Reply to BASIS students, what school were they in last year?

Forum Index » DC Public and Public Charter Schools

Reply to "BASIS students, what school were they in last year?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

If BASIS had a selective admissions policy, they would only admit those kids that were ready to tackle the rigorous college prep curriculum on day 1.  Only families that were confident that their kids could handle the coursework would invest time studying for the entrance exam.  Furthermore, a cottage industry would probably spring up offering test prep services for the BASIS entrance exam, placing poor children at a disadvantage.  [b]As a result, the bright kid from the failing elementary school would never have the chance to succeed there.[/b][/quote]

Strongly disagree.  That's certainly not now NYC runs its famous selective admissions schools, which start in K and run through 12th.  I attended Bronx Science and an Ivy, coming from a low-income family and a "failing" ES, so you can trust me on this point.

NYC makes a great effort to identify and nurture low-SES talent at a young age, while this city effectively makes none.  You certainly aren't admitted, or rejected by, selective admissions schools in NYC solely on the basis of a test score (a common enough assumption in DC, but not factually correct) - there is an applicant interview, parents interview, teacher recommendations etc., followed by special support for low-SES kids after enrollment.   In the upper elementary grades, I attended excellent city run test prep programs geared to low-SES kids to prep for middle school entrance exams, which I then aced.

In NYC, poor children who are truly bright and disciplined accrue the benefit of a system which actively identifies academic talent, as is done for sporting talent in this country.  As a society we don't say "anybody who wants to play in the NBA, MLB or NFL who works hard enough can cut it, so go for it!"

What Basis will start doing after a year or two, once it has a lottery, is rejecting many kids who could and would handle the work in favor of taking those who can't and won't but who bring lottery luck to the equation, the sole criterion for admission.  It's a grim policy that will hurt droves of the best and brightest, given the poor quality of most DCPS middle schools, but hardly anybody on DCUM seems to agree.  [i]This is surely because very few of the parents interested in Basis ever attended a well-run selective admissions public school program, at least before high school. [/i] Most of you either grew up in middle-class enclaves far from DC, or poor ones within the District, and never the twain shall meet until Basis.  Now you're sold on short-sighted open lottery admissions, and so is the DC Charter Board.  Bully for you, but don't expect NYC or Arizona quality programs to result.

[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics