Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basis will offer a dual track foreign language program for native and bilingual speakers in addition to their regular foreign language program.

For what language(s)?

I think they mean parallel language classes, not a dual immersion track for bilinguals. More Deal MS than Oyster-Adams?

on Basis -- I looked at the curriculum and it sort of frightened me. The lowest math track is algebra 1 in 7th. The lowest math track is AP calculus in 11th grade. 9th grade for an accelerated track. Is this acceleration really necessary for regular kids? Yes for the math prodigy or a really aggressive math/science kid, but for your average well-rounded student who might like to try his/her hand at art, a sport after school, church/synagogue activities?

My kid is at private school this year for middle and already doing 60-90 minutes minimum of homework after a full day of 7 or so classes. She's exhausted. And her program at this private school has algebra as an option for 7th grade but is not seen as mandatory for every 7th grader. Some 7th graders just aren't ready for it yet. She probably isn't.

Is everyone who is entering the BASIS lottery really the parent of the type of kid who will groove on such acceleration in every subject? just wondering. I know such kids exist, a friend of mine has one. But all the rest of the kids I know aren't, including mine. Do you think your child will like this school?

Anonymous wrote:We're choosing Basis over Latin because of the math and science.

Anonymous wrote:Good one! Rolling the dice on middle school math? Is the booby prize lottery tickets?

I've got four viable MS options for my child – two DCPS and two charters. When I compare and prioritize, Basis is our best option. Mostly because of these math/science classes in 5-7th grades.

FIFTH GRADE
1. Math 8/7
2. Physical Geography
3. Intro to Science

SIXTH GRADE
1. Pre Algebra
2. Biology
3. Chemistry
4. Physics

SEVENTH GRADE
1. Algebra 1
2. Biology
3. Chemistry
4. Physics

We sometimes buy gram a few scratchers (tickets) otherwise we don't gamble. Except for fantasy football.

For us, Basis will provide a classic liberal arts curriculum, with arts and humanities covered as thoroughly as science. And PE is every day.

We are in the "staying at Latin, keeping an eye on BASIS" camp as well. I keep hearing that BASIS will be superior to Latin in math. Latin offers Algebra in 7th grade, as does BASIS. What I don't see at BASIS is geometry. Where is it? Is it blended into one of the other math classes? One of things that I see at Latin that I don't at BASIS is Statistics (which seems useful for a lot of professions -- I certainly use it more than calculus in my work -- I took both in college). Also, how will BASIS be better than Latin in science. Will they have actual labs? I guess that would be attractive although I know that Latin does offer science every year of middle school.

Anonymous wrote:We're choosing Basis over Latin because of the math and science.

Good one! So, you're rolling the dice on middle school hoping for a good outcome on math? Is the booby prize a handful of lottery tickets?

Anonymous wrote:Basis will offer a dual track foreign language program for native and bilingual speakers in addition to their regular foreign language program.

For what language(s)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are staying at Latin but keeping an eye on BASIS. Not worth it to give up a spot where kid is having a great experience for a maybe. One big plus for Latin in my calculation is that they have automatic entrance for younger siblings. We can relax about middle school lotteries for a decade!

BASIS has a sibling preference as well.

Sibling preference is still a lottery. No lottery at Latin, just a guaranteed spot. Maybe it is practically the same thing, maybe not depending on the grade.

Under what circumstances do you see the two policies leading to different outcomes, PP?

Basis will offer a dual track foreign language program for native and bilingual speakers in addition to their regular foreign language program.

Anonymous wrote:We're choosing Basis over Latin because of the math and science.

FIFTH GRADE SCHEDULE
Scheduling module
1. English 5
2. Music 5
3. Art 5
4. PE 5
5. Math 8/7
6. Physical Geography (5 class/wk)
7. Intro to Science (5 class/wk)
8. Classics
9. Latin

SIXTH GRADE SCHEDULE
Scheduling module
1. English 6
2. Fine Art (Art, Music, Drama)
3. PE
4. Pre Algebra (or Algebra 1)
5. Biology (3 class/wk)
6. Chemistry (3 class/wk)
7. Physics (3 classes)
8. US History
9. Latin

SEVENTH GRADE SCHEDULE
Scheduling module
1. English 7
2. Rhetoric
3. Electives (Chorus, Drama, Art, PE)
4. Algebra 1 (or Algebra 2)
5. Biology (3 class/wk)
6. Chemistry (3 class/wk)
7. Physics (3 class/wk)
8. World History
9. Foreign Language

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are staying at Latin but keeping an eye on BASIS. Not worth it to give up a spot where kid is having a great experience for a maybe. One big plus for Latin in my calculation is that they have automatic entrance for younger siblings. We can relax about middle school lotteries for a decade!

BASIS has a sibling preference as well.

Sibling preference is still a lottery. No lottery at Latin, just a guaranteed spot. Maybe it is practically the same thing, maybe not depending on the grade.

Mundo Verde?

Anonymous wrote: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?

When the immersion schools (LAMB, Yu Ying, Stokes, Mundo Verde) form their consortium language-immersion International Baccalaureate HS, we'll definitely be most interested in that.

Anonymous wrote:We are staying at Latin but keeping an eye on BASIS. Not worth it to give up a spot where kid is having a great experience for a maybe. One big plus for Latin in my calculation is that they have automatic entrance for younger siblings. We can relax about middle school lotteries for a decade!

BASIS has a sibling preference as well.

We are staying at Latin but keeping an eye on BASIS. Not worth it to give up a spot where kid is having a great experience for a maybe. One big plus for Latin in my calculation is that they have automatic entrance for younger siblings. We can relax about middle school lotteries for a decade!

We're choosing Basis over Latin because of the math and science.