BASIS students, what school were they in last year?
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Anonymous
| LATIN. Loved much about Latin but the Rudolph campus is a problem for kids relying on public buses. But main reason is too much reliance on parents to keep the kid on track. Every subject teacher has a separate system. Teachers are great, warm and interesting. But Basis gets the kids to take full responsibility and gives them a system that is consistent and simple. If my job involved four separate ways of keeping up with assignments, none of which sync up, I'd have Zero productivIty. But that's what Latin expects of their overworked wonderful teachers. (in-class directions, virtual Blackboard, PowerSchool, and The child's assignment book). It burdens everybody. |
Anonymous
| The student body at charters is completely self-selected. Therefore, it's completely irrelevant to anything to look at their numbers and demographics in comparison to anything else. Everybody had an equal shot, the students at Latin and other charters are there only because they wanted to be there. |
Anonymous
Many people lie on the form. No one verifies your income. All you do is write how much you make..that is it. I know of people who make $90k who lie on the form because trhey don't want to pay for lunch. It's easy to do, that is why many do it. I guess the honor system doesn't work in this case. |
Anonymous
| We were all set to go to BASIS but ended up not going. I spoke with a lot of parents at various events and the kids really were coming from all over. Charter (Latin, 2 Rivers), publics, especially one's with mediocre middle schools (Brent), Catholic. I don't remember anyone mentioning a private, but of course my sampling is relatively small. I was really impressed with the diversity of the group, from all over the city and a lot parents originating from other countries. I think that diversity is one of the coolest things about the school. I would have loved for our family to be part of that, but alas it wasn't to be. |
Anonymous
PP, would you mind sharing why you chose not to enroll in BASIS? |
Anonymous
Different PP. We, too, were set to go to BASIS, but didn't enroll after getting off the waiting list at a parochial school. If you want me to share, I'll tell you that I didn't like the mean undercurrent - don't screen kids for aptitude (not FAIR! against the LAW!) but weed most out before HS anyway, pretending that you aren't. We're happier with a private that screens for ability/prep upfront, but scours the city to find and include low-SES/AA kids who can probably handle the curriculum, although we have to pay. Also, we were concerned about the HS situation -looking at Latin, far too many middle-class families dropping out between 8th and 9th at these open lottery DC charters. I'd much rather true G/T programs all the way fgrom the early ES grades to 8th, as in the burbs. Diversity doesn't do it for us, we're mainly interested in sci and math challenge and strong sports for a shy math gifted kid who's already a talented runner. With the trouble he has making pals, we didn't want most of his to get weeded out, and weren't thrilled about the playing fields deficit. He'll probably stay all the way to 12th with most of the same pals/teamates at the Catholic school. Good luck to those who enrolled. |
Anonymous
We developed reasons to sincerely lack any confidence in their ability to deal with special needs. By special needs, I mean a child who is fully capable of handling the work intellectually, but needs other supports and accomodations. Fprtunately we were able to return to our child's elementary where there isn't enough academic rigor (very advanced child academically), but we know it to be a safe, loving environment that truly appreciates our child, despite the disability. We are still really sad, though, because we were all looking forward to the academic rigor (especially in science and math) and the kids seem like a great group. We will have to be trying to figure something out for middle school asap since our needs are particular. At least this year, though, I cam send my child to school without having a sick feeling ithe pit of my stomach every day. BASIS seems quite impressive, as long as your child can fit their mold without anything spilling out to one side or another. |
Anonymous
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"playing fields"- too bad you opted out. Running is their sport, they run on the Nat'l Mall.
And for those put off by the location, let you fifth grader take the bus. Mine took the G2 transferred to the S1 all by himself in fifth to Latin. Proud of himself! "mean"? I just don't get it! Basis is going to great lengths to keep kids enrolled. All teachers have tutoring hours and there' a range of other means of getting help within the school structure if falling behind. The organized system for kids to take ownership of their homework and for communication between home and school is simple (no need to check a website, send an email, or even for parents to ask whether the child has done their homework.). I am so psyched for my son and all these kids. |
Anonymous
| I've seen a lot of mean-sprited anti-Basis stuff on this message board, but I haven't seen anything beyond that - the Basis parents, staff and kids I've met and dealt with have all been wonderful. |
Anonymous
So are we, PP. Look forward to meeting you at some point... |
Anonymous
Yea but not so wonderful to take kids who obviously won't be able to handle a GT curriculum with the intention of culling them in a year or two. Kinder not to take them. DC Charter refuses to take the aptitude bull by the horns. Soon, Basis will have a long waiting list, like Latin did from March to July this year, with GT kids on it while slow kids are admitted, then weeded out. Fantastic policy. |
Anonymous
| You realize not testing kids for admission is DC Charter Law and has nothing to do with Basis. Charters have to admit all who apply, no testing for aptitude. Not fair to complain about individual charters when they are not allowed to do this. Most would welcome being able to select their students. |
Anonymous
Our child at Latin just has in-class directions and PowerSchool. Some of what you mention above overlaps (ie children fill out assignments books from in-class directions); pretty typical of many middle and high schools. But I agree, it is best for children to take responsibility when possible. |
Anonymous
Who ever said anything about taking kids "who obviously won't be able to handle" the curriculum, or "the intention of culling them"? With respect to admissions and who attends, they aren't doing anything different than any other charter. |
Anonymous
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"Our child at Latin just has in-class directions and PowerSchool. Some of what you mention above overlaps (ie children fill out assignments books from in-class directions); pretty typical of many middle and high schools. But I agree, it is best for children to take responsibility when possible."
Latin's what I was talking about when I said four different methods. Powerschool has the daily grades but there was Wikispace for the assignments, but also the kids are supposed to fill in their assignment books, but not with enthusiasm because they knew they could rely on the wiki. And on top of that, the teachers would change the assignment from what the wiki said. And the Powerschool grading of assignments did not sync with the assignments themselves: either the desription was changed, the teacher would grade it for the week instead of daily so we wouldn't know what assignments were missed. I DO NOT BLAME Latin's teachers - they were heroic but the system is really unworkable. |