Anonymous wrote:Why increase advertising if you don’t clear your waitlist? It’s not like lottery results are ordered by academic prowess…

Charter schools get accused of not doing to outreach to or enrolling at risk kids or those from outside W2/3/6. Now comes a school trying to raise awareness and DCUM has a problem with it? Puhleeze.

Anonymous wrote:It is pretty common for charter schools to do marketing and advertising. Some public schools do as well.

How do you even know the money is coming out if the BASIS DC budget? Maybe it is from the BASIS network or a donation.

That should be disclosed then. BASIS is aggressive about asking families for money and encourages large donations. If any of those fundraising dollars are spent on advertising, I’d be bothered. It doesn’t benefit current students in any way and there are absolutely other needs at the school.

It is pretty common for charter schools to do marketing and advertising. Some public schools do as well.

How do you even know the money is coming out if the BASIS DC budget? Maybe it is from the BASIS network or a donation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my initial reaction is that advertising takes money away from other uses and its pretty tasteless to declare yourself #1. but yes they are likely trying to increase name recognition across demographics. some charter schools send mailers.

New BASIS parent here. The bolded is what bothers me about it. I don't know how much money that cost the school but if the money for that campaign could have paid for any or all of the construction of a post-COVID rooftop safe outdoor space, that's neglectful to the health of their existing students and staff, and a bit maddening.

Another new BASIS parent and I’m also pretty annoyed to see this. They’re non-stop fundraising to pay their teachers better yet they’re doing an advertising blitz? Not cool.

Anonymous wrote:my initial reaction is that advertising takes money away from other uses and its pretty tasteless to declare yourself #1. but yes they are likely trying to increase name recognition across demographics. some charter schools send mailers.

New BASIS parent here. The bolded is what bothers me about it. I don't know how much money that cost the school but if the money for that campaign could have paid for any or all of the construction of a post-COVID rooftop safe outdoor space, that's neglectful to the health of their existing students and staff, and a bit maddening.

my initial reaction is that advertising takes money away from other uses and its pretty tasteless to declare yourself #1. but yes they are likely trying to increase name recognition across demographics. some charter schools send mailers.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting.

One development is that BASIS DC is getting harder to get into every year.

This year, they cleared 34% of the WL by October.

Last year, they cleared 54% of the WL. If you factor in the fact that they accepted 150 initially instead of the usual 135 (they aim for 135 seats), they cleared 48% of the WL.

Two years ago, they cleared 61% of the WL by October.

Basis has a cap on total enrollment due to capacity of the building. As more kids stay at BASIS for High School they have less capacity for the middle school.

Anonymous wrote:Why increase advertising if you don’t clear your waitlist? It’s not like lottery results are ordered by academic prowess…

They want the top kids to apply, to improve the quality of the pool. Since they have to rely upon a 100% lottery to fill their 5th grade class, they don’t just want to increase yield.

Anonymous wrote:Why increase advertising if you don’t clear your waitlist? It’s not like lottery results are ordered by academic prowess…

My guess is they want a different racial makeup. 50% of the school is white and only 20% is black. Some of that might be luck of the lottery but also about who is applying.

Why increase advertising if you don’t clear your waitlist? It’s not like lottery results are ordered by academic prowess…

We declined BASIS. Glad some people like it, but it is definitely not for everyone and I would not want my kid there.

The HOS did say at the last town hall that the school is increasing its marketing. The school has also been working to address past problems/complaints while building community, and increasing extra curriculums and sports, making the school increasingly attractive. When every other thread on here is about lack of academic standards in the DC public and charter schools, it’s easy to imagine BASIS as a rising star (that and of course they are the Red Giants lol)

Maybe BASIS DC's advertising blitz is having an effect.

Interesting.

One development is that BASIS DC is getting harder to get into every year.

This year, they cleared 34% of the WL by October.

Last year, they cleared 54% of the WL. If you factor in the fact that they accepted 150 initially instead of the usual 135 (they aim for 135 seats), they cleared 48% of the WL.

Two years ago, they cleared 61% of the WL by October.