Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble imagining a BASIS elementary school that's a happy place for young children. If one comes to be in DC, vreally hope I'm wrong.

Works great at the 50+ BASIS schools around the world, each of which has k-4.

Not sure why BASIS DC k-4 would be any different.

BASIS DC is the unloved stepchild of the BASIS system.

No.

That was a PCSB decision, not BASIS’s.

DCPS and PCSB are to blame for a lot of what ails the DC public education system.

Above is what leaves me less than convinced that the BASIS elementary school will be worth it.

For good reason. I have a sibling whose kids have been in a BASIS Arizona school for more than a decade. I'm told that their campus features strong and stable leadership, decent facilities and ECs (including good instrumental music lessons at school and a competitive orchestra), low teacher turnover and a high retention rate of students through 12th grade. That's not what we found at BASIS DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble imagining a BASIS elementary school that's a happy place for young children. If one comes to be in DC, vreally hope I'm wrong.

Works great at the 50+ BASIS schools around the world, each of which has k-4.

Not sure why BASIS DC k-4 would be any different.

BASIS DC is the unloved stepchild of the BASIS system.

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble imagining a BASIS elementary school that's a happy place for young children. If one comes to be in DC, vreally hope I'm wrong.

Works great at the 50+ BASIS schools around the world, each of which has k-4.

Not sure why BASIS DC k-4 would be any different.

Anonymous wrote:I'm having trouble imagining a BASIS elementary school that's a happy place for young children. If one comes to be in DC, really hope I'm wrong.

Same.

I'm having trouble imagining a BASIS elementary school that's a happy place for young children. If one comes to be in DC, really hope I'm wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Agreed -- glad you found something that works for you!

My main question when considering our BASIS offer for a very academic kid was "is it possible to be happy at BASIS?" The answer to that is yes (even when there are some kids for whom it feels like child abuse, others who just find it stressful, etc). It is possible to be happy and to learn a ton at BASIS. For a very particular kind of kid (fast processing speed, love facts, proud to be a good student, loves following directions, no test anxiety) it's actually a wonderful option. And I don't disdain that kind of kid, bc my older child is like that and really feels proud of his BASIS experience. My younger kid may very well not be.

No, it's not. A school with good facilities, the resources for strong enrichment, laudable esprit de corps and well-trained teachers who comprise a stable faculty is wonderful.

You are telling her what to think about the school her kid is at?

Disgusting.

DP. This is how all the Basis threads go. Posters on here have gone as far as accusing parents of child abuse for sending their kids to school there. These threads are full of trolls.

Full of trolls and disgustingly rational parents who have the gall to mention that the...Emperor has no clothes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Agreed -- glad you found something that works for you!

My main question when considering our BASIS offer for a very academic kid was "is it possible to be happy at BASIS?" The answer to that is yes (even when there are some kids for whom it feels like child abuse, others who just find it stressful, etc). It is possible to be happy and to learn a ton at BASIS. For a very particular kind of kid (fast processing speed, love facts, proud to be a good student, loves following directions, no test anxiety) it's actually a wonderful option. And I don't disdain that kind of kid, bc my older child is like that and really feels proud of his BASIS experience. My younger kid may very well not be.

No, it's not. A school with good facilities, the resources for strong enrichment, laudable esprit de corps and well-trained teachers who comprise a stable faculty is wonderful.

You are telling her what to think about the school her kid is at?

Disgusting.

DP. This is how all the Basis threads go. Posters on here have gone as far as accusing parents of child abuse for sending their kids to school there. These threads are full of trolls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Agreed -- glad you found something that works for you!

My main question when considering our BASIS offer for a very academic kid was "is it possible to be happy at BASIS?" The answer to that is yes (even when there are some kids for whom it feels like child abuse, others who just find it stressful, etc). It is possible to be happy and to learn a ton at BASIS. For a very particular kind of kid (fast processing speed, love facts, proud to be a good student, loves following directions, no test anxiety) it's actually a wonderful option. And I don't disdain that kind of kid, bc my older child is like that and really feels proud of his BASIS experience. My younger kid may very well not be.

No, it's not. A school with good facilities, the resources for strong enrichment, laudable esprit de corps and well-trained teachers who comprise a stable faculty is wonderful.

You are telling her what to think about the school her kid is at?

Disgusting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Agreed -- glad you found something that works for you!

My main question when considering our BASIS offer for a very academic kid was "is it possible to be happy at BASIS?" The answer to that is yes (even when there are some kids for whom it feels like child abuse, others who just find it stressful, etc). It is possible to be happy and to learn a ton at BASIS. For a very particular kind of kid (fast processing speed, love facts, proud to be a good student, loves following directions, no test anxiety) it's actually a wonderful option. And I don't disdain that kind of kid, bc my older child is like that and really feels proud of his BASIS experience. My younger kid may very well not be.

No, it's not. A school with good facilities, the resources for strong enrichment, laudable esprit de corps and well-trained teachers who comprise a stable faculty is wonderful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Agreed -- glad you found something that works for you!

My main question when considering our BASIS offer for a very academic kid was "is it possible to be happy at BASIS?" The answer to that is yes (even when there are some kids for whom it feels like child abuse, others who just find it stressful, etc). It is possible to be happy and to learn a ton at BASIS. For a very particular kind of kid (fast processing speed, love facts, proud to be a good student, loves following directions, no test anxiety) it's actually a wonderful option. And I don't disdain that kind of kid, bc my older child is like that and really feels proud of his BASIS experience. My younger kid may very well not be.

Fair point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Agreed -- glad you found something that works for you!

My main question when considering our BASIS offer for a very academic kid was "is it possible to be happy at BASIS?" The answer to that is yes (even when there are some kids for whom it feels like child abuse, others who just find it stressful, etc). It is possible to be happy and to learn a ton at BASIS. For a very particular kind of kid (fast processing speed, love facts, proud to be a good student, loves following directions, no test anxiety) it's actually a wonderful option. And I don't disdain that kind of kid, bc my older child is like that and really feels proud of his BASIS experience. My younger kid may very well not be.

Anonymous wrote:BASIS sucked the joy of learning out of my kid. They were bored bored by the robotic curriculum and multiple choice test. The stress for stress sake environment stressed them out too. The homework was a lot and rote at the same time. Very little creativity, problem solving, or writing. My kid did develop good skills keeping track of assignments.

Multiple teachers left mid year & at lest one who taught incorrect math material or acted inappropriately or didn’t show up to classes etc for the year. There were several very good teachers too. Even some of those seemed to have a crazy large # of students.

If that means my kid “washed out” as the BASIS dcum defenders call it well okay!

We moved to Montgomery County and their curiosity, innate joy of learning, confidence and spark is back! Getting straight As. Has high school paths that offer many electives, clubs, etc.

. Thanks for sharing, PP. Your kid didn’t wash out: they traded up. Good for you guys.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree because Ross parents are just as desperate for an appealing path to 12th grade in DC public schools as Maury, Brent, Ludlow-Taylor etc. parents in Ward 6. You can bet that a bunch of in-boundary Ross parents who want to stay where they are, near Dupont, would jump on the BASIS K-4 school if they could. After all, they and the Thomson parents will be the closest to the BASIS ES building if it's located near the original building. Looks like it will be if the project launches.

Based solely on housing prices, I'd guess Ross parents are more likely than Capitol Hill parents to have the income to go private if needed.

Disagree because many Ross parents like us rent. I would say more parents in the Brent district own.

Ross parents tend to be very, very happy with their elementary school (as are many other families at excellent neighborhood schools), I think it will be really interesting to see who would choose BASIS elementary. DCPS has so many good elementary options, that people can walk to and that connect them to their neighbors, and so few excellent middle schools, so it's just an entirely different choice.

High SES parents EOTP with an intense need to see their kids succeed at any cost will totally choose Basis. Many of us have very poorly performing elementary schools. We don't really have a charter school that scratches that itch right now.

And the thing about who has the money to go private is often about which kids have grandparents who will fund it. Lots of us in the DC are have family money and parents who valued education enough to make sure that we got lots of it. Those same parents who are now grandparents are often frugal and happy to help with grandkids' schooling. Like my family, for example. From looking at our neighborhood and house you would assume that we don't have the money for private, but we bought ages ago and have family money set aside for private so we totally do. We haven't chosen it but the money is there.

Often times people who are not house poor have more money to send kids private as well.