NP w/one kid who’s graduating from BASIS this spring (rejected by Walls) with an older sib who left for Walls. You guys who claim that kids who don’t love BASIS rarely stay are spouting bs. No secret that not even half the 8th graders who apply to Walls are admitted and most of those kids stay on. It’s a no brainer that DCPS favors families who stay in their system for middle schools east of the park in Walls admissions. Yes, dozens of BaSIS 8th graders leave some years, while only a dozen leave other years (more staying recently now that Walls admissions is more of a crap shoot than pre Covid). BASIS worked for us but we don’t share your OT devotion. Sheesh, pipe down already. BASIS isn’t half as marvelous as you guys claim incessantly on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect this practice (of purposely using BASIS for a year) is fairly uncommon. I think it’s lousy behavior but rare enough not to worry about.

Far more common, though, are parents who take a leap of faith that their relatively lackluster students who needed tutoring in elementary will somehow succeed at BASIS. Such kids inevitably don’t. But typically have their morale and self-confidence damaged over one to several years of challenging middle school before departing for their IB DCPS schools, mediocre privates, where ever. It’s unfortunate.

Then the parents come onto DCUM to bash the school (as if having a gym and library would have led to their kid’s success at BASIS).

You guy sound like parents of 5th, 6th or 7th graders. The reality is dozens of kids who were succeeding at BASIS depart after 8th grade. They invariably move on to schools with better facilities and more stable teaching forces. Success as BASIS is less important to some families than the fun of a strong school music, drama or varsity sports program, a language program that teaches past the AP level, a parent community supporting an active PTA or whatever else. Some of the students who stay for HS do not do so by choice. We know half a dozen BASIS 8th graders who would be leaving for Walls this year if they'd been admitted. BASIS certainly has its strengths, but its weak facilities, narrow focus on AP success and high teacher turnover keep it back, especially at the HS level. We're hoping that BASIS is able to set up a K-4th grade program with strong facilities not far from the original campus in the hopes that old BASIS could take advantage of the facilities at the new BASIS, particularly a gym, outdoor space and a stage.

Do you just make stuff up?

"The reality is dozens of kids who were succeeding at BASIS depart after 8th grade"

Audited enrollment for BASIS DC 8th grade last year was 92.
Audited enrollment for BASIS DC 9th grade last year was 78.

That means that a total of 14 kids left after 8th grade.

You have no idea why they left. Some went to Walls, Banneker, private, etc. Some moved out of the area. Some were struggling and decided to go to their local high school. Some were athletes and wants a school with a better program in their sport of choice.

Every year, including this year, many BASIS parents turn down a Walls slot to stay at BASIS. How does that factor in your imagined analysis?

Anonymous wrote:BASIS is a school that works for certain kids. I’m happy when kids who realize it doesn’t work for them leave. There are some who stay because there is no where else to go, but ime, this is a relatively small number. Very few stay all the way through 12th grade if they feel the school is a bad fit.

+1 I am forever perplexed by why so many people seem invested in telling families who remain and like BASIS that they are wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

It. Is. Published.

It’s only published if the family goes to another DC charter or public school.

Negative. The number of kids who move outside of DCPS or charter also published. It is the "Not in Audit" bucket.

The accuracy of the data published leaves something to be desired because BASIS is a public school where parents can't be forced to divulge where they're heading. We know a few families who reenrolled at BASIS in the spring then didn't turn up in August. One family enrolled at Deal for 7th grade after school had started because the kid refused to return to BASIS. They rented an apt in NW from Labor Day weekend. Their BASIS spot was never filled of course. Audit or no audit, everybody at BASIS isn't fessing up to their plans. If you want private school type commitment to a program, with parents paying into a capital improvements fund when they first enroll and putting down big deposits each spring, you need to pay for private school.

You are adorable. You say no one can know. It is explained to you that the data is published. Instead of going back under your rock you reply with an incoherent response about the "accuracy of the data". The data does not rely on parents disclosing where kids enroll. DCPS knows where kids enroll the next year. That is how they know how many kids move out of DCPS and PCS.

BASIS is a school that works for certain kids. I’m happy when kids who realize it doesn’t work for them leave. There are some who stay because there is no where else to go, but ime, this is a relatively small number. Very few stay all the way through 12th grade if they feel the school is a bad fit.

I’m the pp right above accused of being a 5, 6 or 7th grade parent.

I concede that BASIS is an imperfect school. But I speak as a parent whose kid turned down Walls (and other attractive options) to stay for high school. And we know other 4.0 students who opted to stay too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

It. Is. Published.

It’s only published if the family goes to another DC charter or public school.

Negative. The number of kids who move outside of DCPS or charter also published. It is the "Not in Audit" bucket.

The accuracy of the data published leaves something to be desired because BASIS is a public school where parents can't be forced to divulge where they're heading. We know a few families who reenrolled at BASIS in the spring then didn't turn up in August. One family enrolled at Deal for 7th grade after school had started because the kid refused to return to BASIS. They rented an apt in NW from Labor Day weekend. Their BASIS spot was never filled of course. Audit or no audit, everybody at BASIS isn't fessing up to their plans. If you want private school type commitment to a program, with parents paying into a capital improvements fund when they first enroll and putting down big deposits each spring, you need to pay for private school.

Anonymous wrote:I suspect this practice (of purposely using BASIS for a year) is fairly uncommon. I think it’s lousy behavior but rare enough not to worry about.

Far more common, though, are parents who take a leap of faith that their relatively lackluster students who needed tutoring in elementary will somehow succeed at BASIS. Such kids inevitably don’t. But typically have their morale and self-confidence damaged over one to several years of challenging middle school before departing for their IB DCPS schools, mediocre privates, where ever. It’s unfortunate.

Then the parents come onto DCUM to bash the school (as if having a gym and library would have led to their kid’s success at BASIS).

You guy sound like parents of 5th, 6th or 7th graders. The reality is dozens of kids who were succeeding at BASIS depart after 8th grade. They invariably move on to schools with better facilities and more stable teaching forces. Success as BASIS is less important to some families than the fun of a strong school music, drama or varsity sports program, a language program that teaches past the AP level, a parent community supporting an active PTA or whatever else. Some of the students who stay for HS do not do so by choice. We know half a dozen BASIS 8th graders who would be leaving for Walls this year if they'd been admitted. BASIS certainly has its strengths, but its weak facilities, narrow focus on AP success and high teacher turnover keep it back, especially at the HS level. We're hoping that BASIS is able to set up a K-4th grade program with strong facilities not far from the original campus in the hopes that old BASIS could take advantage of the facilities at the new BASIS, particularly a gym, outdoor space and a stage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

It. Is. Published.

It’s only published if the family goes to another DC charter or public school.

Negative. The number of kids who move outside of DCPS or charter also published. It is the "Not in Audit" bucket.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

It. Is. Published.

It’s only published if the family goes to another DC charter or public school.

Anonymous wrote:You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

Thanks for illustrating my point.

Sorry your kid washed out. While I don't disagree with your above criticisms, my kids are thriving at BASIS despite its imperfections and have repeatedly opted to stay, despite good alternative choices.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS parent here. There is nothing wrong for knowingly using BASIS for one year as a stepping stone for private middle school. Not the best for BASIS. Switching schools for three in three years is also not the best for a child. Parents do what they need to do. End of discussion.

Hmmm another BASIS parent here. On a community level, this is pretty sh*tty, because BASIS has a waitlist and doesn’t backfill.

+1

Especially since these are parents who could afford private. The waitlist has many families who cannot do so. I find it selfish but I find a lot of people in DC to be selfish.

How silly. Every family who leaves can't afford private. Some move to the DC burbs or elsewhere for a variety of reasons. Why slam other parents for leaving for whatever reasons? It's certainly not parents' fault that BASIS DC doesn't backfill (the Arizona campuses do). Total BS to judge like this.

Anonymous wrote:You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

It. Is. Published.

You guys need a life. Come on, parents are hardly "bashing" BASIS in making factual statements re the crappy building, the fact that good young teachers have a strong tendency to leave after two or three years, that classroom management can be a real problem where teachers are inexperienced (not unusual), or the there's attrition from every grade every year for whatever reasons.

Of course you don't know where everybody goes when families leave your kids' cohort. We kept our destination under wraps the spring we left to simplify matters.

I wouldn't expect a BASIS expansion to the lower grades to be much different than the BASIS MS. Doubt they will get approval this time either.

Anonymous wrote:I suspect this practice (of purposely using BASIS for a year) is fairly uncommon. I think it’s lousy behavior but rare enough not to worry about.

Far more common, though, are parents who take a leap of faith that their relatively lackluster students who needed tutoring in elementary will somehow succeed at BASIS. Such kids inevitably don’t. But typically have their morale and self-confidence damaged over one to several years of challenging middle school before departing for their IB DCPS schools, mediocre privates, where ever. It’s unfortunate.

Then the parents come onto DCUM to bash the school (as if having a gym and library would have led to their kid’s success at BASIS).

Of course it is. The data tells us this. We know where kids go and don't go. This entire offshoot of the discussion is nothing more than typical DCUM posters who are some combination of bored and mean. This is not a thing.