Basis Mclean or Flint Hill?

[Anonymous]

Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

I would consider Nysmith as well. It is an excellent school, and they have handled the Covid situation beautifully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

BIM will have its fifth "permanent" HOS in six years starting in the fall, along with a new Director of their lower school since they dumped the incumbent this spring. It doesn't seem to impact the kids much directly, but the management chaos and teacher turnover is getting extreme.

FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

Read the other threads on Basis. It is a complete disaster. It will be years before they can turn it around, if it’s even possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

BIM will have its fifth "permanent" HOS in six years starting in the fall, along with a new Director of their lower school since they dumped the incumbent this spring. It doesn't seem to impact the kids much directly, but the management chaos and teacher turnover is getting extreme.

FYI.

They didn't dump the incumbent. She quit after a dispute over maternity leave.

[Anonymous]

Flint Hill by a mile

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flint Hill by a mile

This

[Anonymous]

The Flint Hill Lower School has its own problems as well. Please do a search of previous remarks about FHS on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Flint Hill if those are your only choices you are considering. FHS is better on facilities, culture, community, sports, and extracurriculars. Basis is known for rigorous academics and nothing else. You can get that at FHS if you want. Those other intangibles you cannot get at BIM, and as others have pointed out the administration has little continuity. My DC is not at FHS, but we’ve applied in the past and think highly of it. If you will expand the net a little, consider Green Hedges, Nysmith, Langley, and Potomac School.

[Anonymous]

Neither is worth the money. Basis LS parents think their kids are prodigies (they aren’t) and the kids even as young as K are very competitive with each other. Flint Hill is a country club atmosphere. These are not good choices, keep looking or go with FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Country club atmosphere at FHS??? Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Country club atmosphere at FHS??? Seriously?

’


My kids are in neither school, but we looked at both. Including a lot 1:1 informational interviews with current and past parents for fact-gathering. Reading this board does not constitute research.

No FHS is not a country club atmosphere. It’s a school with a fair amount of wealth, yes. But no more so than a lot of other independent schools around here. It has a word-class robotics team. It has a beautiful campus. They have as many AP classes as you can take (although I believe you have to get dept permission). Are there things that aren’t ideal? For us, yes. But it is a really good school and if it suits your family and educational goals, then your kids can have a great experience there.

BIM trades on the reputation of its counterpart branches from the Bay Area etc that are well-regarded. BIM is in a mostly empty class B office tower in Tysons. It is mostly kids who wanted (or whose parents wanted them) to go to TJ HS, but didn’t get in. So they searched for the next best STEM-focused proxy they could find. Our near universal feedback was that it is a dismal pressure cooker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Country club atmosphere at FHS??? Seriously?

’


My kids are in neither school, but we looked at both. Including a lot 1:1 informational interviews with current and past parents for fact-gathering. Reading this board does not constitute research.

No FHS is not a country club atmosphere. It’s a school with a fair amount of wealth, yes. But no more so than a lot of other independent schools around here. It has a word-class robotics team. It has a beautiful campus. They have as many AP classes as you can take (although I believe you have to get dept permission). Are there things that aren’t ideal? For us, yes. But it is a really good school and if it suits your family and educational goals, then your kids can have a great experience there.

BIM trades on the reputation of its counterpart branches from the Bay Area etc that are well-regarded. BIM is in a mostly empty class B office tower in Tysons. It is mostly kids who wanted (or whose parents wanted them) to go to TJ HS, but didn’t get in. So they searched for the next best STEM-focused proxy they could find. Our near universal feedback was that it is a dismal pressure cooker.

BIM kids learn from middle school onward that the "challenging curriculum" means tests, tests, tests, and tests. If you want your kid to learn how to handle a stupid number of tests in one week and have his fate and reputation rest on the test scores, then send him to BIM.

Otherwise not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

As with everything, you will see many different perspectives. Some people love to come here and bash the school that didn't work for them as an employee or as a parent. Please reach out to the school and make a decision that works for you and your child. From a different perspective, we are a Basis family with a middle school child who has been there for 3 years. Our child is happy, has great friendships, has developed amazing study skills that will be very helpful in the future. We have not experienced what people are saying on this board. We also have friends at Flint Hill and they are very happy. Good luck to you and your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I am looking for input about 2 schools I am considering for my 6.5 year old (who will be moving over to Grade 2 in Sept 2021).

Flint Hill vs. Basis Mclean?

I have researched both schools (albeit, online only). Ideally, as in pre-pandemic, there would be an opportunity to visit the school and meet the teachers (and see the classrooms in action) to get a "feel" for whether the school would be a good fit for my child but since visits are primarily virtual at this time, I feel the need to seek first hand input from parents (current or past) about what it is actually like to have your kids at these schools. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. What you liked, didn't like. Also any thoughts about how the school is handling the pandemic/required social-distancing etc are appreciated.

Thank you.

I would consider Nysmith as well. It is an excellent school, and they have handled the Covid situation beautifully.

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