Why are you sending your child to Basis?
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Anonymous
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I worry about the facilities at these DC charters, and DCPS middle schools other than Deal, which seem minimal by comparison. Anybody else concerned?
I'm concerned, too. In the debate about the pros and cons of Basis' curriculum, and lack of social promotion and selective admissions, concern over quality of the physical plant has largely been lost in the shuffle. We left Two Rivers after 5th for parochial partly because the MS facilities didn't amount to much. These charters do seem to have a terrible time finding and financing good MS and HS facilities. Deal's are the best for MS but nothing to write home about compared to Mo. Co or Fairfax. Poor and mediocre facilities are a problem that should get more air time but doesn't in a system where so many kids lack basic skills, and so many families worry mainly about academics at neighborhood schools, at least past ES. |
Anonymous
Because if it was that simple, everybody would be doing it. Right now, Latin and Deal have the best public MS test records in the city. Their kids are performing in the 80 - 85% range on the DC-CAS. So, not even all of them are necessarily ready for that many AP courses. Basis isn't going to have the geographic advantages of those schools. They're going to get whoever comes in the doors, and their obligation is to meet the students at their own level. They're not allowed to just reject kids who aren't up to AP work. |
Anonymous
Forgive me if this has been answered, but do Latin and Deal track students? I thought the curriculuum at both those schools was pretty top-notch so what happens when students don't pass different subjects? I don't think they repeat the grade. Do they take summer school? |
Anonymous
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Latin has summer school for skill building (and some enrichment summer school). In Middle School the children may end up in different levels of math classes, but are not 'tracked' overall. In High School there are honors and AP classes - if you have good grades in Middle School or make the case for it, that's the level you would continue - though obviously you would need to maintain your grades or it might not be the appropriate placement. The children are mixed together in morning advisory and electives and other classes and don't necessarily do 'all' honors or not. It's a conversation and they look at each child. I hope this helps.
The High School teachers, just have to say, are stellar. Just when I get used to them, one of them does something else that demonstrates their deep commitment to the school, kids and teaching. I really could not speak more highly of them as a group. |
Anonymous
You might be surprised. From what I've seen, Basis is receiving kids from Latin and many of the other better schools around the area, public and private. |
Anonymous
My impression as well. I know of a handful of strong performers going to BASIS from Latin, JKLMs, etc. |
Anonymous
Probably; BASIS Tucson or whatever is ranked very high nationally. I'm sure lots of people are willing to take the gamble that BASIS DC will achieve that quickly. The model would not be for my kid. I am curious though--is there any literature from students who have actually matriculated from the BASIS program? I would be interested to hear what they have to say. Students and families, not founders. |
Anonymous
There are reviews of BASIS Tucson on Great Schools, PP. |
Anonymous
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Basis sets out their expectations clearly - that students must master the material, or repeat it - no social promotion. Their students are expected to take AP courses. It is what it is. That's the model they've put in place in Arizona, and that's the model they've put in place in DC, it's transparent, and it's right up front and in the open.
As such, why would any parent reasonably expect social promotion from them? Why would any parent reasonably expect a watered down curriculum with no AP courses from them? There's absolutely no reason they should. If they want social promotion, if they don't want their kid to be expected to do AP courses, then obviously Basis is the wrong choice. It couldn't possibly get any more straightforward than that. |
Anonymous
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I think charters and more diverse school offerings are ultimately a good thing. Yes, it divides the pie up a bit - but that in and of itself is not a bad thing. Some kids may be a good fit for Yu Ying but not so good with Latin. Some kids may be a good fit with Latin, but not so good with Yu Ying - and so on, and so on. And it's not just charters, some kids are a good fit with DCPS but not as good a fit with the charters.
As I see it, it's like pizza. Some kids like pepperoni, some don't. Some like veggies, some just like it plain. Some kids have a gluten allergy and can't a regular pizza. And so on. And many kids don't like anchovies. So why keep putting nothing but anchovy pizza in front of them when you know full well that it won't work for many of them? |
Anonymous
Yes, posters keep pointing out that charters like Basis have to accept all, and that some of the kids that may be sent there might not be bright or might not be able to meet the bar of taking AP courses. Sure, anything's possible - but does it actually make sense? If a student is not college-bound material, then why send him to a school where they are expected to take AP courses? It would make as much sense as buying a lawnmower when you live in a highrise and have no lawn to mow. |
Anonymous
Come on, parents put kids' names in these charter lotteries mainly to flee unappealing neighborhood schools. Those "good fit" Yu Ying kids are often in this situation - their parents have no connection to Chinese or China (have never been and aren't going, even if they have the dough), don't hire Chinese-speaking childcare (although they could), don't have Asian friends etc. We know all this because we're just another a ABC (American-Born Chinese) DC family feeling like ducks out of water around the Yu Ying crowd. Our Chinese-American friends, with those "good fit" kids, have been alienated by a school that clearly doesn't welcome us, although the PA pays much lip service to the concept. Basis won't be much different, many parents with kids who obviously can't and won't handle 8 AP classes of all races/classes will sign up. Having taken 8 AP tests and attended an Ivy on massive financial aid I assure you that this is a no-brainer. If you want a good fit, you have to screen kids coming in, offering the brightest low-income kids special treatment in admissions and as they progress up the grades. The divide between DCPS and charter gets silier and sillier - it's all public money, it's all common sense. |
Anonymous
| You said it sister, or brother. I'd like to know how many of those YY kids will still be using Mandarin as adults. I'm not expecting great things from Basis either. But it will surely offer a far better education than most other DC middle schools for the small number of kids it serves, which will be good enough for the powers that be, and most of the parents involved. |
Anonymous
Considering China owns the US, I think the children of Yu Ying will be using Chinese when they are adults! |
Anonymous
Have you looked at the demographics of that school? It's more privileged than Deal. It looks like a school in the better sections of MoCo. http://www.greatschools.org/cgi-bin/az/other/1560#students |