Anonymous
Post 08/29/2018 06:58     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
BASIS can work well for math gifted kids. But ask yourself how your child will do in a cramped building with no outdoor space, no library, no real performance space. Our kid tested into algebra at BASIS in 5th grade. We left after 7th. Kid is now at a private with green playing fields, big library, strong arts program and behaving much better than when at BASIS.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2018 06:54     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
The comments about special education at Basis caught my attention.

I have a mainstreamed child with HFA who excels academically. My child has no academic weaknesses and is especially gifted in math. But child also needs and receives social support at school.

Most people have advised me to rank Latin first because it has a stronger special education reputation, but given my child’s giftedness (as documented in neuropsych exams and reflected in performance) I sometimes wonder if Basis wouldn’t be a better fit, especially for a likely math wonk.

Thoughts?


Anonymous
Post 08/29/2018 06:08     Subject: Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:PP, I agree regarding the math problem sets. Takes my 7th grader an hour miminum to complete.

Curious, where did you find the SAT scores for the 2018 graduates?


The school doesn’t publish SAT scores for individual BASIS schools - DC or any of them. They publish the network averages.

They shared the DC students’ averages at a state of the school meeting last spring with a bunch of other data such as GPA, college acceptances and AP scores.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 23:21     Subject: Basis 5th grade
PP, I agree regarding the math problem sets. Takes my 7th grader an hour miminum to complete.

Curious, where did you find the SAT scores for the 2018 graduates?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 23:04     Subject: Basis 5th grade
Basis specifically instructs students not to do math for longer than 30 min -- they are short, easy questions. DD finishes them in 15-20. After 30 (we use a timer), she stops but she always finishes before the timer. None of the other classes have hw.

Current parent here and VERY happy... We were a double digit number and got a call last year right before school started. I can't imagine that they are up to 3-digit numbers unless there was a sibling preference (twin).
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 22:22     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I/m interested in Basis b/c i think that a traditional,academically focused curriculum will work for my hyper focused ADD child who is super nerdy and nonathletic butttt i think a hw load of 2 hours every day ( so doing hw from 5-7) in the evening is a bit much unless that includes reading for pleasure which has to be tracked and turned in in elementary school anyways. When are they supposed to play piano/swim/play chess etc. . or anything else? Is it truly 2 hours of math problems and stuff or is it inclusive of reading, working on projects, solving math problems, looking up stuff on internet, learning spelling/ writing responses etc?? what is the experience truly like? Can anyone give me any input who's child is currently doing 5th/6th grade there. Are the kids allowed time to have other interests like taking a screen writing class or volunteering or playing a sport for a few hours a week when in 6-8 grades? I know that some of the long hw hours in 5th might also be filling in gaps in their knowledge. I love the location of BASIS so i'd love for it to work for our family.

Thanks


There are 30 Math problems assigned that are due every Monday thru Friday. It takes some kids 30 minutes to do them, and others take more like an hour. Sometimes there is time to work on them during class, but not always.

The other 6 or so classes try to keep homework to no more than 10 minutes a night, and teachers coordinate things like big tests so there aren't a lot that happen on the same day. The elective and PE will not typically have homework.

Most kids do other activities after school -- perhaps not every night -- and on weekends.

BASIS is very open and your child can spend a day shadowing a current student for an entire day if you are thinking of applying.

I think HW for many families happens between 8-9 or 9:30.

This must be a joke. Yes there is a shadow day but that's it.
As for the 30 problems a day, those who do it in 30 minutes, they are just completing it. If a student wants to solve each problem correctly, the 30 problems will take between an hour and an hour and a half.
The SAT results for this year's graduates were dismal. These are students who took advanced math and years of science since 7th grade.
As numerous parents have written, BASIS is far from being an inclusive community regardless of your child's merits and study habits. This said, if the school is making you feel very welcome, stay. But remember that once in college, all these supposed advanced classes will not help your child stand out -- just the opposite.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 21:31     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:]

There are 30 Math problems assigned that are due every Monday thru Friday. It takes some kids 30 minutes to do them, and others take more like an hour. Sometimes there is time to work on them during class, but not always.

The other 6 or so classes try to keep homework to no more than 10 minutes a night, and teachers coordinate things like big tests so there aren't a lot that happen on the same day. The elective and PE will not typically have homework.

Most kids do other activities after school -- perhaps not every night -- and on weekends.

BASIS is very open and your child can spend a day shadowing a current student for an entire day if you are thinking of applying.

I think HW for many families happens between 8-9 or 9:30.


Thanks- this is super helpful and it really does seem like most of the learning is happening in the classroom.I just know that the open ended sort of teaching method that is used at Walls or the Lab school (UoChicago one) would be a disaster for my otherwise bright child but having defined goals and a rubric allows them to learn the actual material would be a good fit.


5th grade is a good year at BASIS. It's challenging but the kids have fun too.

In 6th it gets tougher - because of the comprehensive exams. There is a LOT of content to master and memorize, and that is easier for some kids than others.

Kids with ADHD can get overwhelmed by the volume and organizational aspects. The school now has 2 people (one a special ed teacher) assigned to track / support / monitor kids who have 504 plans, separate from the team that handles IEPs (similar to how it's done at schools like Deal where the counselors handle 504s, and the special ed department handle IEPs). Those folks are also a good point of contact for parents -- they will let you know if your kid is falling behind and help implement strategies.

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 21:12     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
]

There are 30 Math problems assigned that are due every Monday thru Friday. It takes some kids 30 minutes to do them, and others take more like an hour. Sometimes there is time to work on them during class, but not always.

The other 6 or so classes try to keep homework to no more than 10 minutes a night, and teachers coordinate things like big tests so there aren't a lot that happen on the same day. The elective and PE will not typically have homework.

Most kids do other activities after school -- perhaps not every night -- and on weekends.

BASIS is very open and your child can spend a day shadowing a current student for an entire day if you are thinking of applying.

I think HW for many families happens between 8-9 or 9:30.


Thanks- this is super helpful and it really does seem like most of the learning is happening in the classroom.I just know that the open ended sort of teaching method that is used at Walls or the Lab school (UoChicago one) would be a disaster for my otherwise bright child but having defined goals and a rubric allows them to learn the actual material would be a good fit.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 19:06     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
To the person who is still in the 40s - what was your original number? Did you apply in the initial lottery or are you a second rounder?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 18:46     Subject: Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These comments seem to be written by BASIS boosters. People with 3 digit waitlist number are receiving calls.


I wish.

We are still in the 50's, as I posted in another thread. We would jump on the chance to move.


You may want to call BASIS and make sure that somehow there wasn't a disconnect and that they have the right contact info for you.


3-digit waiting list got a call


Checked today. In the 40's
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 18:29     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:I/m interested in Basis b/c i think that a traditional,academically focused curriculum will work for my hyper focused ADD child who is super nerdy and nonathletic butttt i think a hw load of 2 hours every day ( so doing hw from 5-7) in the evening is a bit much unless that includes reading for pleasure which has to be tracked and turned in in elementary school anyways. When are they supposed to play piano/swim/play chess etc. . or anything else? Is it truly 2 hours of math problems and stuff or is it inclusive of reading, working on projects, solving math problems, looking up stuff on internet, learning spelling/ writing responses etc?? what is the experience truly like? Can anyone give me any input who's child is currently doing 5th/6th grade there. Are the kids allowed time to have other interests like taking a screen writing class or volunteering or playing a sport for a few hours a week when in 6-8 grades? I know that some of the long hw hours in 5th might also be filling in gaps in their knowledge. I love the location of BASIS so i'd love for it to work for our family.

Thanks


There are 30 Math problems assigned that are due every Monday thru Friday. It takes some kids 30 minutes to do them, and others take more like an hour. Sometimes there is time to work on them during class, but not always.

The other 6 or so classes try to keep homework to no more than 10 minutes a night, and teachers coordinate things like big tests so there aren't a lot that happen on the same day. The elective and PE will not typically have homework.

Most kids do other activities after school -- perhaps not every night -- and on weekends.

BASIS is very open and your child can spend a day shadowing a current student for an entire day if you are thinking of applying.

I think HW for many families happens between 8-9 or 9:30.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 18:22     Subject: Re:Basis 5th grade
I/m interested in Basis b/c i think that a traditional,academically focused curriculum will work for my hyper focused ADD child who is super nerdy and nonathletic butttt i think a hw load of 2 hours every day ( so doing hw from 5-7) in the evening is a bit much unless that includes reading for pleasure which has to be tracked and turned in in elementary school anyways. When are they supposed to play piano/swim/play chess etc. . or anything else? Is it truly 2 hours of math problems and stuff or is it inclusive of reading, working on projects, solving math problems, looking up stuff on internet, learning spelling/ writing responses etc?? what is the experience truly like? Can anyone give me any input who's child is currently doing 5th/6th grade there. Are the kids allowed time to have other interests like taking a screen writing class or volunteering or playing a sport for a few hours a week when in 6-8 grades? I know that some of the long hw hours in 5th might also be filling in gaps in their knowledge. I love the location of BASIS so i'd love for it to work for our family.

Thanks
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2018 16:41     Subject: Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:These comments seem to be written by BASIS boosters. People with 3 digit waitlist number are receiving calls.


Seems to be written by parent of a low performing kid academically who is not smart enough or too lazy to go to a school where all the kids have to actually give an effort.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2018 16:40     Subject: Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These comments seem to be written by BASIS boosters. People with 3 digit waitlist number are receiving calls.


I wish.

We are still in the 50's, as I posted in another thread. We would jump on the chance to move.


You may want to call BASIS and make sure that somehow there wasn't a disconnect and that they have the right contact info for you.


3-digit waiting list got a call
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2018 07:12     Subject: Basis 5th grade
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:These comments seem to be written by BASIS boosters. People with 3 digit waitlist number are receiving calls.


I wish.

We are still in the 50's, as I posted in another thread. We would jump on the chance to move.


You may want to call BASIS and make sure that somehow there wasn't a disconnect and that they have the right contact info for you.