Why are kids dropping out of BASIS DC starting in 7/8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that the new HOS is a graduate of the Univ of Phoenix. Sounds like he has no East Coast or urban experience as a student, teacher or administrator. He can't be much more than 30 and has taught Latin and classics. Maybe he'll prove a rock star in DC, helping get one student after another get to MIT, Ivies and other elite colleges, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

wait, are you joking?

Look at his Linked In profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that the new HOS is a graduate of the Univ of Phoenix. Sounds like he has no East Coast or urban experience as a student, teacher or administrator. He can't be much more than 30 and has taught Latin and classics. Maybe he'll prove a rock star in DC, helping get one student after another get to MIT, Ivies and other elite colleges, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

wait, are you joking?[/]

He did undergrad at Allegheny College, got a masters in Ed at Arizona State and a second masters online in educational leadership. By my count 8 years of work experience including last 2 in administration.

Thanks, this sounds better

[Anonymous]

Yes, little Alegheny College in PA and a classicist by training. Oh great. This is the guy who's going ot make sure BASIS DC kids get to MIT, Princeton, Cal Tech, Cornell Engineering etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, little Alegheny College in PA and a classicist by training. Oh great. This is the guy who's going ot make sure BASIS DC kids get to MIT, Princeton, Cal Tech, Cornell Engineering etc.

The Head of School does not need to have matriculated from a science powerhouse in order to lead the school in a way that students so be able to go to a science powerhouse. Please tell us what kind of background you would prefer the HOS to have. I would like to have someone well rounded, with actual administrative and BASIS experience, since we've seen how it works out when they don't.

[Anonymous]

Also don't forget that they have multiple science PhD's teaching the actual science classes for the students. I'm not sure it is important for the admin to have that type of science background. That said I am concerned with him having only 2 years of admin experience but am hopeful for the new year.

[Anonymous]

This is the guy who's going ot make sure BASIS DC kids get to MIT, Princeton, Cal Tech, Cornell Engineering etc.

No it is the teachers who are going to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by the lack of extra curriculars? We have friends at BASIS and their kid does fencing at BASIS. I under stem they have other extra curricular stuff at school too. kid is also in soccer and ice skating. Could certainly be in Scouts too, though isn't.

I think the rest of your points are very valid though. I used to do admissions interviews for my selective liberal arts college. They do not offer college credit for a 3 on the AP!

BASIS does have a ton of extracurricular activities. And, if they aren't totally fleshed out, I think we need to remember that it's a brand new school that, until this coming school year, only went up to 10th grade. But whatever. In addition to BASIS activiites, my kids and their friends participate in Scouts (quite a few kids we know have the goal of being an Eagle Scout or earning their GS Gold Award), travel soccer, DC Youth Orchestra, ballet, horseback riding, competitive swimming, etc. We ive in a city with such a wealth of opportunities for interesting activities for kids, there is no shortage of programs or activities for kids in which to find their niche and excel.

[Anonymous]

Yea, but you have to get the kids to the activities outside of school, and pay for them, hardly ideal. We haven't found a wealth of college application worthy extra-curriculars at BASIS.

As for the new HOS, his profile sounds too much like the last couple for comfort. These young Arizona admins come in on a steep learning curve because they don't know DC schools politics, aren't used to educating the struggling products of weak DCPS schooling (especially SN kids), aren't accostomed to the school's unusual demographics, and don't know the brutal Metro area college application pool. They also don't have the budget to hire older, experienced teachers, admins or a college counselor. So they stumble and get replaced. Good luck to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea, but you have to get the kids to the activities outside of school, and pay for them, hardly ideal. We haven't found a wealth of college application worthy extra-curriculars at BASIS.

As for the new HOS, his profile sounds too much like the last couple for comfort. These young Arizona admins come in on a steep learning curve because they don't know DC schools politics, aren't used to educating the struggling products of weak DCPS schooling (especially SN kids), aren't accostomed to the school's unusual demographics, and don't know the brutal Metro area college application pool. They also don't have the budget to hire older, experienced teachers, admins or a college counselor. So they stumble and get replaced. Good luck to him.

Please tell us what "college-application-worthy-extracurriculars" are. I think I'm leading DS astray.

[Anonymous]

Suggestion: go take the Thomas Jefferson HS tour to get your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suggestion: go take the Thomas Jefferson HS tour to get your answer.

That's ridiculous. Just because TJ offers extracurriculars, it doesn't mean that they are all college application worthy, nor does it mean that your child would want to be involved.

You are trying to compare a 3-year-old DC charter to a long-established test-in school funded by state and local money?

[Anonymous]

re: extra curriculars at BASIS, the Certamen team is second to none (latin competition) and in DC most kids at competitive levels participate outside of school in extracurriculars/ sports

[Anonymous]

BASIS DC also did very well in the Science Bowl last year. Their debate team is nothing to scoff at as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also don't forget that they have multiple science PhD's teaching the actual science classes for the students. I'm not sure it is important for the admin to have that type of science background. That said I am concerned with him having only 2 years of admin experience but am hopeful for the new year.

I think its weird that he spent money on a degree from Phoenix. that just shows poor judgement and inability to get that Masters elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also don't forget that they have multiple science PhD's teaching the actual science classes for the students. I'm not sure it is important for the admin to have that type of science background. That said I am concerned with him having only 2 years of admin experience but am hopeful for the new year.

I think its weird that he spent money on a degree from Phoenix. that just shows poor judgement and inability to get that Masters elsewhere.

You really got a hair across your ass, don't ya?