Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

If you spend any time around families who send their kids to BASIS, statistically most will have bad experiences, and it sucks to see friends' kids go through that and know that it's happening because some a-hole in Phoenix wanted more money.

[Anonymous]

It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

Honestly, I know two different families whose kids (three in total) didn't make it through (one did) and they were so hurt by the whole thing... they went in as happy, curious pro-school kids, and came out anxious and hating school. For the kids who work, it works and they're happy, but statistically it doesn't work for most kids... and for taxpayer dollars to go and support that kind of record, just to line the pockets of investors... yeah it really pisses me off.

Does DCPS have problems? yeah! big time! is Basis the answer? only for a small number of those who try it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

Honestly, I know two different families whose kids (three in total) didn't make it through (one did) and they were so hurt by the whole thing... they went in as happy, curious pro-school kids, and came out anxious and hating school. For the kids who work, it works and they're happy, but statistically it doesn't work for most kids... and for taxpayer dollars to go and support that kind of record, just to line the pockets of investors... yeah it really pisses me off.

Does DCPS have problems? yeah! big time! is Basis the answer? only for a small number of those who try it!

Look at the test scores. BASIS *trounces* almost every non-private school in the city. You should be pissed off at these schools that churn out graduates who can't even read.

https://www.empowerk12.org/public-dashboards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

Honestly, I know two different families whose kids (three in total) didn't make it through (one did) and they were so hurt by the whole thing... they went in as happy, curious pro-school kids, and came out anxious and hating school. For the kids who work, it works and they're happy, but statistically it doesn't work for most kids... and for taxpayer dollars to go and support that kind of record, just to line the pockets of investors... yeah it really pisses me off.

Does DCPS have problems? yeah! big time! is Basis the answer? only for a small number of those who try it!

No one is saying BASIS is the answer to the dumpster fire that is DCPS. And I'm not sure it's accurate to say that statistically it "doesn't work" for most kids. It's a small school but the numbers don't change until high school. If it really didn't work for most kids, you'd see a far bigger drop after 5th-7th grade. But the fact remains that families in this area have a lot of choices when it comes to high school, and there could be a lot of reasons to choose a different high school. Sometimes it's just a matter of preference rather than a situation that needs escaping as you seem to imply.

And you seem to be basing your opinion on other families that you know rather than actual firsthand experience with the school. Which sort of proves my point about the people who complain about BASIS!

I never understand the taxpayer complaint. Your tax dollars do not line investors' pockets. BASIS's budget makes that clear. Also, your taxes are going to (many) failing schools! THAT should piss you off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

These threads also always include someone busting out the following as proof of BASIS superiority:
-- math PARCC scores, though it's been pointed out many times that BASIS, unlike every other school in DC, has students take tests based on what grade they're in rather than based on the most recent course completed
-- some random link to national rankings with a questionable methodology

As an outsider, I find the BASIS boosters and bashers equally obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

OP is trying to boost Basis because the fact is that Basis loses a ton of their high performing kids after 8th grade.

It’s no secret that they have a very high attrition rate from middle to high school which says that many families are not happy there and moving on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

Honestly, I know two different families whose kids (three in total) didn't make it through (one did) and they were so hurt by the whole thing... they went in as happy, curious pro-school kids, and came out anxious and hating school. For the kids who work, it works and they're happy, but statistically it doesn't work for most kids... and for taxpayer dollars to go and support that kind of record, just to line the pockets of investors... yeah it really pisses me off.

Does DCPS have problems? yeah! big time! is Basis the answer? only for a small number of those who try it!

Look at the test scores. BASIS *trounces* almost every non-private school in the city. You should be pissed off at these schools that churn out graduates who can't even read.

https://www.empowerk12.org/public-dashboards

Look at the number of kids who go into basis and look how many graduate! That fraction of kids who makes it through the whole school would almost certainly be high scoring at any high school.

I don’t like low scores anywhere but siphoning tax dollars into a for profit system that fails the vast majority of students isn’t the solution.

I’m not anti charter school - pitch me some good non dcps ideas and I’ll bite. Basis ain’t it tho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

Honestly, I know two different families whose kids (three in total) didn't make it through (one did) and they were so hurt by the whole thing... they went in as happy, curious pro-school kids, and came out anxious and hating school. For the kids who work, it works and they're happy, but statistically it doesn't work for most kids... and for taxpayer dollars to go and support that kind of record, just to line the pockets of investors... yeah it really pisses me off.

Does DCPS have problems? yeah! big time! is Basis the answer? only for a small number of those who try it!

No one is saying BASIS is the answer to the dumpster fire that is DCPS. And I'm not sure it's accurate to say that statistically it "doesn't work" for most kids. It's a small school but the numbers don't change until high school. If it really didn't work for most kids, you'd see a far bigger drop after 5th-7th grade. But the fact remains that families in this area have a lot of choices when it comes to high school, and there could be a lot of reasons to choose a different high school. Sometimes it's just a matter of preference rather than a situation that needs escaping as you seem to imply.

And you seem to be basing your opinion on other families that you know rather than actual firsthand experience with the school. Which sort of proves my point about the people who complain about BASIS!

I never understand the taxpayer complaint. Your tax dollars do not line investors' pockets. BASIS's budget makes that clear. Also, your taxes are going to (many) failing schools! THAT should piss you off.

My first hand experience is listening to multiple good friends and one neighbor whose kids went through the ringer and washed out, demoralized and hating school because basis is a sweatshop for test scores so investors in phoenix can buy new cars. Also, despite the for profit structure, it IS a city funded school, so it’s very much my prerogative to be concerned even if my own children weren’t broken by the school.

The budget makes it abundantly clear that it’s a for profit - they pay management fees and they rent the premises and that money doesn’t go back into the education, it goes to investors.

Two things can be true at once - a system that is built around rewarding investors is not a good educational plan AND DCPS wastes taxpayer money. In fact, its dcps’ waste that makes me so mad we’re flushing more money down the toilet on basis and pretending it’s progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

LOL! THIS is hilarious. You don’t seem to realize that this thread was purposely started by OP who is dumping on all schools except Basis as if it’s the be all and end all for any high performing kid.

So yea, pot calling kettle much.

I don’t have any skin in this game. But I looked at Basis for my high performing kid and it was a hard no. Too many negatives weighing the positives. And there are many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

Honestly, I know two different families whose kids (three in total) didn't make it through (one did) and they were so hurt by the whole thing... they went in as happy, curious pro-school kids, and came out anxious and hating school. For the kids who work, it works and they're happy, but statistically it doesn't work for most kids... and for taxpayer dollars to go and support that kind of record, just to line the pockets of investors... yeah it really pisses me off.

Does DCPS have problems? yeah! big time! is Basis the answer? only for a small number of those who try it!

Look at the test scores. BASIS *trounces* almost every non-private school in the city. You should be pissed off at these schools that churn out graduates who can't even read.

https://www.empowerk12.org/public-dashboards

BASIS starts at 5th. If BASIS kids read better than other MS/HS kids in the city, that is because they come in reading better.

Which is actually an important thing to understand, because the failures at many of the city's MS and HSs is happening way before the kids get there. And as someone with a kid at a Title 1 elementary, I can tell you that the problem starts at home. DC has a ton of kids who have no real opportunity to achieve at a BASIS level because they do not have the kind of support at home (and many have parents who don't read above an elementary school level either).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

LOL! THIS is hilarious. You don’t seem to realize that this thread was purposely started by OP who is dumping on all schools except Basis as if it’s the be all and end all for any high performing kid.

So yea, pot calling kettle much.

I don’t have any skin in this game. But I looked at Basis for my high performing kid and it was a hard no. Too many negatives weighing the positives. And there are many.

Ok. And I'm someone who spends a lot of time on this thread and was almost discouraged from trying BASIS for my kid by posters like you (maybe literally by you), until lottery time came and thank goodness I talked to real families, real BASIS teachers and spent time there with my husband and realized it was an excellent fit for our child (99th percentile PARCCs with a very good memory). It's not stressful for him, but it's appropriately challenging and I can see him getting smarter. It's also one of the only schools that is very low tech.

Now that we are there, I can't believe I almost didn't take this opportunity because of "secondhand information" people like you. There is no other middle school the city where he would be learning as much. Is it appropriate for every kid? Absolutely not. I can see a lot of his classmates are quite stressed. But it's filling a niche in the city for advanced kids. It just is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

LOL! THIS is hilarious. You don’t seem to realize that this thread was purposely started by OP who is dumping on all schools except Basis as if it’s the be all and end all for any high performing kid.

So yea, pot calling kettle much.

I don’t have any skin in this game. But I looked at Basis for my high performing kid and it was a hard no. Too many negatives weighing the positives. And there are many.

Ok. And I'm someone who spends a lot of time on this thread and was almost discouraged from trying BASIS for my kid by posters like you (maybe literally by you), until lottery time came and thank goodness I talked to real families, real BASIS teachers and spent time there with my husband and realized it was an excellent fit for our child (99th percentile PARCCs with a very good memory). It's not stressful for him, but it's appropriately challenging and I can see him getting smarter. It's also one of the only schools that is very low tech.

Now that we are there, I can't believe I almost didn't take this opportunity because of "secondhand information" people like you. There is no other middle school the city where he would be learning as much. Is it appropriate for every kid? Absolutely not. I can see a lot of his classmates are quite stressed. But it's filling a niche in the city for advanced kids. It just is.

It’s good for an advanced, fairly one-dimensional kid. The kid can’t care about there being strong arts, sports, clubs, a school newspaper, etc.

BASIS is only rigorous academics. The brain drain from BASIS because it manages to be only one thing is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

LOL! THIS is hilarious. You don’t seem to realize that this thread was purposely started by OP who is dumping on all schools except Basis as if it’s the be all and end all for any high performing kid.

So yea, pot calling kettle much.

I don’t have any skin in this game. But I looked at Basis for my high performing kid and it was a hard no. Too many negatives weighing the positives. And there are many.

Ok. And I'm someone who spends a lot of time on this thread and was almost discouraged from trying BASIS for my kid by posters like you (maybe literally by you), until lottery time came and thank goodness I talked to real families, real BASIS teachers and spent time there with my husband and realized it was an excellent fit for our child (99th percentile PARCCs with a very good memory). It's not stressful for him, but it's appropriately challenging and I can see him getting smarter. It's also one of the only schools that is very low tech.

Now that we are there, I can't believe I almost didn't take this opportunity because of "secondhand information" people like you. There is no other middle school the city where he would be learning as much. Is it appropriate for every kid? Absolutely not. I can see a lot of his classmates are quite stressed. But it's filling a niche in the city for advanced kids. It just is.

It’s good for an advanced, fairly one-dimensional kid. The kid can’t care about there being strong arts, sports, clubs, a school newspaper, etc.

BASIS is only rigorous academics. The brain drain from BASIS because it manages to be only one thing is real.

Ok. It also has a debate team that has won nationals, and their science Olympiad team just took the regional award and will be competing in nationals this year.

Why would you try to discourage kids from this?

It has a dimension -- academics. Yes kids, even kids who felt moderately bright, might feel very very stressed there. But you need to start questioning whether or not your view of the school accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's always so interesting how these BASIS threads go. Every thread brings out a cohort of posters who cannot stop themselves from maligning the school. Some people have legit complaints based on actual experiences and facts (and you can tell who they are) but many have no idea what they're talking about and simply accuse others of being boosters when they get called out. Of all the problems this city has with education, it's unbelievable how much energy people seem to spend dumping on this school.

LOL! THIS is hilarious. You don’t seem to realize that this thread was purposely started by OP who is dumping on all schools except Basis as if it’s the be all and end all for any high performing kid.

So yea, pot calling kettle much.

I don’t have any skin in this game. But I looked at Basis for my high performing kid and it was a hard no. Too many negatives weighing the positives. And there are many.

Ok. And I'm someone who spends a lot of time on this thread and was almost discouraged from trying BASIS for my kid by posters like you (maybe literally by you), until lottery time came and thank goodness I talked to real families, real BASIS teachers and spent time there with my husband and realized it was an excellent fit for our child (99th percentile PARCCs with a very good memory). It's not stressful for him, but it's appropriately challenging and I can see him getting smarter. It's also one of the only schools that is very low tech.

Now that we are there, I can't believe I almost didn't take this opportunity because of "secondhand information" people like you. There is no other middle school the city where he would be learning as much. Is it appropriate for every kid? Absolutely not. I can see a lot of his classmates are quite stressed. But it's filling a niche in the city for advanced kids. It just is.

It’s good for an advanced, fairly one-dimensional kid. The kid can’t care about there being strong arts, sports, clubs, a school newspaper, etc.

BASIS is only rigorous academics. The brain drain from BASIS because it manages to be only one thing is real.

Ok. It also has a debate team that has won nationals, and their science Olympiad team just took the regional award and will be competing in nationals this year.

Why would you try to discourage kids from this?

It has a dimension -- academics. Yes kids, even kids who felt moderately bright, might feel very very stressed there. But you need to start questioning whether or not your view of the school accurate.

You literally just listed more academics as proof that it’s not one dimensional. Just own it.

It is frustrating when your child loses friends and top kids in their class because they rightfully want more from school and BASIS stands in the way of it.

It’s not just that BASIS isn’t handing students what they want. It’s that they are actively standing in the way of making the school more well rounded. They do not allow a PTA to fundraise to support extracurriculars. They do not allow parents to raise money to support sports teams.

It’s great if you’re smart and all you want is academic challenge. But that’s not most kids. And the kids who are smart and care about more than that are not well served at BASIS.