Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

You're probably better off...

This is just not universally true. I know, in real life, kids who are happy there. They have to students who want to study a lot and work hard. I also know kids who absolutely hated and got out. Those kids should never have gone there, and should have left the spot for someone who is more suited.

this is about to turn into a "BASIS is child abuse" post, and it is a real disservice to DC parents who have a kid would would enjoy it and love the chance to take advanced classes.

Awww, I feel bad for you. The truth is, it’s hard to know what your 4th grader is going to enjoy. You may know they can take advanced classes (we knew that about our kid), but you don’t know what the culture is like and if your kid will enjoy it. We couldn’t have known about the culture until we tried it. Our top performing kid was miserable so we left when we could.

Either way, don’t blame the parents who are trying to make the best of a bad situation (DCPS options). Blame DCPS for not offering better options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are now pursuing therapy after our experience at middle school level here. The testing, pressure, anxiety and focus on grades is too much. Please do your homework and be aware before you accept a spot and make sure it is the right fit for your child.

I also think the issue is compounded because there is not much of a release outlet with arts, music, sports, or extracurriculars. So it’s a never-ending joyless grind.

You can do all that after school. I'm also a parent of a kid who got locked out of BASIS by a bad lottery number. Trust me when I say that their chaotic middle school has not been great for their mental health either, and they don't have much academic progress to show for it.

+1. BASIS has one set of issues. The IB middle school my kid would be going to instead has a different set of issues. DC is not exactly throwing good middle school options at us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are now pursuing therapy after our experience at middle school level here. The testing, pressure, anxiety and focus on grades is too much. Please do your homework and be aware before you accept a spot and make sure it is the right fit for your child.

I also think the issue is compounded because there is not much of a release outlet with arts, music, sports, or extracurriculars. So it’s a never-ending joyless grind.

You can do all that after school. I'm also a parent of a kid who got locked out of BASIS by a bad lottery number. Trust me when I say that their chaotic middle school has not been great for their mental health either, and they don't have much academic progress to show for it.

Anonymous wrote:We are now pursuing therapy after our experience at middle school level here. The testing, pressure, anxiety and focus on grades is too much. Please do your homework and be aware before you accept a spot and make sure it is the right fit for your child.

I also think the issue is compounded because there is not much of a release outlet with arts, music, sports, or extracurriculars. So it’s a never-ending joyless grind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

You're probably better off...

This is just not universally true. I know, in real life, kids who are happy there. They have to students who want to study a lot and work hard. I also know kids who absolutely hated and got out. Those kids should never have gone there, and should have left the spot for someone who is more suited.

this is about to turn into a "BASIS is child abuse" post, and it is a real disservice to DC parents who have a kid would would enjoy it and love the chance to take advanced classes.

I don’t think anyone is against “advanced classes.” That’s why I sent my kids there. I think there’s a difference between “getting good grades” (which my children are doing) and “thriving” which I think happens at a school that is less chaotic, punitive and limited.

So what is your plan? Asking as a soon-to-be parent.

Walls. Or moving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

You're probably better off...

This is just not universally true. I know, in real life, kids who are happy there. They have to students who want to study a lot and work hard. I also know kids who absolutely hated and got out. Those kids should never have gone there, and should have left the spot for someone who is more suited.

this is about to turn into a "BASIS is child abuse" post, and it is a real disservice to DC parents who have a kid would would enjoy it and love the chance to take advanced classes.

I don’t think anyone is against “advanced classes.” That’s why I sent my kids there. I think there’s a difference between “getting good grades” (which my children are doing) and “thriving” which I think happens at a school that is less chaotic, punitive and limited.

So what is your plan? Asking as a soon-to-be parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

You're probably better off...

This is just not universally true. I know, in real life, kids who are happy there. They have to students who want to study a lot and work hard. I also know kids who absolutely hated and got out. Those kids should never have gone there, and should have left the spot for someone who is more suited.

this is about to turn into a "BASIS is child abuse" post, and it is a real disservice to DC parents who have a kid would would enjoy it and love the chance to take advanced classes.

I don’t think anyone is against “advanced classes.” That’s why I sent my kids there. I think there’s a difference between “getting good grades” (which my children are doing) and “thriving” which I think happens at a school that is less chaotic, punitive and limited.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

You're probably better off...

This is just not universally true. I know, in real life, kids who are happy there. They have to students who want to study a lot and work hard. I also know kids who absolutely hated and got out. Those kids should never have gone there, and should have left the spot for someone who is more suited.

this is about to turn into a "BASIS is child abuse" post, and it is a real disservice to DC parents who have a kid would would enjoy it and love the chance to take advanced classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

Big assumption here.

+1

Almost none of the kids who go in make it to graduation. It's really a shame.

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

Big assumption here.

Anonymous wrote:Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

You're probably better off...

Did you not research at all before signing up? Very frustrating as the parent of a kid who really wanted to go and would have thrived there, but didn't get a spot. Thanks for wasting one.

My heart goes pitter patter (in a bad way) whenever I see a Basis email notification.

Good for you for speaking out. Their marketing team is powerful and really floods the zone with bogus stuff.

We are now pursuing therapy after our experience at middle school level here. The testing, pressure, anxiety and focus on grades is too much. Please do your homework and be aware before you accept a spot and make sure it is the right fit for your child.