DCUM Forum

Anonymous

12/20/2012 22:47 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:
We're looking at BASIS for DC2 but I've pretty much lost faith at this point, feeling fed up with affirmative action/lottery admissions and aggressively PC parents. I just want a public school where a great education also tends to mean first-rate facilities and admission to a top college. How could Basis possibly afford to wash out half the 7th and 8th graders? Who would replace them if they did? Nobody can tell us.

This makes no sense. You have just 'lost faith' 'at this point'? That implies you had faith at one time, but nothing has changed - it was always open admission, always limited facilities, and always had the likelihood of washing out many many 7th and 8th graders. And as for "nobody can tell us"...what? Read the charter! They don't need to scrap their entire mission to get a few more bucks from DCPS these first two years.

Anonymous

12/20/2012 08:11 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Disagree completely!! Where's the racism in the Indian immigrant parent's statement? He's a member of a minority group himself. Your knee-jerk reaction is oozes jealousy. There's a reason that NYC's famous academic magnet high schools--all eight of them-are majority Asian in a city that's less than 10% Asian and it's not because these families aren't serious about education and achievement.

Until parents, politicians, education reform leaders engage in a frank debate about what it's going to take to attract most of the strongest DCPS and DC Charter ES students to middle schools and high schools, city schools will continue to suffer from a brain drain of the brightest, best-prepared and more disciplined students to the burbs and privates.

I'd love to see more Asians immigrant families get involved at Basis - I hear that there is only one in my kid's 5th grade class, which probably doesn't bode all that well for the HS program. This parent is surely heading to a MoCo school that's at least 20% Asian, where loads of kids get to five-star colleges, not just a few every year as at Latin so far. Please stick around, mate! We need you and your ilk bigtime.

Please don't sock puppet. If you want to express views based on racial, ethnic, and political stereotypes, stand up and do it. Don't rely on sock puppetting to give the false impression that your views have additional support.

BASIS folks, I've been a critic of some of your boosterism. I probably will remain a critic until I am satisfied the boosterism is grounded in fact and not fantasy. But, you really don't deserve the kind of crap being dumped on you in this forum. I'll try to do a better job stopping it.

Thank you.

jsteele

12/20/2012 06:45 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:New poster looking at Basis for our 4th grader sharing 22:04's concerns about the peer group and college admission prospects after visiting the school on a school day. I don't doubt that some of the older kids will "wash out," but how many is anybody's guess because Basis surely can't afford to see the back of most of them.

If Basis indeed knows just what it's doing, why are the hallways zoo-like (crazy and loud by any standard) and why do so many of the teachers look like bewildered teenagers? Seriously, I didn't talk to or see one who looked a day over 25.

I definitely care about which groups send their kids. Asian students (at least those with Asian parents) punch far about their pro rata in advanced math classes in schools nationwide, and at our country's best universities. Hence, the fact that nobody much seems to care if there are any in DC public schools past elementary is itself cause for concern.

Of course you share 22:04's concerns. You are 22:04. I think you probably need to take a break from posting here.

jsteele

12/20/2012 06:41 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:^ Disagree completely!! Where's the racism in the Indian immigrant parent's statement? He's a member of a minority group himself. Your knee-jerk reaction is oozes jealousy. There's a reason that NYC's famous academic magnet high schools--all eight of them-are majority Asian in a city that's less than 10% Asian and it's not because these families aren't serious about education and achievement.

Until parents, politicians, education reform leaders engage in a frank debate about what it's going to take to attract most of the strongest DCPS and DC Charter ES students to middle schools and high schools, city schools will continue to suffer from a brain drain of the brightest, best-prepared and more disciplined students to the burbs and privates.

I'd love to see more Asians immigrant families get involved at Basis - I hear that there is only one in my kid's 5th grade class, which probably doesn't bode all that well for the HS program. This parent is surely heading to a MoCo school that's at least 20% Asian, where loads of kids get to five-star colleges, not just a few every year as at Latin so far. Please stick around, mate! We need you and your ilk bigtime.

Please don't sock puppet. If you want to express views based on racial, ethnic, and political stereotypes, stand up and do it. Don't rely on sock puppetting to give the false impression that your views have additional support.

BASIS folks, I've been a critic of some of your boosterism. I probably will remain a critic until I am satisfied the boosterism is grounded in fact and not fantasy. But, you really don't deserve the kind of crap being dumped on you in this forum. I'll try to do a better job stopping it.

Anonymous

12/20/2012 06:28 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:

What a funny comment. Why did you just give Latin, a school that has only graduated one class, the back of your hand? You cannot compare Latin which has 225 high school students to MoCo Public Schools with 45,000 students.

FWIW, I do not have any ties to Latin or MoCo. I just thought your comment to be specious.

Because I have ties to Latin, or did rather until we pulled out after 8th last year for a private where standards are a good deal higher. We've been in DC for a long time and don't want to go, but can't afford privates for two - our younger child is in 4th grade.

We weren't sufficiently impressed with our kid's peers at Latin to stay, and not for lack of inspired teaching. Far too many kids who didn't strike us as AP material were filling up "honors" classes. I can't se how a few more years will fix the problem, not when a good many kids come in barely able to read. True, you can't compare Latin to the best MoCo programs, which are selective, not by a long shot.

We're looking at BASIS for DC2 but I've pretty much lost faith at this point, feeling fed up with affirmative action/lottery admissions and aggressively PC parents. I just want a public school where a great education also tends to mean first-rate facilities and admission to a top college. How could Basis possibly afford to wash out half the 7th and 8th graders? Who would replace them if they did? Nobody can tell us. Indian immigrant, guess we'll see you in MoCo....

PP, since you pulled out (and sound happy--good for you, and your child!), you really can't speak knowledgeably about Latin's HS today. I can. The High School honors classes are stellar. Moreover, they are tiny. Children in these classes are getting an immense degree of one on one attention from teachers who know them in and out of class. Normally I suggest that my child write holiday cards at this time of year. This year, my child came to me asking if I could spare some cards. Quote, "These are the best teachers I've ever had." I have no doubt that your child in MoCo is having a great experience. Our child at Latin is as well.

Anonymous

12/20/2012 05:38 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

New poster looking at Basis for our 4th grader sharing 22:04's concerns about the peer group and college admission prospects after visiting the school on a school day. I don't doubt that some of the older kids will "wash out," but how many is anybody's guess because Basis surely can't afford to see the back of most of them.

If Basis indeed knows just what it's doing, why are the hallways zoo-like (crazy and loud by any standard) and why do so many of the teachers look like bewildered teenagers? Seriously, I didn't talk to or see one who looked a day over 25.

I definitely care about which groups send their kids. Asian students (at least those with Asian parents) punch far about their pro rata in advanced math classes in schools nationwide, and at our country's best universities. Hence, the fact that nobody much seems to care if there are any in DC public schools past elementary is itself cause for concern.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 22:57 Subject: BASIS student, have they left the school?

How can BASIS afford to wash out students? That question doesn't even make sense. It's like asking how can TJ afford to wash out 90%+ of all of its' potential students by never even accepting them. They do just fine, just as TJ does. They will keep getting full flights of incoming 5th graders, which will whittle down as the grades advance, that's really not so unusual for many schools, and I think it will be something relatively predictable and able to be planned for in terms of model and sustainability. They've done this kind of thing before, they know what they are doing.

And as for Indian/Asian/whatever - speaking for myself, I could care less what "group" goes to what school. It's not a popularity contest or social club. What matters most is what matters to you and what works for your student and your family, and in our case, what matters to our student is a good, rigorous education, and so far it's working out great.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 22:04 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous

12/19/2012 12:55 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:^ Disagree completely!! Where's the racism in the Indian immigrant parent's statement? He's a member of a minority group himself. Your knee-jerk reaction is oozes jealousy. There's a reason that NYC's famous academic magnet high schools--all eight of them-are majority Asian in a city that's less than 10% Asian and it's not because these families aren't serious about education and achievement.

Until parents, politicians, education reform leaders engage in a frank debate about what it's going to take to attract most of the strongest DCPS and DC Charter ES students to middle schools and high schools, city schools will continue to suffer from a brain drain of the brightest, best-prepared and more disciplined students to the burbs and privates.

I'd love to see more Asians immigrant families get involved at Basis - I hear that there is only one in my kid's 5th grade class, which probably doesn't bode all that well for the HS program. This parent is surely heading to a MoCo school that's at least 20% Asian, where loads of kids get to five-star colleges, not just a few every year as at Latin so far. Please stick around, mate! We need you and your ilk bigtime.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 12:53 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:
Some of the kids in upper grades are doing just fine but for those who are that far behind and that underprepared, they will surely wash out with the comps, if not sooner. And for the current lower grades and prospective ES students, they will be seeing everything on track right through high school. So, I'm not worried about it one bit.

Yes, but let us be clear, Basis DC is going well above board to offer supports for struggling students and hopes to see all students succeed. Obviously, some will not pass the comps or want to continue in a rigorous school, but I have been truly impressed with the efforts of Basis.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 12:47 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:^ Disagree completely!! Where's the racism in the Indian immigrant parent's statement? He's a member of a minority group himself. Your knee-jerk reaction is oozes jealousy. There's a reason that NYC's famous academic magnet high schools--all eight of them-are majority Asian in a city that's less than 10% Asian and it's not because these families aren't serious about education and achievement.

Until parents, politicians, education reform leaders engage in a frank debate about what it's going to take to attract most of the strongest DCPS and DC Charter ES students to middle schools and high schools, city schools will continue to suffer from a brain drain of the brightest, best-prepared and more disciplined students to the burbs and privates.

I'd love to see more Asians immigrant families get involved at Basis - I hear that there is only one in my kid's 5th grade class, which probably doesn't bode all that well for the HS program. This parent is surely heading to a MoCo school that's at least 20% Asian, where loads of kids get to five-star colleges, not just a few every year as at Latin so far. Please stick around, mate! We need you and your ilk bigtime.

What it takes is results, and that will be demonstrated soon enough.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 12:43 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Meanwhile, it's going to be at least 6 years before we even start seeing any SAT results from BASIS, and even as a BASIS parent I don't see much point in maintaining a constant high daily level of angst about it for six whole years as some the other posters here seem to want to - DS is getting a good education there, is building great skills on many levels, and I'm quite confident he will ultimately nail the SAT and get a great score and open many doors for himself regardless of where he goes to school.

OK, sure, he'll nail the SAT, but when do we get past this wait-and-see schools culture? In six years? In twelve? Basis let in plenty of poorly prepared 7th and 8th graders who aren't exactly on track to ace the SAT in four or five short years. Phasing them all out would obviously mean a budget crisis for Basis. Really wish they'd stuck to their guns by insisting on starting only with 5th and adding a grade a year. Other charters have done that.

Some of the kids in upper grades are doing just fine but for those who are that far behind and that underprepared, they will surely wash out with the comps, if not sooner. And for the current lower grades and prospective ES students, they will be seeing everything on track right through high school. So, I'm not worried about it one bit.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 12:17 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:
Meanwhile, it's going to be at least 6 years before we even start seeing any SAT results from BASIS, and even as a BASIS parent I don't see much point in maintaining a constant high daily level of angst about it for six whole years as some the other posters here seem to want to - DS is getting a good education there, is building great skills on many levels, and I'm quite confident he will ultimately nail the SAT and get a great score and open many doors for himself regardless of where he goes to school.

OK, sure, he'll nail the SAT, but when do we get past this wait-and-see schools culture? In six years? In twelve? Basis let in plenty of poorly prepared 7th and 8th graders who aren't exactly on track to ace the SAT in four or five short years. Phasing them all out would obviously mean a budget crisis for Basis. Really wish they'd stuck to their guns by insisting on starting only with 5th and adding a grade a year. Other charters have done that.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 12:12 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

^ Disagree completely!! Where's the racism in the Indian immigrant parent's statement? He's a member of a minority group himself. Your knee-jerk reaction is oozes jealousy. There's a reason that NYC's famous academic magnet high schools--all eight of them-are majority Asian in a city that's less than 10% Asian and it's not because these families aren't serious about education and achievement.

Until parents, politicians, education reform leaders engage in a frank debate about what it's going to take to attract most of the strongest DCPS and DC Charter ES students to middle schools and high schools, city schools will continue to suffer from a brain drain of the brightest, best-prepared and more disciplined students to the burbs and privates.

I'd love to see more Asians immigrant families get involved at Basis - I hear that there is only one in my kid's 5th grade class, which probably doesn't bode all that well for the HS program. This parent is surely heading to a MoCo school that's at least 20% Asian, where loads of kids get to five-star colleges, not just a few every year as at Latin so far. Please stick around, mate! We need you and your ilk bigtime.

Anonymous

12/19/2012 11:52 Subject: Re:BASIS student, have they left the school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Show us the money. If the test scores and HS demographics aren't a big improvement on Latin's in a few years, just another OK charter.

So worst case, they just end up being another Latin? Hardly sounds like the end of the world.

Right, hardly the end of the world, but hardly TJ either, and not enough to keep many upper-middle-class families from running to privates or the burbs, which hurts the city in a small way.

The acid test is a school's ability to attract and keep East and South Asian parents. This is because such parents, a) don't embrace diversity like white liberals and, b) tend to raise very strong students. Latin gets and keeps precious few East and South Asian parents. We are Indian immigrants and Ivy League grads who won't touch Basis if most of the Asian kids there are Chinese girls adopted by white liberals, as at Latin....You'll surely say, who cares, drop dead, but I assure you that my 4th grader will eventually ace 9-10 AP classes/tests wherever she goes.

I hope your 4th grader does not come to Basis so that your DC can rub these racist views off on my DC and the other students at Basis whose parents do not ascribe to your Indian immigrant views. Thanks to the "white liberals" I hope we are not importing to many other brown racists from other countries.