Reply to How's basis going so far?

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Reply to "How's basis going so far?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'll spell it out: the 'punkass' ones will stay behind.  That's the assumption.

Okay back to Basis: if the same kids who are 'punkass' also can't pass the comps at the end of the year, then the school will be all the better next year.  Both Latin and Basis operate on a kind of self-selection model, but Basis adds the screening factor of the comps.  The kids who really don't want to be at Basis AND don't pass the comps won't be promoted.  The kids who don't want to be at Latin, presumably there's social promotion?  Anyone know?

[/quote]

Unfortunately, there is social promotion at Latin.

Another difference between Latin and BASIS is that BASIS replaces very few of the kids who leave.  If a kid decides at the end of 8th that he does not want to continue with BASIS for high school, he is not replaced by another kid who has been attending a mediocre or failing middle for three or four years.  Only kids who demonstrate mastery of the material covered in the BASIS curriculum from 5th to 8th can join in 9th.   As a result, the classes shrink, but the curriculum is not watered down.[/quote]

Latin does not add students after 9th grade.  So the difference is one year.

At Latin there are elective periods where kids who need extra help can get it.  Teachers are great about working after class with students as well.  Latin also offers summer school (we have never used it so can't really comment).  I thought it was impressive that every senior of the first class got accepted into college.  Few of those kids were high SES kids.  I don't feel that the curriculum is "watered down" for those kids who can meet the extra challenges and am impressed that my child is reading material that I read two years later in school.  My child is also very comfortable talking to adults and asking probing questions.   I attribute that to the socratic seminars that are an integral part of Latin's curriculum.

We are an 8th grade family that is planning to stay for HS at Latin.  My son has continued to be challenged by the material and I really can't imagine him working at a more advanced level than he already is.  The reason we chose Latin is the challenging curriculum and that Latin did not "teach to the test."  Had BASIS been around when my child was in 5th, I certainly would have considered it.  It seems to have a lot to offer.

Anyhow, sorry that you feel the need to bash Latin.  I really feel it only strengthens DC that with Basis we might have three top tier middle school options instead of two.  [/quote]

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