship program in place and has the gall to make it sound like this decision is for the well-being of all.

Agree 100%! Obama is a hypocrite on this issue. If education is so important, other families should have the same choice and flexibility the Obamas enjoy. Well, unless Obama is just another rich guy who thinks his family deserves special treatment. Oh, but that can't be true, right, because the media tells us that he is "one of us" and "understands the needs of the middle class." B.S.

No one is stopping your child from taking the requisite test to enter Sidwell. Let your DC test, apply and interview for a seat in the next Sidwell class. Then pony up the $30,000.

F--- You. As an AA mother who could NEVER "pony up" the $30k to send my DS to Sidwell, your comments are out-of-touch and offensive. My president speaks beautifully about how ALL kids should have access to a great education (just as his own kids do). But what I see is a mentality that is as obnoxious as your own: pay if you can, suffer in bad schools if you can't. "Pay $30K" is not a plan for real families. I expected more from the prez. I've learned not to expect anything from the entitled posters of DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need. "

Kind of like miracle charter school Washington Latin that serves only 10% low income kids?

FYI, the non stop braying of BASIS boosters is tiring and opens the school up to more criticism.

Why not shut up for awhile and let things die down? Yu Ying is due for another nasty thread in a day or two. Let them take the hits.

First of all, check your numbers on Washington Latins high school. Second, I am not a Basis booster. I simply care about education in DC and am disgusted with the status quo and third: where does your kid go to middle/ high school? My bet: inboundary for Deal, private, or selective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need. "

Kind of like miracle charter school Washington Latin that serves only 10% low income kids?

FYI, the non stop braying of BASIS boosters is tiring and opens the school up to more criticism.

Why not shut up for awhile and let things die down? Yu Ying is due for another nasty thread in a day or two. Let them take the hits.

First of all, check your numbers on Washington Latins high school. Second, I am not a Basis booster. I simply care about education in DC and am disgusted with the status quo and third: where does your kid go to middle/ high school? My bet: inboundary for Deal, private, or selective.

you sure sound like A BASIS booster. Agree with PP regarding the non-stop braying....

Maybe it's just one or two people doing that and the rest are folks who simply like BASIS, but the brayers are obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Obama's girls attended private schools in Chicago when he was not the president and presumably not under threat.
I don't give a damn where his spoiled girls go to school. I do mind when he forbids poorer families to attend Sidwell (or other private schools) by taking away the vouchers/fellowship program in place and has the gall to make it sound like this decision is for the well-being of all.

What the hell is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need. "

Kind of like miracle charter school Washington Latin that serves only 10% low income kids?

FYI, the non stop braying of BASIS boosters is tiring and opens the school up to more criticism.

Why not shut up for awhile and let things die down? Yu Ying is due for another nasty thread in a day or two. Let them take the hits.

First of all, check your numbers on Washington Latins high school. Second, I am not a Basis booster. I simply care about education in DC and am disgusted with the status quo and third: where does your kid go to middle/ high school? My bet: inboundary for Deal, private, or selective.

you sure sound like A BASIS booster. Agree with PP regarding the non-stop braying....

Maybe it's just one or two people doing that and the rest are folks who simply like BASIS, but the brayers are obnoxious.

My guess is that you and others are having trouble distinguishing between "booster" and "open minded"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Let me assure them, that BASIS is the best hope for the kids left behind by those going private or to selective schools. I leave it to them to argue that Eastern or Ballou or Wilson are actually what those kids need. "

Kind of like miracle charter school Washington Latin that serves only 10% low income kids?

FYI, the non stop braying of BASIS boosters is tiring and opens the school up to more criticism.

Why not shut up for awhile and let things die down? Yu Ying is due for another nasty thread in a day or two. Let them take the hits.

We are you getting your figures, PP?

Washingotn Latin's 2010-2011 annual report shows 14% FARM kids in the upper school and a whopping 33% in the middle school.

Other statistics of interest: 49% of the kids in upper school are AA; 67% of the kids in the middle school are. 4.6% of the kids in the upper school are special ed; 5.0% in the middle school are. The upper school re-enrollment rate is 77%, the middle school re-enrollment rate is 88%

http://www.dcpubliccharter.com/data/images/2010-2011_annual%20report_washington%20latin.pdf

If you want failing charter school to serve as an example of where BASIS DC might be headed, PP, you'd better find another one. In my opinion, Washington Latin is a success.

[Anonymous]

New poster here. I think basis has become a lightning rod for a lot of parental anxieties about kids' education. Many of us on both sides of the fence feel defensive. Perhaps because the stakes feel high and maybe some of us aren't sure we've made the right choice. It's also at the far end of the spectrum in terms of intensity whereas some dcps schools are at the other end. Not enough of the middle ground that many of us would like. We chose not to go with basis for several reasons but hope it works out well for our friends' kids. Very happy with our choice. Hope others are too.

[Anonymous]

Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice try PP. I get my data from OSSE:

OSSE reports that for Latin's lower school, 19 (of 340 students) are on a free
or reduced lunch.

OSEE reports that for Latin's upper school, 5 (of 52) students are on a free or
reduced price lunch.

If your numbers are correct, then Latin is purposely not testing low income kids. If that's the case, they should be investigated.

I stand by my statement, Latin serves very few low income students.

Why don't more lower income families choose Latin for their kids?

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt assume OSSE numbers are accurate. They rely on those Free and Reduced lunch forms that many families may not fill out. Could be misleading. I don't argue that overall, a lower percentage of kids at Latin are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds than at an average dcps. But I think those numbers you cite are too low.

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill Day School