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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The BASIS woes highest on my list are the lack of a stage and gym (perhaps a multi-purpose room used for both performances and sports).  I would have been much more of a STEM nerd without school plays in middle and high school, running track, and playing in school bands.

I grew up glad that my schools practically forced me, a kid who, left to my own devices, would have gone overboard pouring on math and science, to branch out.

Does anybody know if the Arizona campuses do not offer stages or gyms either?  Is that the BASIS norm?  Boosters talk about imported BASIS academics on every thread, but what about facilities, how do those in Tuscon etc. compare?

Also, this business of finishing high school in 11th grade as a BASIS goal.  Is that laudable?  What's the rush?

[/quote]

This is my biggest concern about BASIS.  They are accelerating the most advanced math curriculum by two years, which will allow kids to take calculus as freshmen.  Yet, their syllabus doesn't commit to having advanced math after that, unless there is a certain level of interest.  What's the point of such extreme acceleration if they have no real plan for the high schoolers who are ready for multivariate calculus, differential equations etc? Can they afford to pay people who have those skills to teach those courses? The STEM magnet schools like Thomas Jefferson and Blair have those advanced, college level classes. Also, you accelerate kids if they are bored with the regular curriculum. Many kids are challenged sufficiently by algebra in 7th and can spend 6th learning the pre-algebra skills, like negative numbers, exponents, bases etc.  that generally aren't taught systematically in the later courses.

Graduating early is also not the way to go if you are headed for a top college.  They want to see serious achievement in academics and extracurriculars, and it takes a while to work your way up to newspaper editor, debate team champion etc.  Better to spend that time doing an independent study research project.

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