We're making the switch for our 7th grader and betting on the high school. She won't be able to get in next year. I don't want to take that chance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are any families currently at Latin thinking of switching to BASIS? Why? Why not?

No, went to a BASIS meeting but have decided to stay at Latin. Latin is a good fit for our child, so we really don't want to give up what is working for something that is uncertain.

We are also staying at Latin. DC is very happy there, has made friends and loves the teachers. It is too good to give up for a more convenient location which I see as the only "for sure" feature it has over Latin.

Anonymous wrote:
Minuses for BASIS
-- worried about first year blips

BTDT charter family here. "Blips" often take much more than a year to work out. Even if you have a great building and deep pockets.

BASIS struck me as being very founder-dependent and possibly over-stretched with rapid growth in Arizona. Even with Mary Siddall, whom I respect even if I don't always agree with her, Basis leaders came across as unaware of the lightning rod the school could be politically. If they don't knock DC CAS out of the park quickly, they may not last long.

I hope it works out for them. But we're done with the startup school thing.

Fingers crossed on Latin for us.

Anonymous wrote:I know about three families at Yu Ying in different grades. All plan to stay for middle school.

YY family, highly unlikely that we will stay for middle school. Too many inexperienced teachers.

Anonymous wrote:Are any families currently at Latin thinking of switching to BASIS? Why? Why not?

No, went to a BASIS meeting but have decided to stay at Latin. Latin is a good fit for our child, so we really don't want to give up what is working for something that is uncertain.

Washington Latin
OPEN HOUSES
(1) Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
(2) Thursday, March 1st, 2012
4115 16th Street, NW (16th and Upshur)
6:30 – 8:00 PM

Friday, March 9th, 2012 - Application deadline
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 – Lottery (if necessary)
Accepting applications Dec 5 to Mar 9.

Are any families currently at Latin thinking of switching to BASIS? Why? Why not?

I know about three families at Yu Ying in different grades. All plan to stay for middle school.

I'm curious if people who have children in charters that run PreK- to 8 are considering staying so that they don't have to make a tough decision about middle school? What about places like Haynes, Cap City, and the newer charters that do not yet but plan to go through 8th grade? Will people stay at these for middle school?

Mom of a 4th grader on the Hill. All things considered our first choice will be Latin. Here is what we checked as our pluses and minuses for each:

Pluses for BASIS
-- great location
-- curriculum
-- seems well endowed

Minuses for BASIS
-- worried about first year blips
-- worried that bright child would get burned out (the documentary The Race to Nowhere made me wary of schools that teach to pass tests and the reviews on great schools for the Arizona schools seem to indicate that BASIS might be this type of school)
-- no athletic fields

Pluses for Latin
-- established program
-- everyone I know who sends child there likes it
-- seems to have good administration and well liked teachers (liked what I saw when I observed)
-- like that they have socratic seminars
-- dedicated bus from Hill

Minuses for Latin
-- no permanent location and small classrooms where they are now
-- fields two blocks away
-- long distance from the hill.

We are applying to both and if we get into both, we will also consider it a win-win. If we do get into both, I really don't know which we will choose....we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, I guess. My hopes are not high for Latin, as my son will be in 7th grade and last year, he was #87 on the list for 6th grade.

The social aspects of the school are important too. I'd recommend having your child shadow for a day at Latin if you have applied. This will give him or her a feel for the school and whether the environment is a good fit. After my daughter shadowed at Latin she know it was where she wanted to be. Before shadowing she was not impressed with the school. I'd also consider where friends and neighbors are sending their children. It is helpful to have a "support group" for both parents and students to consult on homework assignments, carpooling etc.

We have a fourth grader in DCPS and are currently applying to Basis and Latin. If we get in both places we'd consider it a win-win. But, with more science, plus its location, Basis is a better for our situation.

P.S. Would your choice depend on the grade your middle schooler is entering next year?

I have read through the threads on BASIS over the past few months. While the posts have been informative, many have focused on alternatives to BASIS such as privates, Deal, Montgomery County and Fairfax. I've also read the recent threads on Latin.

At this point, we are committed to public school in DC for our middle schooler. If you had the choice of either Washington Latin or BASIS DC for your middle schooler -- and no other options -- which would you choose and why?

Thanks