If not Basis or Latin, where?

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen any numbers but likewise don't think BASIS is either majority AA or majority white, probably 40-some percent of each, and the remainder asian, latino et cetera.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't seen any numbers but likewise don't think BASIS is either majority AA or majority white, probably 40-some percent of each, and the remainder asian, latino et cetera.

We'll probably have to wait for actual numbers until BASIS reports its DC CAS results to the PCSB.

[Anonymous]

I have to chime in here. How can this be anything other than baloney? This is Washington Latin's 2nd - 2nd folks! - graduating class and they have kids accepted to Bowdoin, Brown and Cornell along with someone with a full free ride to GW. Cleary these prestigious schools don't think the program lacks rigor. But in addition to rigor I want the nurturing environment that previous posters have mentioned and Latin has it in spades. I'm a sappy person, I admit, but the communication I receive from the school frequently brings tears to my eyes b/c it is so thoughtful and caring. As far as I can tell, decisions by school leaders are made with great integrity and it is that integrity they are hoping their students learn. This is more importiant to me than offering my DC math classes 5 levels above grade.

Wish it were baloney. Plenty of upper-middle-class parents won't go with a majority AA HS regardless. There are social/cultural reasons for this, with high-SES AA parents leading the silent charge. To you, great academics are all that matters, to others, a majority AA high school doesn't appeal, period.

[Anonymous]

Why can't we have a single well-equipped, "normal" high school, or school-within-a-school program with sky high standards, virtually guaranteeing that the student population would be majority white in the short and medium-term. BASIS will never fit the bill - it doesn't aspire to serve many kids.

OK, great, the odd Latin kid now breaks into an Ivy League school. Congratulations all around. This doesn't change the fact that more kids are admitted to any one elite college, be it MIT or Harvard or Stanford, from TJ or a Blair test-in magnet program every year than ALL DCPS AND DCPC. All we're asking for is one high school program on a par with the best in the burbs. I like how hard Latin and BASIS try, but they're never going to offer TJ academics because they don't have the inputs - money, kids, teachers, facilities, test-in option, or ES and MS GT programs to build on.

[Anonymous]

5:05, sounds like you are suggesting TJ and Blair are "par for the course" for suburban schools, but I think that comes loaded with a few false presuppositions. First, I don't think TJ and Blair magnets are on a par with each other, and frankly there aren't many schools in the nation (whether wealthy and surburban or otherwise) that are on par with TJ. TJ stands on its own in many ways - but then again TJ has its own set of goals and ideals, which might not meet the needs of every bright and talented student either. Just as BASIS has its own set of core focus areas.

You also suggested that BASIS won't be sending anything other than "the odd kid" to an Ivy, however that prediction is at this point pure unfounded opinion at best, given they are a.) only in their first year, b.) are still just a middle school and c.) are at a bare minimum 4+ years out from even graduating anyone from high school. But, if you want to see what their track record is likely to be, here's a list: https://www.basisschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=409 - you will note not just the Ivies like Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, but also the top science and technology universities like MIT, Caltech, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon. Not everyone cares about the social elitism of Ivies and in many technical areas, Ivies are eclipsed by other universities. Yes, in a few years BASIS DC will be sending kids to Ivies, but Ivy admission is not necessarily the most relevant metric to many future-minded families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Ivy admission is not necessarily the most relevant metric to many future-minded families.

5:05's metric is that the student population be majority white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Ivy admission is not necessarily the most relevant metric to many future-minded families.

5:05's metric is that the student population be majority white.

Yes, I agree. I don't know why she is rooting for TJ, it is not majority white.

[Anonymous]

because Asian = model minority

[Anonymous]

Each of the 8 NYC magnets, Bronx Science, Stuyvesant etc. is majority Asian in a city that's around 9% Asian.

Asians need SAT scores roughly 100 points higher than whites, and 200 points higher than AAs, to be admitted to the same undergraduate programs.

We won't send our kids to Latin or BASIS from NE because we don't want them to be among the only Asian kids with Asian parents (vs. adopted by whites) left in 12th grade. That was our situation as Korean immigrant kids and it sucked. Better to move to West MoCo where at least 25% of the regular MS and HS program kids are Asian, and half the magnet kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You also suggested that BASIS won't be sending anything other than "the odd kid" to an Ivy, however that prediction is at this point pure unfounded opinion at best, given they are a.) only in their first year, b.) are still just a middle school and c.) are at a bare minimum 4+ years out from even graduating anyone from high school. But, if you want to see what their track record is likely to be, here's a list: https://www.basisschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=409 - you will note not just the Ivies like Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, but also the top science and technology universities like MIT, Caltech, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon. Not everyone cares about the social elitism of Ivies and in many technical areas, Ivies are eclipsed by other universities. Yes, in a few years BASIS DC will be sending kids to Ivies, but Ivy admission is not necessarily the most relevant metric to many future-minded families.

If Ivy admission happens to be most relevant metric for your white or Asian upper-middle-class family, without the mulla for privates in the mix, MoCo, Fairfax. Most kids who get into Ivies from DCPS and now DCPC are low-SES, benefitting from afirmative action admissions (and so they should). Social elitism of Ivies? Right, tell that to my father, the dairy farmer. Go for it, turn down Harvard, Yale and Princeton for MIT or Caltech this time of year once your BASIS kid has reached 12th grade. I've Skype interviewed half a dozen BASIS Tuscon kids in recent years, none admitted, none wait-listed, weak extra curriculars, no national science competition entries, pleasant but boring group cramming for APs night and day. Buyer beware.

[Anonymous]

^^I feel sorry for those kids who were interviewed by her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You also suggested that BASIS won't be sending anything other than "the odd kid" to an Ivy, however that prediction is at this point pure unfounded opinion at best, given they are a.) only in their first year, b.) are still just a middle school and c.) are at a bare minimum 4+ years out from even graduating anyone from high school. But, if you want to see what their track record is likely to be, here's a list: https://www.basisschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=409 - you will note not just the Ivies like Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, but also the top science and technology universities like MIT, Caltech, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon. Not everyone cares about the social elitism of Ivies and in many technical areas, Ivies are eclipsed by other universities. Yes, in a few years BASIS DC will be sending kids to Ivies, but Ivy admission is not necessarily the most relevant metric to many future-minded families.

If Ivy admission happens to be most relevant metric for your white or Asian upper-middle-class family, without the mulla for privates in the mix, MoCo, Fairfax. Most kids who get into Ivies from DCPS and now DCPC are low-SES, benefitting from afirmative action admissions (and so they should). Social elitism of Ivies? Right, tell that to my father, the dairy farmer. Go for it, turn down Harvard, Yale and Princeton for MIT or Caltech this time of year once your BASIS kid has reached 12th grade. I've Skype interviewed half a dozen BASIS Tuscon kids in recent years, none admitted, none wait-listed, weak extra curriculars, no national science competition entries, pleasant but boring group cramming for APs night and day. Buyer beware.

Which school did you conduct interviews for, PP? Was it one of the schools on these lists? https://www.basisschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=409

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. However, since it is based on interviewing only about 6 kids from BASIS Tucson, it's not particularly compelling. Perhaps the better qualified BASIS Tucson students did not apply to your school. Perhaps the better qualified BASIS Tucson students who did apply to your school were interviewed by another interviewer. It sounds like you are cherry picking.

An open enrollment college prep charter school like BASIS should be judged by the colleges its top graduates attend, not by the colleges attended by its so-so graduates. After all, unlike private schools and test-in public schools like TJ, BASIS can't select the most qualified students from its applicant pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You also suggested that BASIS won't be sending anything other than "the odd kid" to an Ivy, however that prediction is at this point pure unfounded opinion at best, given they are a.) only in their first year, b.) are still just a middle school and c.) are at a bare minimum 4+ years out from even graduating anyone from high school. But, if you want to see what their track record is likely to be, here's a list: https://www.basisschools.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=409 - you will note not just the Ivies like Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, but also the top science and technology universities like MIT, Caltech, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon. Not everyone cares about the social elitism of Ivies and in many technical areas, Ivies are eclipsed by other universities. Yes, in a few years BASIS DC will be sending kids to Ivies, but Ivy admission is not necessarily the most relevant metric to many future-minded families.

If Ivy admission happens to be most relevant metric for your white or Asian upper-middle-class family, without the mulla for privates in the mix, MoCo, Fairfax. Most kids who get into Ivies from DCPS and now DCPC are low-SES, benefitting from afirmative action admissions (and so they should). Social elitism of Ivies? Right, tell that to my father, the dairy farmer. Go for it, turn down Harvard, Yale and Princeton for MIT or Caltech this time of year once your BASIS kid has reached 12th grade. I've Skype interviewed half a dozen BASIS Tuscon kids in recent years, none admitted, none wait-listed, weak extra curriculars, no national science competition entries, pleasant but boring group cramming for APs night and day. Buyer beware.

You've been on here bashing AZ BASIS grads before. I am curious -- what local high school grads were you impressed by?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Each of the 8 NYC magnets, Bronx Science, Stuyvesant etc. is majority Asian in a city that's around 9% Asian.

Asians need SAT scores roughly 100 points higher than whites, and 200 points higher than AAs, to be admitted to the same undergraduate programs.

We won't send our kids to Latin or BASIS from NE because we don't want them to be among the only Asian kids with Asian parents (vs. adopted by whites) left in 12th grade. That was our situation as Korean immigrant kids and it sucked. Better to move to West MoCo where at least 25% of the regular MS and HS program kids are Asian, and half the magnet kids.

Well, you're too late in suggesting Asian families won't send their kids to BASIS because several Asian families already do (and no, not just Asians that were adopted by whites). And, they're doing just fine there ;^)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If Ivy admission happens to be most relevant metric for your white or Asian upper-middle-class family, without the mulla for privates in the mix, MoCo, Fairfax. Most kids who get into Ivies from DCPS and now DCPC are low-SES, benefitting from afirmative action admissions (and so they should). Social elitism of Ivies? Right, tell that to my father, the dairy farmer. Go for it, turn down Harvard, Yale and Princeton for MIT or Caltech this time of year once your BASIS kid has reached 12th grade. I've Skype interviewed half a dozen BASIS Tuscon kids in recent years, none admitted, none wait-listed, weak extra curriculars, no national science competition entries, pleasant but boring group cramming for APs night and day. Buyer beware.

You've been on here bashing AZ BASIS grads before. I am curious -- what local high school grads were you impressed by?

Over the years, I've interviewed kids from Wilson, SWW, Dunbar, Banneker, TJ, the Blair magnets, as well as Gonzaga, St. Anselm's and a dozen non-sectarian privates. I also phone interview kids in areas of the country without enough alums on the ground to provide full coverage, e.g. Hawaii, Idaho, Arizona.

TJ and Blair kids are my out and out favorites, around one-third get in (vs. maybe one in a dozen from Wilson and SWW) and they're almost always fun to talk to. The parochial boys in NE are generally a pleasure to meet as well. Gonzaga makes the boys work in a soup kitchen and do service projects on school breaks, which pays off. The Jesuits don't mess around and the kids are obviously encouraged to think for themselves. I've given up on St. Albans and Georgetown Prep and most of the other NW cocoons.

Sure, half a dozen BASIS Tuscon kids is hardly a representative sample, but all were in the top 10% (or so they claimed) and none seemed to have much to say. My expectations were clearly too high, after all the DC hype. One question I answer for the school is "Did you enjoy talking to this applicant?" With the BASIS kids, honestly, not much. I'll offer to try again over the winter. If I were a harsh or indifferent interviewer, I'd be surprised if my Ivy would ask me to interview as many as a dozen kids an application season.