Reply to Could BASIS DC be closed for lower enrollment and higher academic demands?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]An April 15, 2013 class struggle article, "Nation’s best high school may be closed," alludes to the possibility: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/class-struggle/post/nations-best-high-school-may-be-closed/2013/04/15/4ad3de82-a53d-11e2-a8e2-5b98cb59187f_blog.html

I've read many threads on this forum about BASIS DC and have come to a few conclusions (after doing my own research and investigating and realizing the school wasn't a good fit for my son):

1) There are many families who signed on but underestimated the level of homework each night, number and frequency of quizzes and tests, and amount of independence and self discipline their child would need to succeed.
2) Many families chose the school because of its central location in the city and various easy routes to get to the school.
3) Several, if not many, felt their kid who was having difficulty at one school would do better because of the discipline at BASIS.

I think all of these families were disappointed, and anyone else coming to BASIS for these reasons or ignoring item #1, will experience some amount of failure at the school.

There are so many schools in the area, and each parent needs to take a moment to figure out what's the best environment for their child.  Your child will spend 7+ hours in school each day so it makes sense to place him in a place that's suited for him.   From what I've seen and heard from former and current parents, kids who score high academically at their previous schools, or who don't feel challenged and welcome a lot of new content and are able to do a lot of homework and enjoy quizzes and tests to test their retention, will do better at BASIS than other students.  If more folks with kids that are a great fit for BASIS enroll, then the school will have a decent sized class in the upper years, and like-minded students will have many peers to socialize and learn with.

I know parents that have IEP students and those who weren't doing well at their former public school that did miserably at BASIS and have all left.  I know a few parents whose kids did very well at their former school but weren't challenged and needed more and are doing well at BASIS now (A's and B's).  I know of a bright 7th grader who was doing well at his former school but struggles to make As at BASIS and has made no new friends.  He's complained, as many others have, of kids who aren't prepared and that talk loudly through classes and are bullies outside of class.  He'll do 8th grade there and go somewhere else for high school.  I know another bright 7th grader who is doing well but her parents complain of the amount of testing and quizzes.  It's too much for her and them and they will do 8th and leave afterwards.

I don't think BASIS should change its curriculum to keep ALL students there.  I think they should continue to do what they're doing but also bolster support for students that are on the borderline of doing very well in that type of environment.  Also being a first year school, there's a lot to learn for the school, the parents and the students.  A lot of what folks learned too late, I already figured out through the information sessions, and decided on the first day of school that it would not be good choice for our family.  BASIS is not the only school that demands a lot of its students in this area.  There are MANY.  I went to an application-only high school and enjoyed being with students who wanted to learn.  We had 77 kids in our graduating class, and 400 in the school total.  Everyone knew everyone and everyone was friendly and no one felt intimidated for wanting to learn.  I wish there were many more schools like this with smaller class sizes and a strong focus on learning how to think and loving to learn.  [/quote]
Almost everything you are saying is wrong. Some things are tangentially true, but you have twisted them to comport with your agenda. Shame on you.

The head of school has not been fired, next year he will continue to work for BASIS. The organization is rapidly growing and needs his talents in another location. He’s put in two hard years getting BASIS DC up and running, and in my estimation he’s done an admirable job. A letter will go home tomorrow with information about some changes for the 2013-14 school year, and as a parent of current and future BASIS DC students I am quite with how this year went, and I look forward to the future. One can quibble with personnel changes, but he has categorically not been fired and I wish him well.

Allegations about the Head of School “putting hands on students” are just that – allegations. Any disgruntled person can make one. In my opinion they are unfounded and wrong, and it is disgusting that someone anonymously puts it out there.

Anyone who attends an honors ceremony will plainly see that half of the kids receiving academic awards are of color. My child is surrounded brilliant engaged kids, including a panoply of ethnicities – more than exist in many/most schools in DC.

Many kids with IEP/504 issues (including mine) are well served by BASIS. My DC is faring much better this year than in the highly regarded DCPS school they previously attended.

The reference to “ongoing investigations” is a canard - akin to saying that a restaurant is being investigated and potentially closed because the health department made their rounds and inspected an establishment. Yes, BASIS has seen attrition, and that issue will be reviewed, but no determinations have been made yet despite the yearning of a few. This is an interesting issue that is thoroughly dissected by many in the BASIS community, and it is one not well suited to explore on an anonymous board.

BASIS currently has a waiting list for 5th and 6th grades, and will enroll about 600 students next year (50% growth over its first year). The school is strong and getting stronger.

To be sure, BASIS has problems and blemishes, and a significant network of involved stakeholders not only discuss these issues, but they also take thoughtful and assertive steps to improve the school. The vitriolic pabulum posted today is coming from an angry unhealthy place and is meant to harm.[/quote]

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