Reply to DCPS (Upper NW) vs MCPS, where to go?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I heard some about what MCPS doing (reginal programing ?)and not sure how to interpret it

[quote=Anonymous]Both are pretty good! Are you spending time on the MCPS board? Looks like they are rolling back advanced math and ELA options. I don't know the details but worth looking into.[/quote][/quote]

This thread is illuminating:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1324771.page

I'm also an Asian person and we have been really happy with DCPS elementary and then BASIS for middle and high[/quote]

+1.  If you want to stay in DC and don't want to pay for private, your best option is BASIS.[/quote]

Asian mom here, we looked at Basis and IMO DCI was better option.  Lots of tracking and able to met the needs of high performing kids, more expansive curriculum with more options, lots of electives, and best represent your typical suburban school in terms of good facilities and lots of sports, clubs.

Best chance if you are in a feeder but you can still get in if not.

And if it matters, a number of Asian and mixed Asian kids at the school.  I would estimate 8-10%.[/quote]

DCI is 3% Asian and 10% mixed. BASIS is 7% Asian and 15% mixed. Lots of South Asian and Asian families in the community. I'm also an Asian and haven't necessarily made school decisions based on race, but it's been kind of nice for my kids to have friends and peers who look like them.

https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/349

https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/138

You are right on the facilities being better, and the classes aren't as expansive because all the kids have to basically take the advanced track of every subject.

But BASIS hands down has a better science curriculum, with very in-depth biology, chemistry and physics starting in 6th grade. I also never considered DCI because of the screens, and would make my decision based on that alone. My BASIS student can do all his work at home and in school on paper, so there is never the pull to get distracted by screens. [/quote]

PP here. You don’t know if Basis has a better science curriculum.  The science dept is strong at DCI.  In addition, they have actual science labs which enables more comprehensive course teaching and hands on labs and experiments. Starting in mid middle school, they also track in science.  Math is very strong also if you have a STEM kid. BTW, my background is in STEM.  Languages of course are also really strong.  
Sure, their science score is lower but if you look at just the scores of the top kids, I bet it likely would not be much different than Basis.

We felt the curriculum at Basis was too restrictive and too much focus on testing.  DCI offers a more well rounded experience and like I said, similar to the schools in the burbs, especially if that is what OP is comparing with. My STEM kid is being challenged but he also is able to explore other interesting courses and electives.  He is also very active and does sports and clubs at school.  No need to drive anywhere.

As to the screens, lots of in class work and testing is actually paper and pencil especially in the middle school.  The kids do have chromebooks and much of homework is online but it’s been fine for my kid.  If you have a high performing kid, most are academic focused and are not playing games.  But if you have a kid who you think this will be an issue then DCI would not be a good fit and Basis would be better.

Lastly, I did AP as a kid and looked into both AP and IB and felt the IB diploma was a more comprehensive curriculum focusing on more critical analysis with a strong component on writing.

Yes, it’s great to see Asian kids at both schools and that both can offer adequate challenge for high performing kids.

[/quote]

The science scores are drastically different -- at BASIS about 60% of the students are proficient according to the science CAPE, and at DCI its about 10%. All of the science teachers have degrees in their subject (bio, chem and physics) and are really, really good. and at the high end, their science olympiad outcomes are very different -- BASIS regularly wins the regionals, as they did this year, and go on to compete in nationals. So those are the facts I'm basing my assessment on.

I'm glad you are happy at DCI and that the school can meet the needs to high achieving kids! We have friends there, too. They don't find it very challenging. But BASIS is really, really strong with science -- it's the biggest perk of the school and you'll find many parents and students in the community who say "we chose this school because of their science curriculum."

And BASIS does have science labs, though it's true that the pressure to test means that the teachers spend a lot of time making sure the kids understand the facts, and labs come later (both later in the year, after comps, and later in the upper grades). However, they are actually changing this next year! Instead of learning all three sciences every year of middle school 3 times a week, the students will have two sciences per year 5x week and that will give them more time for labs, and to go into greater depth on the material.

[/quote]

You can’t compare the test scores because it is not apples to apples.  Basis is basically a test in school.

Does Basis actually have real, physical science labs classrooms and benches?  We did not see any at all on the tour.  [/quote]

DP. This is silly. You claim that DCI is stronger in science, but when confronted with actual scores from both schools, you now claim that you can’t compare the scores?? You know Basis is a lottery school just like DCI. So why aren’t the scores comparable? Surely your assessment of DCI’s science program isn’t based on the existence of labs and benches. If it were as simple as that, every school that DC has spent tens of millions of dollars renovating over the years should have strong programs right? [/quote]

No dog in this fight but I note two things: (1) you’re basing you’re entire presumption that basis is better on a single test and (2) the teachers at basis tend to have serious “real” degrees but they completely lack any training in teaching science or education.

We left basis in 6th bc we were tired of the frankly abusive and terrible teaching. Memorization of the facts can improve some test scores but hurts kids in the short term.[/quote]

I didn’t say any such thing. I asked why the science test scores aren’t comparable. You seem to be responding to someone else and reading way too much into what’s actually being discussed.

Interesting that you claim to have no dog in the fight but then go on to admit your kid attended Basis and accuse Basis of “abusive” teaching practices. You sound like you have an axe to grind and desperately need to validate your choice to leave Basis. The reasons any family chooses one school or another is highly personal. There is no “right” choice by any metric. Hopefully your kid is at a school that works for your family. But Basis does work for families and the kids who stay seem to do really well in HS and beyond. Not sure why you feel the need to dispute that. [/quote]

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