Starting Fourth Grade at DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ We’re IB for SH and enrolled at BASIS. A primary factor is that once you hit 5th grade, high school seems not so far off. And while SH was acceptable, Eastern was not. Moreover, we’re too risk-adverse to put all our cards into acceptance at Walls—for our multiple kids.

I presently have no idea whether my happy/bright/academically-motivated Basis 5th grader will stay through 12th grade. But having a solid option through high school gives amazing peace of mind. And if Basis proves to be a soul-crushing experience (which I wholeheartedly doubt!), SH remains an option.

And so far we’re positively loving BASIS.

Sure, positively loving BASIS one month in. The comprehensive exams don't kick in until 6th grade. Stressed-out 7th and 8th graders aren't in short supply at BASIS, along with kids (particularly boys) who bounce off the walls for lack of fresh air, exercise and a real gym, performance space, even a library.

PS. I used to work at BASIS DC.

Ever noticed how parents starting BASIS in 5th grade tend to ignore the inconvenient fact that more than half of the incoming students will no longer be there come 9th grade?



"Amazing peace of mind" isn't exactly the name of the game when admins are actively trying to weed your 7th or 8th grader out for whatever reasons. That's the BASIS model.

It is very interesting to me how angry/bitter some people get when Basis actually works for some kids.

Actually, what's interesting is just how clueless new BASIS parents often are on the subject of how the franchise's academic program works in 7th and 8th grades, with at least half the students bailing before HS by design. What many parents don't seem to grasp is that the lack of flexibility in the BASIS curriculum is breathtaking, particularly for high achievers in the humanities, fine arts, and foreign languages other than Spanish. Most of us are aware that BASIS generally works well for math-gifted students all the way up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ We’re IB for SH and enrolled at BASIS. A primary factor is that once you hit 5th grade, high school seems not so far off. And while SH was acceptable, Eastern was not. Moreover, we’re too risk-adverse to put all our cards into acceptance at Walls—for our multiple kids.

I presently have no idea whether my happy/bright/academically-motivated Basis 5th grader will stay through 12th grade. But having a solid option through high school gives amazing peace of mind. And if Basis proves to be a soul-crushing experience (which I wholeheartedly doubt!), SH remains an option.

And so far we’re positively loving BASIS.

Sure, positively loving BASIS one month in. The comprehensive exams don't kick in until 6th grade. Stressed-out 7th and 8th graders aren't in short supply at BASIS, along with kids (particularly boys) who bounce off the walls for lack of fresh air, exercise and a real gym, performance space, even a library.

PS. I used to work at BASIS DC.

Ever noticed how parents starting BASIS in 5th grade tend to ignore the inconvenient fact that more than half of the incoming students will no longer be there come 9th grade?



"Amazing peace of mind" isn't exactly the name of the game when admins are actively trying to weed your 7th or 8th grader out for whatever reasons. That's the BASIS model.

It is very interesting to me how angry/bitter some people get when Basis actually works for some kids.

Actually, what's interesting is just how clueless new BASIS parents often are on the subject of how the franchise's academic program works in 7th and 8th grades, with at least half the students bailing before HS by design. What many parents don't seem to grasp is that the lack of flexibility in the BASIS curriculum is breathtaking, particularly for high achievers in the humanities, fine arts, and foreign languages other than Spanish. Most of us are aware that BASIS generally works well for math-gifted students all the way up.

Does it work this way by design elsewhere, or only in DC where the school has to take anyone who wants to go (and gets in via the lottery) rather than just the kids who should be there (because they are good at math/science/test-taking/whatever other metric the school would use to screen for best fit for this type of school)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ We’re IB for SH and enrolled at BASIS. A primary factor is that once you hit 5th grade, high school seems not so far off. And while SH was acceptable, Eastern was not. Moreover, we’re too risk-adverse to put all our cards into acceptance at Walls—for our multiple kids.

I presently have no idea whether my happy/bright/academically-motivated Basis 5th grader will stay through 12th grade. But having a solid option through high school gives amazing peace of mind. And if Basis proves to be a soul-crushing experience (which I wholeheartedly doubt!), SH remains an option.

And so far we’re positively loving BASIS.

Sure, positively loving BASIS one month in. The comprehensive exams don't kick in until 6th grade. Stressed-out 7th and 8th graders aren't in short supply at BASIS, along with kids (particularly boys) who bounce off the walls for lack of fresh air, exercise and a real gym, performance space, even a library.

PS. I used to work at BASIS DC.

Ever noticed how parents starting BASIS in 5th grade tend to ignore the inconvenient fact that more than half of the incoming students will no longer be there come 9th grade?



"Amazing peace of mind" isn't exactly the name of the game when admins are actively trying to weed your 7th or 8th grader out for whatever reasons. That's the BASIS model.

It is very interesting to me how angry/bitter some people get when Basis actually works for some kids.

Actually, what's interesting is just how clueless new BASIS parents often are on the subject of how the franchise's academic program works in 7th and 8th grades, with at least half the students bailing before HS by design. What many parents don't seem to grasp is that the lack of flexibility in the BASIS curriculum is breathtaking, particularly for high achievers in the humanities, fine arts, and foreign languages other than Spanish. Most of us are aware that BASIS generally works well for math-gifted students all the way up.

Does it work this way by design elsewhere, or only in DC where the school has to take anyone who wants to go (and gets in via the lottery) rather than just the kids who should be there (because they are good at math/science/test-taking/whatever other metric the school would use to screen for best fit for this type of school)?

Pushing out low performers and those with special needs is common practice for charters everywhere, including DC. It's how they claim "success".

[Anonymous]

You have to love BASIS supporters. You are not allowed to bring up the faults in their school but are happy to dish on every other school in the city.

[Anonymous]

I think it is pretty clear that some kids thrive at BASIS and many others do not. The question is, how can a parent be sure about their own child? My DD does really well in math, but isn't being challenged, so I have no idea how well she might do. She did not stress over PARCC, but we don't have individual scores yet and because her DCPS doesn't really do tests (except for spelling words), I don't know if she has test anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Actually, what's interesting is just how clueless new BASIS parents often are on the subject of how the franchise's academic program works in 7th and 8th grades, with at least half the students bailing before HS by design. What many parents don't seem to grasp is that the lack of flexibility in the BASIS curriculum is breathtaking, particularly for high achievers in the humanities, fine arts, and foreign languages other than Spanish. Most of us are aware that BASIS generally works well for math-gifted students all the way up.

Actually in regards to BASIS the comprehensive exams were fairly were fairly easy an multiple choice exams. Plus the BASIS curricula spirals and repeats itself and goes deeper in depth each year starting with 5th grade. For the comprehensive exams there are always extensive review sheets as well.

For example Biology, Chemistry, Physics is revisited each year 5th through 8th grade and goes deeper in depth each year.

For those starting BASIS years behind in that they are basically years behind in reading and math, yes I do think it will be a struggle but it will be a struggle for those kids in DCPS too.

In regards to humanities I find it humorous people are saying BASIS lacks in the humanities an arts. My kid took and excelled in AP World History, AP Art History, AP US History, AP US Government, AP European History, AP Comparative Government and Politics at BASIS. He also took Economics, US History, another year of World History and Ancient History at BASIS.

In regards to foreign language, he has taken Mandarin since 7th grade and has found it challenging.

He had the option to take gym glass every year and it is mandatory for the 1st few years. He also had option to take art every year as well.

[Anonymous]

Forget about BASIS DC supporting your family's particular language learning goals if your student goes in proficient in any language other than English seeking support to emerge fluent, or simply to be left alone to achieve this goal independently. Same story in BASIS Arizona etc.

The franchise won't work intelligently with families where a kid speaks, reads and writes advanced Mandarin, Russian, Arabic etc. for their age on arrival. No, they'll require the kid to study a major world language they already speak, read and write well at the beginner level from 7th grade, or to study a new language from the beginner level, after taking at least two years of Latin lower down. BASIS won't allow students to "test out" of the language requirement by exceeding standards for language learning standards set in Arizona, despite the fact that this is common practice in many of the nation's highest-performing school systems, e.g. Fairfax and MoCo. Few BASIS parents mind, at least not in DC, unsurprisingly because hardly any bilingual students are enrolled. Not impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forget about BASIS DC supporting your family's particular language learning goals if your student goes in proficient in any language other than English seeking support to emerge fluent, or simply to be left alone to achieve this goal independently. Same story in BASIS Arizona etc.

The franchise won't work intelligently with families where a kid speaks, reads and writes advanced Mandarin, Russian, Arabic etc. for their age on arrival. No, they'll require the kid to study a major world language they already speak, read and write well at the beginner level from 7th grade, or to study a new language from the beginner level, after taking at least two years of Latin lower down. BASIS won't allow students to "test out" of the language requirement by exceeding standards for language learning standards set in Arizona, despite the fact that this is common practice in many of the nation's highest-performing school systems, e.g. Fairfax and MoCo. Few BASIS parents mind, at least not in DC, unsurprisingly because hardly any bilingual students are enrolled. Not impressed.

You're surprised that there's only a few advanced Mandarin, Russian or Arabic speaking DC children at a single charter school? Fairfax and Moco are entire county-wide school systems encompassing thousands of students.

[Anonymous]

Yes, and let's keep it that way in DC, shall we?

Several years ago, BASIS parents of a small group of students who arrived speaking, reading and writing good Mandarin banded together to try to convince admins to add advanced Mandarin from 7th grade. When they failed, they asked to be left alone to home school their students in Mandarin, without the kids having to take beginning Chinese during the school day. No dice on both requests. All but one of the Mandarin speakers left before HS, despite being among the strongest students of their cohort.

[Anonymous]

The program isn't flexible. It's the BASIS way or the highway. They have a formula for academic success and won't deviate from it.

If you're looking for respect for individual talents, unique backgrounds, unusual ambitions, distinctive learning styles or whatever else, you want to go elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

What is the deal with BASIS being owned by a Chinese hedge fund, is that true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The program isn't flexible. It's the BASIS way or the highway. They have a formula for academic success and won't deviate from it.

If you're looking for respect for individual talents, unique backgrounds, unusual ambitions, distinctive learning styles or whatever else, you want to go elsewhere.

BASIS is not perfect and not always flexible but neither is DCPS and School without Walls. School with Walls wanted my child to repeat AP World History with a score of 4 since it was done before 9th grade and absolutely would not consider a substitute such as AP Geography or another history class. SWW also would have had my kid repeat geometry and possibly Algebra 1 and 2 and Precalculus if chose to take their test and not meet their standards instead of honoring his grades and giving him a chance on taking next course in logical sequence. So we chose to stay at BASIS.

Then someone goes on to criticize no advanced language options at BASIS. Does DCPS have this or SWW? I think folks are being nitpickers. For a free public school BASIS is a pretty good option despite not being perfect.

[Anonymous]

That really sucks about Walls hassling BASIS MS grads.

Sounds like BASIS parents and supporters need to organize to drum up political support to keep their students from being forced to repeat much of their BASIS course work during the first year or two at SWW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the deal with BASIS being owned by a Chinese hedge fund, is that true?

No, you have it wrong, British hedge fund. Learn your maths. Screw Hong Kong, Taiwan and especially Mainland China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The program isn't flexible. It's the BASIS way or the highway. They have a formula for academic success and won't deviate from it.

If you're looking for respect for individual talents, unique backgrounds, unusual ambitions, distinctive learning styles or whatever else, you want to go elsewhere.

BASIS is not perfect and not always flexible but neither is DCPS and School without Walls. School with Walls wanted my child to repeat AP World History with a score of 4 since it was done before 9th grade and absolutely would not consider a substitute such as AP Geography or another history class. SWW also would have had my kid repeat geometry and possibly Algebra 1 and 2 and Precalculus if chose to take their test and not meet their standards instead of honoring his grades and giving him a chance on taking next course in logical sequence. So we chose to stay at BASIS.

Then someone goes on to criticize no advanced language options at BASIS. Does DCPS have this or SWW? I think folks are being nitpickers. For a free public school BASIS is a pretty good option despite not being perfect.

DCPS/SWW do offer advanced language options. Also, admins at Wilson, Walls and several DCPS middle schools will let advanced language students test/place out of curricular language requirements. DCPS does not require middle and high students who speak, read and write a major world language to take beginners classes in that language, or study a third language instead of perfecting a second, like BASIS does.

At Walls, advanced language students can of course take higher level language and literature classes taught at GW.