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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We're a DCPS 4th grade family EotP. I don't know all that much about BASIS DC, other than that a big cohort from our school's 4th grade dashes there for 5th every year. I'm told that a lot more of our school's 4th graders land at BASIS than return to our school for 5th.

Before stumbling across this thread, I didn't know that BASIS DC has cycled through half a dozen principals in 7 or 8 years!! Big red flag whatever the story is with this head.[/quote]

Call me crazy but it's an even bigger red flag that families will take on that level of instability for a BASIS education rather than stay in their EOTP school. What is it that families are getting at BASIS that makes them ok with such instaility? Or is what's happening in the classroom and in social interactions with peers so much more important than the impact of a constantly changing Head of School?
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I've posted above. Kid graduated last year. Our IB is Coolidge, my DC had some disabilities that required accommodations that SWW wouldn't grant even on the entrance exam (red flag), and didn't want to go to Banneker which had a predominantly female student body.

The HOS mattered to me as a parent. BUT my kid didn't really notice the HOS that much. Their day to day job was to manage and hire and fire teachers, implement the budget, deal with OSSE/PCSB and Arizona. The classes of 2018 and 19 generally LOVED the most recent one because they knew her as their Chemistry teacher, then college counselor (obviously not senior year but there is college advising each year at Basis.

The college counseling program at Basis is, IMO, on par with a private school, and a big reason we stuck around. Two full-time  counselors for a HS of about 200-225 students, and a caseload of just 20-30 seniors. Very personalized advice, help with finding a school that is affordable and meets your needs. Finishing all, or virtually all, APs by the end of junior year was a blessing because it left time for college apps and the senior year courses were really interesting and gave a flavor of what college would be like. My kid did the optional capstone senior project, had a good internship experience and did some really interesting individual research. All those things don't change with the HOS - they are baked into the model.

The last head's changes are great, but TBH mostly affected the MS because the HS teachers were already pretty strong, and MS is where they really needed more SEL and heart, for lack of a better word. That stuff came a bit late for my DC but was promising for those who are still there. [/quote]

Thank you. This is important. People throw stones at BASIS but parents and kids are getting something that they value. Seems like more time should be spent examining how the schools they are leaving should improve rather than tearing down the schools where they are going. [/quote]

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