Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, because you must be the kind of conformist family BASIS caters to. You’re unlikely to speak anything but English at home and your kids probably aren’t accomplished musicians, artists or into student/govt politics. We didn’t fit in, couldn’t take the controlling admins after 9th grade. Switched to a private. Kid was admitted ED to a top 10 SLAC in the fall.

Telling us your private high school is better than a free PCS is not the flex you think it is.

Signed,
Someone who speaks English at home (the horrors!!!!)

Huh? This foreigner can't follow the vernacular, let alone the "flex."

The point is that BASIS doesn't simply cater to the academically advanced. The system favors families willing to embrace, or at least tolerate, pushy leadership, a one-size-fits-all curriculum and a hyper focus on academics vs. a well-rounded education. Fair point. Banneker's approach isn't as dictatorial or limiting, or as academic.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, because you must be the kind of conformist family BASIS caters to. You’re unlikely to speak anything but English at home and your kids probably aren’t accomplished musicians, artists or into student/govt politics. We didn’t fit in, couldn’t take the controlling admins after 9th grade. Switched to a private. Kid was admitted ED to a top 10 SLAC in the fall.

Telling us your private high school is better than a free PCS is not the flex you think it is.

Signed,
Someone who speaks English at home (the horrors!!!!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a Basis parent myself with high schoolers, this is what I know:

You know the drawbacks to Basis already- we have found the high school to be a much more satisfying experience. The HS teachers are great, class sizes small, and getting outside every day for lunch is really great for socializing, exercise, and vitamin D.

I can't speak to Banneker - except that the building and campus look amazing. But HS has been much better than MS at Basis.

This is so great to hear (speaking as a BASIS ms parent). It does seem like the high schoolers smile and seem generally happy. Speaking of not using the forum to make major life decisions (on another thread), I'm very thankful I didn't let this forum dissuade me from BASIS. Would have been a HUGE missed opportunity.

+1. My kid was admitted to Basis in 5th, but we opted to continue language immersion. If I'd had a more STEM oriented kid, I would have selected BASIS in a heartbeat. DC is happy at Banneker and has friends at BASIS who love it as well.

Yes, because you must be the kind of conformist family BASIS caters to. You’re unlikely to speak anything but English at home and your kids probably aren’t accomplished musicians, artists or into student/govt politics. We didn’t fit in, couldn’t take the controlling admins after 9th grade. Switched to a private. Kid was admitted ED to a top 10 SLAC in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:OP, as a Basis parent myself with high schoolers, this is what I know:

You know the drawbacks to Basis already- we have found the high school to be a much more satisfying experience. The HS teachers are great, class sizes small, and getting outside every day for lunch is really great for socializing, exercise, and vitamin D.

I can't speak to Banneker - except that the building and campus look amazing. But HS has been much better than MS at Basis.

This is so great to hear (speaking as a BASIS ms parent). It does seem like the high schoolers smile and seem generally happy. Speaking of not using the forum to make major life decisions (on another thread), I'm very thankful I didn't let this forum dissuade me from BASIS. Would have been a HUGE missed opportunity.

OP, as a Basis parent myself with high schoolers, this is what I know:

You know the drawbacks to Basis already- we have found the high school to be a much more satisfying experience. The HS teachers are great, class sizes small, and getting outside every day for lunch is really great for socializing, exercise, and vitamin D.

I can't speak to Banneker - except that the building and campus look amazing. But HS has been much better than MS at Basis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basis is lottery yes, but also pushes kids out who are not performing. And this is widely understood impacting the applications. All in all this is akin to cherry picking.

If by "pushes kids out" you mean has rigorous workloads and doesn't socially promote so kids leave, then I guess so. People who think high standards are the problem are one of the reasons DC schools suck.

What's funny is there is a point to be in response to the comparison of "pure lottery" vs application, but you didn't make that point. The point a rational person would have made is, "While BASIS is a pure lottery in 5th, the self selection that occurs as kids rise and leave combined with the fact that they don't add kids after 5th means it is intellectually dishonest to argue "pure lottery vs application. The truth is somewhere in the middle and at any rate this is apples to oranges. And a completely unnecessary and useless comparison."

But you didn't make that point, you just recycled a trope about "forcing kids out". Yawn.

Kids leave Banneker, self-select, etc.

The difference here is that Banneker selects its students and Basis doesn’t.

Anonymous wrote:Basis is lottery yes, but also pushes kids out who are not performing. And this is widely understood impacting the applications. All in all this is akin to cherry picking.

If by "pushes kids out" you mean has rigorous workloads and doesn't socially promote so kids leave, then I guess so. People who think high standards are the problem are one of the reasons DC schools suck.

What's funny is there is a point to be in response to the comparison of "pure lottery" vs application, but you didn't make that point. The point a rational person would have made is, "While BASIS is a pure lottery in 5th, the self selection that occurs as kids rise and leave combined with the fact that they don't add kids after 5th means it is intellectually dishonest to argue "pure lottery vs application. The truth is somewhere in the middle and at any rate this is apples to oranges. And a completely unnecessary and useless comparison."

But you didn't make that point, you just recycled a trope about "forcing kids out". Yawn.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one has gone from BASIS DC to Banneker for 9th grade in at least 5 years, if ever.

I think one kid did last year (parent of current 9th grader at Basis.) Pretty sure there was one who went there after 8th.

Nope. DC publishes this data. You are wrong.

DC’s date for last year isn’t out yet…

I guess the real question is why do you want to move? No comparison in the academic rigor between the two. Three important notes- 1. Is your child taking a language? You should look at the highest level offered at Banneker and whether your language is offered. 2. Banneker automatically places you in Algebra I as a Freshman. Regardless of what appear on your transcript. Banneker will make you test in to Geometry or higher. It is RARE that they will place you in Algebra 2 or higher as a Freshman. 3. Banneker limits the number of APs you can take.
I had children at all 3 schools (Banneker, Basis and Walls). My child was miserable a BASIS and didn’t have a social life due to the amount of work at BASIS, we moved them to Banneker and they are a much happier kid. Their mental well being was most important to me. There are significant trade offs but we did what was the best fit for each child.

Basis is lottery yes, but also pushes kids out who are not performing. And this is widely understood impacting the applications. All in all this is akin to cherry picking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids that go to walls after doing well at Basis find the the math boring. Banneker might be the same, you just need to ask specifically about math level.

Overall my feeling is the schools are very similar, lots of work, probably too much work, but Banneker has way nicer buildings.

Similar?

Banneker cherry picks its students and has an average SAT score of 1107.

BASIS DC is 100% lottery and has an average SAT score of 1340.

Guess the "too much work" pays off for BASIS DC but not Banneker. But, hey, Banneker has nicer buildings so it's all good.

For the kind of kid who can succeed at BASIS, and succeeded enough that they have mostly As in 7th grade, I can't imagine choosing Banneker instead.

But, I'm sure there are many kids who don't want to go to BASIS in the first place and then wind up at Banneker. Feels like one where the decision is made much earlier.

Anonymous wrote:Kids that go to walls after doing well at Basis find the the math boring. Banneker might be the same, you just need to ask specifically about math level.

Overall my feeling is the schools are very similar, lots of work, probably too much work, but Banneker has way nicer buildings.

Similar?

Banneker cherry picks its students and has an average SAT score of 1107.

BASIS DC is 100% lottery and has an average SAT score of 1340.

Guess the "too much work" pays off for BASIS DC but not Banneker. But, hey, Banneker has nicer buildings so it's all good.

Kids that go to walls after doing well at Basis find the the math boring. Banneker might be the same, you just need to ask specifically about math level.

Overall my feeling is the schools are very similar, lots of work, probably too much work, but Banneker has way nicer buildings.