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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm waiting to see who turns up for 6th grade.  Are they letting kids in for 6th who didn't do 5th or what?
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Yes, 6th is open to outside students but I don't think Basis has enrolled any so far. Sounds like they're really not sure who will stay and who will jump ship.
What bothers me more about high attrition - as a parent, not as a taxpayer - is that it really cuts into one's student's ability to build lasting relationships, which are so crucial at this age.[/quote]

IIRC, BASIS accepted about 25 for next year's 6th grade via a lottery, and there is a waiting list for 6th.

As for who is staying and who is jumping ship, re-enrollment forms were due back in February.  I imagine that's how BASIS knew it could accept 25 into next year's 6th grade.  On the other hand, BASIS did not fill this year's 5th grade, so some of those 25 additional 6th graders might be taking spots that have been available for some time now.

I suppose that some current families re-enrolled even though they have a good idea that they are leaving, e.g., waiting to hear from a private school or waiting for the results of a lottery at another charter school, and it might take time for those families to withdraw their re-enrollment forms if they end up on a wait list.  Because of the "September Shuffle", the true re-enrollment rate might not be known until October 5...

As for the attrition, that's part and parcel of an open-enrollment school with a rigorous curriculum.  To lower the attrition rate, BASIS has to become more selective, become less rigorous, or provide a great deal of support to struggling students.  The first and second options conflict with the BASIS philosophy, and the first option violates the DC School Reform Act.

Thus, BASIS has chosen to provide a great deal of support to struggling students, e.g., the STARS program last spring, the summer program, the remedial math and reading programs, the peer tutoring program, extensive teacher hours, etc.

As the parent of a BASIS student, I worry some about the effect attrition might have on DC's ability to maintain long-term friendships, but I am not overly concerned about it.  DC is doing well there and tends to socialize with other kids who are doing well.  Some of these kids might leave BASIS for various reasons, but probably not because they find the curriculum too challenging.

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