Reply to BASIS high school versus middle school

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I feel this particular issue is discussed ad nauseam but here we go.  Classes get smaller and smaller at BASIS because there is attrition and no backfilling.  People leave the school in particular and DC in general for various reasons and cannot be replaced with new students.  BASIS is not for everyone or becomes a bad fit as the intensity increases or is a great option for middle school but students want or need a different high school experience for various reasons (different/more extra curriculars, different learning environment that’s less test focused, etc.).  It’s not a traditional school and just like any other school has its pros and cons.  It seems a family has to really value the things it does very well (test prep, college admissions) to justify foregoing a more traditional high school experience. [/quote]

I guess I disagree. Yes, everything you’ve written here has been discussed. But, it doesn’t answer OP’s question which is what is the high school like.  [b]What are hs classes like?[/b]  We know they are small, but are lessons taught the same way? Is there more discussion between students and teachers? Is there more emphasis on good writing skills? Or is it still a lot like middle school? Still a lot of power points, guided notes and multiple choice quizzes and tests?  I don’t see that discussed very often here.[/quote]

It's hard to generalize, but since the BASIS focus is AP prep, the high school kids are mainly taught what AP exams test.  Teachers don't tend to assign creative work, in-depth research, hands-on work, group work, term papers. Class discussions aren't exactly emphasized, because AP isn't grading test takers on participation in class discussions. BASIS language classes don't prioritize speaking and listening skills, because AP language exams don't.  And on and on it goes. High school teacher quality doesn't vary as widely as middle school quality, but most teachers are still young/not terribly experienced. But the kids know who the teacher standouts are and sign up for their classes accordingly if they enjoy/can handle the subject matter.  Science and math teachers tend to be stronger and longer serving than humanities and language teachers. BASIS just isn't a top private or parochial school emphasizing good writing skills.  Some of the high school families supplement with writing tutors, summer pre-college programs, language immersion. 
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My kid left after 8th grade for private, but this sounds exactly right.  Based on what the administration said about HS while my kid was in 8th grade and based on observations of friends who stayed at Basis for HS.[/quote]

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