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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm 6:54. I think they are building a school with a lot of strengths and which can support a wide range of student interests (I have a Basis high school student and a middle schooler).

The kids have to master a lot of science and math to graduate; they don't have to enter science fairs or take AP computer  science or AP engineering classes but those classes are offered. That's what I mean by not 'STEM.'

But the PP who said no Basis students were interning at the Smithsonian, NASA etc is just wrong. They already are. And more will.

Can they do more? Yes. Should they have kids who are entering big national science fairs by now? Maybe - if that's what the kids want. [b]The teachers are ready to support them when they do. 
[/b][/quote]

I've mentored several TJ students as a STEM professional, so I know that it's not an easy as "the teachers are ready to support them when they do."

For a group of elite STEM-oriented students at a HS to compete successfully in national science competitions, e.g. Siemens, Google and INTEL, admins must cultivate the supporting mentoring relationships needed to build students into strong competitors.  This must be done relentlessly, year in and year out, by teachers and mentoring/competition/academic paper publishing coordinators who aren't carrying a full teaching load.

The school also needs to work the mentoring time into the schedule. BASIS DC admins could study how TJ approaches the exercise.  TJ offers summer academics terms, to help kids dust off course requirements, freeing them up to focus on working with mentors during the spring and fall semesters, catering to the mentors' schedules. TJ also has parent leaders fundraise to support their mentoring program.  You want every parent with any kind of connection to the Smithsonians, NASA, NAS etc. asked to help build the mentoring network every semester, as at TJ, and to kick in some dough to make it happen. None of this appears to be happening at BASIS DC, other than piecemeal for a few kids.

[b]The working assumption of the last few BASIS heads seems to have been that because their Arizona campus graduates tend to do brilliantly in college admissions, so, too, will most of their DC seniors, at least once those who've had the full "BASIS treatment" from 5th grade reach the finish line. Problem is, the Metro area applicant pool is one of the several most competitive in the country. BASIS isn't in Arizona anymore.[/b]

[/quote]

Very interesting and thoughtful response regarding STEM.  Can you clarify a little more about what you mean by BASIS Arizona and BASIS DC being in completely different competitive environments regarding college admissions?  Are you basically saying that it is much easier for students to get into competitive colleges from Arizona than from the DC Metro area?  If this is true than the BASIS model in DC may not be as effective in terms of successful admittance into elite colleges, right?  Also, are you saying that DC is in the same competitive market as Northern Virginia and/or Montgomery County?  Definitely something to consider though it remains to be seen how much an impact this will ultimately make. [/quote]

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