Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 09:54     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Parents of some of the strongest students in the city will see the scores, and then won't put in for BASIS.

If the parents are that dumb, maybe their children aren't so strong.


Passing on BASIS because low DC CAS scores of its current 7th and 8th graders -- assuming they actually are low -- would be foolish indeed. It is widely known that they are the least prepared for the rigorous curriculum.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 09:16     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:
Parents of some of the strongest students in the city will see the scores, and then won't put in for BASIS.

If the parents are that dumb, maybe their children aren't so strong.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 08:48     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:

I do not see 7th and 8th graders dragging down the school for years since BASIS is going above and beyond to get them up to speed and all students must pass their classes and from 6th grade up must pass comprehensive exams in all subjects in order to pass to the next grade. BASIS does not do social promotion. They offer students a chance to take comprehensive exams again and to repeat a grade if they fail.


I do, because these kids are going to get mediocre, or even lousy, DC-CAS scores that won't be good advertising for the school. Latin's HS has the same problem. Parents of some of the strongest students in the city will see the scores, and then won't put in for BASIS. The not-so-great test scores will be around for longer than the kids who can't cut it. Really too bad that BASIS DC didn't simply start with 5th grade, for financial reasons.







From what I understand Latin does social promotion and BASIS does not. Therefore, the DC-CAS scores should improve over time since the students who fail their classes will probably choose another school rather than repeat a grade. Therein lies the difference.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 07:48     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal


I do not see 7th and 8th graders dragging down the school for years since BASIS is going above and beyond to get them up to speed and all students must pass their classes and from 6th grade up must pass comprehensive exams in all subjects in order to pass to the next grade. BASIS does not do social promotion. They offer students a chance to take comprehensive exams again and to repeat a grade if they fail.


I do, because these kids are going to get mediocre, or even lousy, DC-CAS scores that won't be good advertising for the school. Latin's HS has the same problem. Parents of some of the strongest students in the city will see the scores, and then won't put in for BASIS. The not-so-great test scores will be around for longer than the kids who can't cut it. Really too bad that BASIS DC didn't simply start with 5th grade, for financial reasons.





Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 21:19     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BASIS only gets around 2/3 the per pupil outlay as Deal and it shows. Non-science facilities are pretty crappy, at least if you like performance space, art supplies, well-equipped music rooms and the like. Mediocre tests scores for 7th and 8th grades are sure to drag the school down for years. Big mistake to start with more than 5th, or maybe 5th and 6th.


Ah, the injustice of DCPS v. DCPCSB funding...

I'd still choose BASIS. My kids get music outside of school. I'd prefer that they focus on STEM studies in school.



My kid at BASIS has been happy with his music classes and the String club.


And my kid loves his art teacher.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 20:34     Subject: Basis v. Deal
Keep in mind that, if you're IB for Deal, you can always go there if BASIS doesn't work out.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 19:01     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:BASIS only gets around 2/3 the per pupil outlay as Deal and it shows. Non-science facilities are pretty crappy, at least if you like performance space, art supplies, well-equipped music rooms and the like. Mediocre tests scores for 7th and 8th grades are sure to drag the school down for years. Big mistake to start with more than 5th, or maybe 5th and 6th.


Ah, the injustice of DCPS v. DCPCSB funding...

I'd still choose BASIS. My kids get music outside of school. I'd prefer that they focus on STEM studies in school.



My kid at BASIS has been happy with his music classes and the String club.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 19:00     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:BASIS only gets around 2/3 the per pupil outlay as Deal and it shows. Non-science facilities are pretty crappy, at least if you like performance space, art supplies, well-equipped music rooms and the like. Mediocre tests scores for 7th and 8th grades are sure to drag the school down for years. Big mistake to start with more than 5th, or maybe 5th and 6th.





I do not see 7th and 8th graders dragging down the school for years since BASIS is going above and beyond to get them up to speed and all students must pass their classes and from 6th grade up must pass comprehensive exams in all subjects in order to pass to the next grade. BASIS does not do social promotion. They offer students a chance to take comprehensive exams again and to repeat a grade if they fail.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 18:57     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
Anonymous wrote:BASIS only gets around 2/3 the per pupil outlay as Deal and it shows. Non-science facilities are pretty crappy, at least if you like performance space, art supplies, well-equipped music rooms and the like. Mediocre tests scores for 7th and 8th grades are sure to drag the school down for years. Big mistake to start with more than 5th, or maybe 5th and 6th.


Ah, the injustice of DCPS v. DCPCSB funding...

I'd still choose BASIS. My kids get music outside of school. I'd prefer that they focus on STEM studies in school.

Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 16:39     Subject: Re:Basis v. Deal
BASIS only gets around 2/3 the per pupil outlay as Deal and it shows. Non-science facilities are pretty crappy, at least if you like performance space, art supplies, well-equipped music rooms and the like. Mediocre tests scores for 7th and 8th grades are sure to drag the school down for years. Big mistake to start with more than 5th, or maybe 5th and 6th.




Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 15:29     Subject: Basis v. Deal
Deal, without blinking.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 15:28     Subject: Basis v. Deal
Possibly. I'd need to read the other 1,114 threads on this exact same topic though, before I decided.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 15:22     Subject: Basis v. Deal
No.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 14:56     Subject: Basis v. Deal
Yes.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 13:45     Subject: Basis v. Deal
Would you choose Basis over Deal if you had the option?