Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 19:45     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
^^^ one thing thing Europe does that Basis has borrowed is simultaneously studying three sciences concurrently over several years. The American model has been to do earth science in 9th, biology in 10th, Chemistry in 11th and on. Another thing Europe does is direct . students into academic schools and technical schools according to interest and ability. Not as much in the USA. Everyone is college bound.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 17:24     Subject: Re:Is Basis really as hard as people think?

No, it is not marketing material. It is a fact that Basis offers a rigorous European style education. It is also a fact that not every school is going to be a good fit. For example, if I was not interested in my child being immersed in another language, then an immersion school would not be a good fit for my child. As another example, previously, a Montessori school was not good fit for our kid and we pulled him out of that school. Every kid is different.


Can we please not use the term "European style education" with reference to BASIS. It really is a meaningless concept except as a marketing buzz term. Europe doesn't have a style of education - it is a continent. As far as I can tell insofar as it means anything concrete it refers to the fact that BASIS has Latin in middle school. So just say it offers Latin in middle school. If other countries' educational models are to be referenced, it seems that BASIS provides a South Korean style education... accelerated curriculum, math-focused, content-based lectures and frequent standardized testing, especially AP in 9th-11th grade.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 10:42     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Let me say that it is not my intention to "booster" BASIS. I am just relaying our experience with the program. I think a lot of parents love the idea of what BASIS can and does achieve, but then are disappointed when they see that their child struggles to keep up. That is why I think that "It is not for everyone." Nor do I think there is any shame in realizing so. I actually applaud the parents who can admit that their child be better suited elsewhere and move them in their best interests. Several of my friends did.

BASIS is not school of geniuses. They are open enrollment. My DD is not a genius either. She just happens to pride herself in working hard and getting good grades. She just happened to be able to keep up. But I also saw how disappointing it was to her to not be awarded an honor roll spot for the grading period because she had a GPA of 94.5% and the last spot was given to the child who had a GPA of 94.8%. That, I found a bit unfair.

As I said, my DD enjoyed BASIS, but I think it was a lot of pressure for her and she was relieved to back off a bit. With a cross-country move, we were ok with giving her a break. BASIS DC just wasn't the place for us at this time, mostly because of location and housing. I'm not saying that TJ is better either. I don't know what to expect from TJ, or if we even want to pursue that route.

My DD was tested for FCPS AAP on arrival, but it appears that they decided not to place her even before the scores have been returned. But from what I gather, you don't have to be in the program to enroll is MS honors courses. So I will let her do her own thing and hopefully we'll step it up again next fall.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 09:22     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:Why are people so hung up on "BASIS isn't a good fit for everyone"? Options isn't a good fit for everyone. Roots isn't a good fit for everyone. St Coletta's isn't a good fit for everyone. There are literally dozens of schools around the area that "aren't a good fit for everyone".


Because the school is frequently criticized for its academic rigor and its heavy reliance on standardized testing for student assessment, which some pejoratively refer to as "drill and kill". Academic rigor and reliance on standardized testing are fundamental to the BASIS philosophy; they are not incidental to the running of the school.

I imagine that if there were numerous threads questioning the rationale for a school with an African-centered learning environment designed to secure the connection of Mother Africa with our children, Roots parent would post that "Roots isn't a good fit for everyone" as well.


Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 21:25     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Why are people so hung up on "BASIS isn't a good fit for everyone"? Options isn't a good fit for everyone. Roots isn't a good fit for everyone. St Coletta's isn't a good fit for everyone. There are literally dozens of schools around the area that "aren't a good fit for everyone".
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 18:20     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:
We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.

Anonymous wrote:You could still try and get on the wait list for next year at Basis DC and relocate to DC

Anonymous wrote:But if BASIS is so terrific, why bother with TJ? Because the DC program is new? And if the prep was so much stronger than even the accelerated public school norm, as the boosters claim here adnauseum, why couldn't your girl test into a gifted MS program in Fairfax? A nephew in VA tested in this year, although he's no genius, and hadn't taken biology, physics, ethics, Latin etc. beforehand. He isn't even taking algebra in 7th so he can focus on sports and music.

If BASIS strings are so unpleasant, why do you read them?
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 17:51     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.


You could still try and get on the wait list for next year at Basis DC and relocate to DC


But if BASIS is so terrific, why bother with TJ? Because the DC program is new? And if the prep was so much stronger than even the accelerated public school norm, as the boosters claim here adnauseum, why couldn't your girl test into a gifted MS program in Fairfax? A nephew in VA tested in this year, although he's no genius, and hadn't taken biology, physics, ethics, Latin etc. beforehand. He isn't even taking algebra in 7th so he can focus on sports and music.





From what I understand TJ changed their admission criteria so much so that 30% of the freshmen class needed remediation this year. There was a Washington Post article on it.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 16:30     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:
We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.


You could still try and get on the wait list for next year at Basis DC and relocate to DC


But if BASIS is so terrific, why bother with TJ? Because the DC program is new? And if the prep was so much stronger than even the accelerated public school norm, as the boosters claim here adnauseum, why couldn't your girl test into a gifted MS program in Fairfax? A nephew in VA tested in this year, although he's no genius, and hadn't taken biology, physics, ethics, Latin etc. beforehand. He isn't even taking algebra in 7th so he can focus on sports and music.




Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 15:39     Subject: Re:Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:
I just wanted to express my thoughts on BASIS. We recently relocated from Tucson. My DD attended BASIS for 1.5 years. BASIS is an amazing group of schools and DC is lucky to have one of them. The academics are rigorous and advanced and I was repeated astounded by the depth of information and teaching that was consistently provided to the students at that school. Prior to BASIS, I would not have fathomed that my child would succeed at Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Latin, etc. in the 6th grade. She enjoyed the school. Yes, she had a lot of homework and may have been a bit put off by the excess number of weekly tests and quizzes, but she also found that she could maintain top grades and still have plenty of time for herself.

BASIS is a tough school. It is not for everyone. Luckily, my DD was self motivated and organized, so I was very hands-off the 2nd year. It has to be a good fit for the child. If the child is not interested or motivated then it becomes a real struggle suffered by the while family.

We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.


Is this in some BASIS marketing material? Every single time a booster posts (and there's nothing wrong with boostering), they always have these two lines in their posts.


No, it is not marketing material. It is a fact that Basis offers a rigorous European style education. It is also a fact that not every school is going to be a good fit. For example, if I was not interested in my child being immersed in another language, then an immersion school would not be a good fit for my child. As another example, previously, a Montessori school was not good fit for our kid and we pulled him out of that school. Every kid is different.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 15:35     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:I just wanted to express my thoughts on BASIS. We recently relocated from Tucson. My DD attended BASIS for 1.5 years. BASIS is an amazing group of schools and DC is lucky to have one of them. The academics are rigorous and advanced and I was repeated astounded by the depth of information and teaching that was consistently provided to the students at that school. Prior to BASIS, I would not have fathomed that my child would succeed at Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Latin, etc. in the 6th grade. She enjoyed the school. Yes, she had a lot of homework and may have been a bit put off by the excess number of weekly tests and quizzes, but she also found that she could maintain top grades and still have plenty of time for herself.

BASIS is a tough school. It is not for everyone. Luckily, my DD was self motivated and organized, so I was very hands-off the 2nd year. It has to be a good fit for the child. If the child is not interested or motivated then it becomes a real struggle suffered by the while family.

We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.


You could still try and get on the wait list for next year at Basis DC and relocate to DC
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 13:44     Subject: Re:Is Basis really as hard as people think?
I just wanted to express my thoughts on BASIS. We recently relocated from Tucson. My DD attended BASIS for 1.5 years. BASIS is an amazing group of schools and DC is lucky to have one of them. The academics are rigorous and advanced and I was repeated astounded by the depth of information and teaching that was consistently provided to the students at that school. Prior to BASIS, I would not have fathomed that my child would succeed at Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Latin, etc. in the 6th grade. She enjoyed the school. Yes, she had a lot of homework and may have been a bit put off by the excess number of weekly tests and quizzes, but she also found that she could maintain top grades and still have plenty of time for herself.

BASIS is a tough school. It is not for everyone. Luckily, my DD was self motivated and organized, so I was very hands-off the 2nd year. It has to be a good fit for the child. If the child is not interested or motivated then it becomes a real struggle suffered by the while family.

We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.


Is this in some BASIS marketing material? Every single time a booster posts (and there's nothing wrong with boostering), they always have these two lines in their posts.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 12:18     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
I just wanted to express my thoughts on BASIS. We recently relocated from Tucson. My DD attended BASIS for 1.5 years. BASIS is an amazing group of schools and DC is lucky to have one of them. The academics are rigorous and advanced and I was repeated astounded by the depth of information and teaching that was consistently provided to the students at that school. Prior to BASIS, I would not have fathomed that my child would succeed at Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Latin, etc. in the 6th grade. She enjoyed the school. Yes, she had a lot of homework and may have been a bit put off by the excess number of weekly tests and quizzes, but she also found that she could maintain top grades and still have plenty of time for herself.

BASIS is a tough school. It is not for everyone. Luckily, my DD was self motivated and organized, so I was very hands-off the 2nd year. It has to be a good fit for the child. If the child is not interested or motivated then it becomes a real struggle suffered by the while family.

We considered BASIS DC when moving out here but decided to go with FCPS with the consideration of possibly applying to TJ. We anticipated a significant lightening of the workload for the remainder of 6th grade but we were somewhat surprised that my DD was denied admission to the AAP program at her school, even though she clearly demonstrated ability to handle advanced academics. Now she seems kind of bored. Go figure.

Good luck to those at BASIS DC.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2013 11:30     Subject: Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Thanks for clearing that up. Stil terrible, though. Ridiculous that any kid faces that at school
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2013 11:24     Subject: Re:Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good points, PP. You won't be the last with these issues. It clearly isn't going to be the happiest school on earth but it sure beats Eliot-Hine.



This sums it up. At least your kid won't get beat up at BASIS.

Of course, there are some of us who want more in terms of education for our children.


Actually, I have a friend whose DC had a knife pulled on DC in school, another who was just telling me that she moved her DC to another school after DC was jumped 3 times at school. Yes, I still think it's better than E-H, but I don't think it's nearly what it could/should be.


Are you saying there was a knife pulled at Basis? That is pretty serious. So is getting "jumped". Care to elaborate? Is this documented anywhere?


No, it wasn't at BASIS.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2013 11:09     Subject: Re:Is Basis really as hard as people think?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good points, PP. You won't be the last with these issues. It clearly isn't going to be the happiest school on earth but it sure beats Eliot-Hine.



This sums it up. At least your kid won't get beat up at BASIS.

Of course, there are some of us who want more in terms of education for our children.


Actually, I have a friend whose DC had a knife pulled on DC in school, another who was just telling me that she moved her DC to another school after DC was jumped 3 times at school. Yes, I still think it's better than E-H, but I don't think it's nearly what it could/should be.


Are you saying there was a knife pulled at Basis? That is pretty serious. So is getting "jumped". Care to elaborate? Is this documented anywhere?