October waitlist data is up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS parents tend to want to believe that the program is the cream of the crop, on a par with the best public middle schools in other big US cities. It isn't, never mind that BASIS no longer comes close to clearing its 5th grade WL. Hearing this makes some of them defensive, really defensive. It's an old story. Move on.

This BASIS parent believes BASIS is the strongest academic option for middle school in the city, if you’re not going to pay for private. Pretty sure I’m not wrong about that.

Ask yourself why you care so much what I think.

Not the PP you're responding to but I agree, strongest option in DC public for MS if you're OK with paying/hustling to supplement for outside enrichment. Not necessarily the strongest option for HS though.

We left BASIS for Walls for our eldest for better facilities and teaching (now at GW for some classes). We're hoping that our younger child will follow.

We don't care for the HoS, lack of community and narrow selection of AP subjects at BASIS. The waitlist gets longer but the experience doesn't really improve.

Walls: I wonder whether that will even be an option for current BASIS 5th graders, given how its application/selection process is getting torn up like Elon Musk's Twitter.

Lack of community: that's surprising to me, and doesn't match our experience so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is extremely honest about the rigor there. There is no hiding the ball. Parents should know what they are getting their kids into. I can see how parents might think that even if their kid is not the best student going in that they might rise to the occasion with the right supports and peer group. Unfortunately the lack of good middle school options in DC, however, means some parents send kids to BASIS who don’t stand much of a chance at doing well there.

But they're not honest about the quality of instruction. No secret that families of means tend to leave because too many of the teachers aren't great. The best teachers tend to leave after just 2-3 years in search of better pay and working conditions. Rigor without inspired teaching across the board is only so rigorous. My straight-A kid was often bored at BASIS, not for lack of challenge but for lack of excellent teaching. He's much better off at a private with more dynamic, hands-on and personalized instruction. In our experience, BASIS hides the ball on teacher training, support and turnover issues. Just don't look a gift horse in the mouth if you're not prepared to move and can't pay for a private.

Lots to unpack here. I will start by observing that arguing that your private school is better than BASIS is not the hit you think it is. Kind of falls under the category of "no sh*t Sherlock." The fact that your kid was bored at the most rigorous public MS in DC is not an indictment of BASIS. The fact that private school is "more dynamic, hands-on and personalized" also not a shock. If it wasn't you should demand your money back!

Sounds like your kid is advanced. Good for you. How would your nonspecific "inspired teaching" change that? Are you looking for Robin Williams and Oh Captain My Captain moments? Seems like what you wanted was more advanced material.

BASIS is not perfect. The physical infrastructure is cr*ppy and I think the HoS can be tone deaf to his and BASIS's detriment. But you contribute very little to the discussion by arguing that BASIS isn't as good as your kid's private school.

NP. I'm going to argue that BASIS isn't as good as my PUBLIC school, Boston Latin. You can throw out barbs about silly parents seeking Oh Captain My Captain moments and more advanced material. Alternatively, you can address the problem of how the faculty, particularly in the middle school, is, overall, poorly trained, poorly compensated and, in too many cases, poorly motivated. BL wasn't like that.

The BASIS franchise itself probably isn't the primary culprit, because BASIS can't afford to pay competitive salaries in competing with the better-resourced public school systems in this metro area. The crappy aspects of BASIS go far beyond a tone deaf HoS (immature guy a few years out of grad school).

We had the experience of trying to organize low cost after-school Spanish classes at BASIS for ms immersion grads, with like-minded parents. The project seemed harmless enough. Unfortunately, admins wouldn't talk to us, wouldn't let us or the kids meet on the premises, or advertise through school channels. We were shut down before we started. Our family moved on, to a different PUBLIC school.

I just looked and I can't find Boston Latin on the My School DC site. How do I put that on my list for next year? Oh, wait...it is in Boston.

Your post is silly. I reacted to someone who thought it was revelatory that a private school in DC would be better than a public or charter school in DC. Your response is to tell us about a school not in DC? Based on your experience from 2 decades ago. Were you under the impression that this forum was a broad discussion about the state of public schools in the US and that people are using it to decide where to move? Or discussing how things were when we were in ES and MS?

You seem to have your panties in a bunch because the HoS told you "no". Entitled people often get upset when they don't get what they want. Sometimes they even resort to ad hominem attacks based on misinformation (e,g,. that a man in his mid 30's with 2 grad degrees plus a law degree is unqualified).

I guess they must not have taught reading comprehension at Boston Latin. BASIS is strong in some areas and weak in others. Foreign language is not something they do early or excel at. How did you not know that? If it doesn't offer what you want, don't attend. If you think foreign language is more important than rigorous math and science, don't attend. We have choice here in DC. Sadly Boston Latin is not an option for you since it is in Boston. You'll have to get by wearing your BL sweatshirt around the house and telling your kids about how it was the best time of your life.

Who has the time for this kind of long, resentment drenched post? Good for the city of Boston, for running world-class magnet middle schools, and every other metropolis that bothers to.

Where's the misinformation about weak AP language instruction? Many BASIS parents complain about that. Talk about ad hominem attacks!

You're here on DCUM reading all of this and you're going to get all hugh and mighty because someone wrote a long post? Yeah, that makes sense. You are SOOOOOOO above all this. SMH

[Anonymous]

Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

Your kid washed out of BASIS.

Bummmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

What school is your kid at now?

Oh wait! You won’t say.

Coward.

[Anonymous]

I won't say? Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase NW though we're not Catholic.

12K, worth it for much better humanities instruction, stable faculty, active parent organization, good facilities and electives, language instruction from 4th grade, sports and music programs. STEM not as good, but we can live with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

Your kid washed out of BASIS.

Bummmer.

What? No, he wasn't a top performer but made 90s Club without difficulty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I won't say? Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase NW though we're not Catholic.

12K, worth it for much better humanities instruction, stable faculty, active parent organization, good facilities and electives, language instruction from 4th grade, sports and music programs. STEM not as good, but we can live with that.

Parochial schools are pretty weak academically but glad you found something that works for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

Your kid washed out of BASIS.

Bummmer.

What? No, he wasn't a top performer but made 90s Club without difficulty.

Half the kids make 90’s club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I won't say? Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase NW though we're not Catholic.

12K, worth it for much better humanities instruction, stable faculty, active parent organization, good facilities and electives, language instruction from 4th grade, sports and music programs. STEM not as good, but we can live with that.

What will you do for high school? More parochial?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

Your kid washed out of BASIS.

Bummmer.

What? No, he wasn't a top performer but made 90s Club without difficulty.

Half the kids make 90’s club.

Are half the kids washing out? I hope not...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I won't say? Blessed Sacrament in Chevy Chase NW though we're not Catholic.

12K, worth it for much better humanities instruction, stable faculty, active parent organization, good facilities and electives, language instruction from 4th grade, sports and music programs. STEM not as good, but we can live with that.

Non-Catholic paying 12K for a stable faculty of which many teachers (science, social studies, maths, language arts) double up as religion teachers, the only black faculty is a PE teacher, one of the two brown faculty teaches both French and Spanish?
I don't know, man.
https://www.bsstoday.org/about/faculty-staff-directory

Sports program: I see most of it under Catholic Youth Organization, encouraging athletes to see Christ in their opponent, and coached by adult volunteers "who have completed Protecting God’s Children, the mandatory child protection training for volunteers who have substantial contact with children." There's also a couple of after-school sports by an outside vendor ($$?).

The 14 kids per class in MS sounds great, but I don't get how it's better if your focus is indeed on electives and athletics.

It sounds better for your family than BASIS, sure, but would be a hard pass for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speak for yourself. My spouse and I attended MS/HS magnet programs in other cities and often compare BASIS to our schools (privately).

We pulled our kid out after 7th grade for many reasons (his inability to handle the curriculum not being one of them). He's much happier, and more challenged, away from uptight BASIS.

You miss the point. Which is that unless someone is deciding between their houses in Boston or DC finding schools not here to compare to BASIS (or any other DC option) is a meaningless thought exercise. If your goal is trolling DCUM or you have an axe to grind against BASIS I guess I understand it, but otherwise it's silly to claim a DC school isn't as good as (Westchester, Exeter, TJ) a school that is not an option as it does nothing to contribute to a discussion about which schools people who live in DC may or should select. Spoiler alert, DC schools are also not as good as Sidwell, Exeter, GDS, Andover, etc. Most people are not deciding between SWW, BASIS and those schools.

Also borderline hilarious that you pulled your kid out of BASIS in favor of a parochial school...and you fail to comprehend how that's not a statement about BASIS as compared to other DCPS/DCPCS schools.

I'm truly happy for you that you found something that works for your kid. I would not send my kid to a religious school because I think religion is a scam and schools with religious backgrounds are a problem for a number of reasons. You know what? That's ok for me, and it is ok for you to disagree and send your kid there if it works for you and matches your belief system. Why are you not able to grasp that a school that worked for your kid isn't a good fit for others, and vice versa? Why are you so defensive about BASIS such that you feel the need to indict it across the board, instead of just accepting it wasn't a good fit for your kid?

[Anonymous]

Blessed Sacrament would definitely be a hard pass for this BASIS family—you could not pay me to enroll my kid there. And I write as someone who acknowledges that teacher quality at BASIS is mixed.

But glad it works for you.

And, no, 50 percent of BASIS doesn’t “wash up.” But potentially 50 percent find it stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blessed Sacrament would definitely be a hard pass for this BASIS family—you could not pay me to enroll my kid there. And I write as someone who acknowledges that teacher quality at BASIS is mixed.

But glad it works for you.

And, no, 50 percent of BASIS doesn’t “wash up.” But potentially 50 percent find it stressful.

I actually have the audited #s by grade from 17-18 to 21-22. We were considering BASIS and wanted to see actual data, as opposed to the usual DCUM opinions masquerading as fact. I built a spreadsheet so I could see the actual drops by year. For data running SY17-18 through SY 21-22, the highlights and how we interpreted them are:

On average more kids lost as rising 9th than any other year (28%). These kids are not washing out, they are selecting different high schools. We didn't see this as a negative as we will be considering options for HS regardless of our MS choice. This drops to 24% if you exclude SY 19-20

Second greatest average loss is rising 7th graders 20%. This made sense to us since Comps start in 6th grade and it is when kids either pass, repeat a grade or leave. This feels a lot like kids "washing out". That drops to 17% if you exclude SY19-20

SY 19-20 data is an outlier across all years and creates havoc with the data. That's Covid and we know that enrollments were impacted across the board at all schools