My kid is just finishing 9th grade at BASIS. What they found is that although there is plenty of work to go around, it is less relentless than 8th grade was. High school homework tends to be longer term -- due in a week, for example, rather than every day -- so the students have more autonomy to make their own schedules. 8th grade was brutal by comparison because often every single class had homework due the next day. YMMV, obviously, and I can't speak to the higher grades, but overall 9th grade has been much better for us than 8th.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say that Basis gets harder in HS, but the workload does increase, especially in 11th and 12th.

The workload is less in 12th because you are finished with your APs. If you decide not to do a senior project, you’re also done with the school year much earlier.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say that Basis gets harder in HS, but the workload does increase, especially in 11th and 12th.

Seems accurate.

I wouldn't say that Basis gets harder in HS, but the workload does increase, especially in 11th and 12th.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps I should been more clear in my query. My kid can continue at BASIS for HS, but it appears they are being practically recruited for an arts speciality at Duke Ellington. Is HS harder at BASIS than my kid has found MS? MS has been really hard. Are the academics at Duke Ellington very easy compared to BASIS because we aren’t looking for that either. Does anyone have actual experience with their kid getting into college from Duke Ellington? Thank you.

If your child found MS at BASIS to be really hard, then HS will also be hard. Academics are easier at Duke, but may be just right for your kid.

Which is your child's priority, their art or rigorous academics? The overall day at Duke is probably harder because it's so long, but the academics will be easier.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps I should been more clear in my query. My kid can continue at BASIS for HS, but it appears they are being practically recruited for an arts speciality at Duke Ellington. Is HS harder at BASIS than my kid has found MS? MS has been really hard. Are the academics at Duke Ellington very easy compared to BASIS because we aren’t looking for that either. Does anyone have actual experience with their kid getting into college from Duke Ellington? Thank you.

If this arts specialty will continue to be a big part of your kid’s life and potentially something they do professionally, switch to Duke. Also, I assume if at Basis they need to go outside the school to pursue it while it will be at the school for Duke (though Georgetown may be inconvenient for you…so maybe it’s not an issue).

Duke Ellington academics can be very easy if you don’t take any AP classes, to decently challenging if you do.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps I should been more clear in my query. My kid can continue at BASIS for HS, but it appears they are being practically recruited for an arts speciality at Duke Ellington. Is HS harder at BASIS than my kid has found MS? MS has been really hard. Are the academics at Duke Ellington very easy compared to BASIS because we aren’t looking for that either. Does anyone have actual experience with their kid getting into college from Duke Ellington? Thank you.

I've looked at the data, there are always a handful of kids who go to Ellington from BASIS. Maybe you can find them if you post on the WhatsApp?

Perhaps I should been more clear in my query. My kid can continue at BASIS for HS, but it appears they are being practically recruited for an arts speciality at Duke Ellington. Is HS harder at BASIS than my kid has found MS? MS has been really hard. Are the academics at Duke Ellington very easy compared to BASIS because we aren’t looking for that either. Does anyone have actual experience with their kid getting into college from Duke Ellington? Thank you.

Polar opposites

Chalk and cheese.

I'm old enough to remember when trolls put in even a small amount of effort. Yawn.

Duke Ellington?

They aren’t comparable…I wouldn’t go to Duke unless accepted for their Arts program…and I wouldn’t go to Basis if my kid wanted a rigorous Arts program.

Does BASIS get even harder in HS than it is in MS? What is Duke like in comparison?