Reply to BASIS McLean -- What's the early feedback on this newly opened school?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Isn't Vern Williams going to teach there?  That, at least, is interesting, and gives one hope that they will not "math by drill and kill."

That said, these schools for gifted/Accelerated kids make me suspicious. Why send a kid there and pay 30-40k, when they can go to the AAP Center Longfellow (or Carson or Rocky Run, etc)?  Many of the Nysmith kids, at least, are there because they didn't place into AAP. I'd BASIS catering to the same crew(my kid is gifted. FCPS just doesn't realize it...) The public schools have Algebra II for advanced 8th graders, and ship a few kids to the high school for Pre-Calc. Plus a smart, (TJ) driven cohort-- and a strong TJ placement track record. So what does BASIS gain you?  [/quote]

I feel comfortable responding because we know multiple families there. While a few are average students, the rest are very bright, former AAP kids or kids in the top of their classes at other area privates.

These are the same kinds of criticisms all of the private NOVA schools receive. Why send your child to private when the publics are so strong? There are thousands of children in the NOVA privates (Potomac, Flint Hill, Langley, Congressional, Nysmith, ) so there is clearly a strong market for private education. Within this market, I definitely see an opportunity for a school like Basis to succeed if they do it right. While the K-8 options are plentiful, we have very few private HS options in NOVA. Potomac seems to want more athletes, the commute to FH is a challenge for those in Arlington/McLean and that's pretty much it.

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Actually, if you read the response, it is more--why sent your ES/MS AAP kid (especially at a strong Center) to a Basis or Nysmith?  Unless they don't qualify for AAP (in which case, what makes these "schools for the gifted"?). DC was on an academic team at an AAP MS and Nysmith also competed. Rocky Run, Carson, Longfellow?  Impressive kids that routinely did very well. (And the Carson team hands down blew everyone out of the water).  Sidwell and Norwood kids?  Also impressive and placed well. Nysmith?  Pretty much dead last across the board. Very unimpressive. DH looked up the tuition, pointed out that Nysmith is directly across the street from Carson, and asked why??  Good question.  I have no idea. Maybe Basis will be better.  It's really too soon to tell (although getting Vern Williams is a coup, and a good start). [/quote]

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