Anonymous
01/19/2025 11:40
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:The basis boosters make me not want to send my kids to basis.
The school has many vocal haters. I am a parent and IMO some of the criticism is warranted, some not. The curriculum does not work for everyone, and if you care about high school sports, don’t bother. But if you can work out your extracurriculars elsewhere and handle the work, Basis can take you as far as any other school.
Anonymous
01/19/2025 11:32
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The answer is yes if they live in-bounds for both Deal and JR because they know that's always a backup if it isn't working out.
Basis has a larger issue for HS in that it is so small. It doesn't offer the "high school experience" so to speak...so you see attrition to Walls and elsewhere including private.
Perhaps it's getting better on that front.
It is getting better because it is harder to get into Walls.
When it used to be a test - BASIS students were all in play for being selected for the interview.
Now that the test is removed, not everyone from BASIS who wants to move makes the cut.
BASIS is getting better? Proof of this? The HoS does seem better but that's about it.
BASIS DC is in terrible debt and it shows in the way the campus runs. BASIS' high school isn't getting bigger either if that's what you're claiming.
Look at the BASIS college results so far -- the 7 kids who have declared their schools are: 3 at U Penn, 1 at Harvard, 1 Dartmouth, 1 GW, 1 Wesleyan. 5/7 at Ivies is truly impressive.
We are there and I do think it's getting better every year. Better retention, and they adapt to feedback (added more writing and typing skills, reduced the proportion that the comps count to relieve stress, etc )
Not big improvements. In our experience, for every student getting into an Ivy from BASIS, there are 8 or 10 who aren't happy or all that accomplished. The way BASIS essentially crams four years of high school into three doesn't work for many students. The kids don't necessarily have time for serious ECs. Most kids with access to J-R would be better off there with a larger selection of APs, far better ECs and facilities, a more flexible and less repetitive curriculum, a happier experience and more going on to top colleges by the numbers (but not as a %).
Ugh. Are you the frequent BASIS troll? Thanks again for your perspective! BASIS parent of a senior here. As others have noted, your math isn’t quite mathing given the total number of students. There is also a student who hasn’t announced with acceptances at Yale and Oxbridge, so you can factor that into your evaluation. Setting all that aside, are we saying BASIS is failing if a third of the class doesn’t matriculate at Ivy + schools? That’s a standard that maybe 3 or 4 of the wealthiest and most selective privates in the city can meet. When you consider a BASIS student is much more likely to pick an honors college at a state school, or an HBCU, than an expensive T30-50 private, BASIS compares well to all schools save maybe the Big 3 privates. School has plenty of flaws but this ain’t one of them.
Anonymous
01/19/2025 10:06
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:The basis boosters make me not want to send my kids to basis.
It’s not a fun school…and let’s be honest, the vast majority of the kids are from Capitol Hill and other areas that have underperforming schools and it’s a relatively easy commute.
If I wasn’t in bounds for JR, it would be on the “list” for us as well (though behind Walls).
I would hope if they could retain more kids in HS it could start offering more of the high school experience.
It’s a nice asset for the city, as is Latin. These options didn’t exist 15 years ago, so it keeps people living in DC vs moving, and gives public options vs going private.
Anonymous
01/19/2025 09:12
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
The basis boosters make me not want to send my kids to basis.
Anonymous
01/19/2025 09:04
Subject: Re:Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes some parents choose one school over the other. But please remember that Basis actively counsels kids out in middle school. And before anyone argues that this isn’t true, I know a child who goes to Basis whose parents were told this probably wasn’t a good fit for them and too difficult and they might want to transfer.
That's right. It's not a school for everyone. It's a school that works best for kids who are ok with very accelerated work (literally just learning more in within the same time period). Not geniuses, just kids who are not stressed by acceleration.
This thread is about why some people in bounds for JR might choose BASIS (or Latin). Hopefully it's clear that it's not crazy for some families to make that choice. Clearly many, many families choose to stay at JR.
This isn't true. The curriculum in the BASIS middle school isn't "very accelerated." No, it's geared at average students prepared to do a good amount of tedious homework. The work is too often dull, highly repetitive as the years go by, and unevenly taught, mostly by inexperienced young teachers with iffy classroom management skills. I know this because we switched from BASIS to an ordinary neighborhood middle school in Arlington after 7th grade where, overall, '"intensive" (honors) classes in science, social studies, English and math, which are open to all comers, have been better taught, more interesting and more challenging. My kids are strong in math, which isn't an issue in Arlington. The eldest takes Algebra II AND geometry in 8th grade. BASIS offers no more math challenge.
If you're fixated on staying in DC public schools for middle school, with no broader horizon, yeah, BASIS offers accelerated work.
We know -- the suburban schools are better than anything that is available in the DC public school system. No one is arguing against this. Also, living in the suburbs is not appealing to everyone.
The logical conclusion of every thread should not be "everyone should move to the suburbs." DC has a population of 700,000 and growing, and this entire sub forum is called "DC Public and Public Charter Schools." Really wish there were reddit -style mods who would ban parent who come in to talk about suburban schools or private in this forum.
Anonymous
01/19/2025 08:58
Subject: Re:Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes some parents choose one school over the other. But please remember that Basis actively counsels kids out in middle school. And before anyone argues that this isn’t true, I know a child who goes to Basis whose parents were told this probably wasn’t a good fit for them and too difficult and they might want to transfer.
That's right. It's not a school for everyone. It's a school that works best for kids who are ok with very accelerated work (literally just learning more in within the same time period). Not geniuses, just kids who are not stressed by acceleration.
This thread is about why some people in bounds for JR might choose BASIS (or Latin). Hopefully it's clear that it's not crazy for some families to make that choice. Clearly many, many families choose to stay at JR.
This isn't true. The curriculum in the BASIS middle school isn't "very accelerated." No, it's geared at average students prepared to do a good amount of tedious homework. The work is too often dull, highly repetitive as the years go by, and unevenly taught, mostly by inexperienced young teachers with iffy classroom management skills. I know this because we switched from BASIS to an ordinary neighborhood middle school in Arlington after 7th grade where, overall, '"intensive" (honors) classes in science, social studies, English and math, which are open to all comers, have been better taught, more interesting and more challenging. My kids are strong in math, which isn't an issue in Arlington. The eldest takes Algebra II AND geometry in 8th grade. BASIS offers no more math challenge.
If you're fixated on staying in DC public schools for middle school, with no broader horizon, yeah, BASIS offers accelerated work.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 22:24
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Being inbound for JR certainly made it easier to stay at Basis. Basis isn’t for everyone and so it is a risk. Great to have a back up plan. Turns out it remained great for us. Certainly not a perfect school but I feel confident it was our best option for our child in the city.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 21:08
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
The fact is that few kids in bounds for JR pick Basis.
Not sure why anyone is arguing over maybe 3 kids at Basis (that started in middle school) that could attend JR if they wanted.
Not sure why anyone is arguing over maybe 3 kids at Basis (that started in middle school) that could attend JR if they wanted.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 19:53
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
The fact is JR is not a very good high school compared to most other large high schools in Montgomery County, Fairfax and Arlington. If you’re able to move, that would be a wiser choice.
A high-performing kid will do OK in college admissions from JR but will generally be worse off compared to his colleagues in college-based on the poor education at JR
quote=Anonymous]
This. Basis does this to manipulate the numbers so their scores are higher. Just ignore them because it’s not a similar or fair comparison to all the other schools.
A high-performing kid will do OK in college admissions from JR but will generally be worse off compared to his colleagues in college-based on the poor education at JR
quote=Anonymous]
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The answer is yes if they live in-bounds for both Deal and JR because they know that's always a backup if it isn't working out.
Basis has a larger issue for HS in that it is so small. It doesn't offer the "high school experience" so to speak...so you see attrition to Walls and elsewhere including private.
Perhaps it's getting better on that front.
It is getting better because it is harder to get into Walls.
When it used to be a test - BASIS students were all in play for being selected for the interview.
Now that the test is removed, not everyone from BASIS who wants to move makes the cut.
BASIS is getting better? Proof of this? The HoS does seem better but that's about it.
BASIS DC is in terrible debt and it shows in the way the campus runs. BASIS' high school isn't getting bigger either if that's what you're claiming.
Look at the BASIS college results so far -- the 7 kids who have declared their schools are: 3 at U Penn, 1 at Harvard, 1 Dartmouth, 1 GW, 1 Wesleyan. 5/7 at Ivies is truly impressive.
We are there and I do think it's getting better every year. Better retention, and they adapt to feedback (added more writing and typing skills, reduced the proportion that the comps count to relieve stress, etc )
Not big improvements. In our experience, for every student getting into an Ivy from BASIS, there are 8 or 10 who aren't happy or all that accomplished. The way BASIS essentially crams four years of high school into three doesn't work for many students. The kids don't necessarily have time for serious ECs. Most kids with access to J-R would be better off there with a larger selection of APs, far better ECs and facilities, a more flexible and less repetitive curriculum, a happier experience and more going on to top colleges by the numbers (but not as a %).
Math is not your strength, eh?
Huh? PP above is right about J-R. There are strong, super experienced advanced math teachers there. BASIS mostly gets young ones who leave after a few years for better pay, training and working conditions in DCPS or the burbs.
Huh? Maybe sit this one out.
CAPE math scores for high school (4+):
BASIS DC (high school): 89.2%
J-R: 30.2%
The fact is that the vast majority of J-R students are below grade level in math.
Great job showing you have no clue how CAPE scores work. They only test Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and the best students are past those courses by the end of 9th grade. BASIS forces kids to take CAPE tests below their level. JR doesn't. Hence, the best math students at JR don't take the CAPE math test at all.
But please, feel free to lecture us.
I guess that those wonderful J-R math teachers don't teach the peasants and just leave them to struggle with the CAPE math test...
And those strong J-R math students must not take the SAT either because the average SAT score at J-R is 1072 (517 in math)--way below the scores at BASIS.
Also, FYI, BASIS students take CAPE tests below their level because they are are already advanced far beyond those levels by the time CAPE comes around. They start algebra and geometry in 7th grade.
The advanced math students at every other school in DC take the Algebra I and Geometry CAPE tests in 7th and/or 8th grade. BASIS inexplicably has their students wait until 9th and 10th grade for the same tests.
This. Basis does this to manipulate the numbers so their scores are higher. Just ignore them because it’s not a similar or fair comparison to all the other schools.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 19:25
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The answer is yes if they live in-bounds for both Deal and JR because they know that's always a backup if it isn't working out.
Basis has a larger issue for HS in that it is so small. It doesn't offer the "high school experience" so to speak...so you see attrition to Walls and elsewhere including private.
Perhaps it's getting better on that front.
It is getting better because it is harder to get into Walls.
When it used to be a test - BASIS students were all in play for being selected for the interview.
Now that the test is removed, not everyone from BASIS who wants to move makes the cut.
BASIS is getting better? Proof of this? The HoS does seem better but that's about it.
BASIS DC is in terrible debt and it shows in the way the campus runs. BASIS' high school isn't getting bigger either if that's what you're claiming.
Look at the BASIS college results so far -- the 7 kids who have declared their schools are: 3 at U Penn, 1 at Harvard, 1 Dartmouth, 1 GW, 1 Wesleyan. 5/7 at Ivies is truly impressive.
We are there and I do think it's getting better every year. Better retention, and they adapt to feedback (added more writing and typing skills, reduced the proportion that the comps count to relieve stress, etc )
Not big improvements. In our experience, for every student getting into an Ivy from BASIS, there are 8 or 10 who aren't happy or all that accomplished. The way BASIS essentially crams four years of high school into three doesn't work for many students. The kids don't necessarily have time for serious ECs. Most kids with access to J-R would be better off there with a larger selection of APs, far better ECs and facilities, a more flexible and less repetitive curriculum, a happier experience and more going on to top colleges by the numbers (but not as a %).
Math is not your strength, eh?
Huh? PP above is right about J-R. There are strong, super experienced advanced math teachers there. BASIS mostly gets young ones who leave after a few years for better pay, training and working conditions in DCPS or the burbs.
Huh? Maybe sit this one out.
CAPE math scores for high school (4+):
BASIS DC (high school): 89.2%
J-R: 30.2%
The fact is that the vast majority of J-R students are below grade level in math.
Great job showing you have no clue how CAPE scores work. They only test Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and the best students are past those courses by the end of 9th grade. BASIS forces kids to take CAPE tests below their level. JR doesn't. Hence, the best math students at JR don't take the CAPE math test at all.
But please, feel free to lecture us.
I guess that those wonderful J-R math teachers don't teach the peasants and just leave them to struggle with the CAPE math test...
And those strong J-R math students must not take the SAT either because the average SAT score at J-R is 1072 (517 in math)--way below the scores at BASIS.
Also, FYI, BASIS students take CAPE tests below their level because they are are already advanced far beyond those levels by the time CAPE comes around. They start algebra and geometry in 7th grade.
The advanced math students at every other school in DC take the Algebra I and Geometry CAPE tests in 7th and/or 8th grade. BASIS inexplicably has their students wait until 9th and 10th grade for the same tests.
This. Basis does this to manipulate the numbers so their scores are higher. Just ignore them because it’s not a similar or fair comparison to all the other schools.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 19:15
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The answer is yes if they live in-bounds for both Deal and JR because they know that's always a backup if it isn't working out.
Basis has a larger issue for HS in that it is so small. It doesn't offer the "high school experience" so to speak...so you see attrition to Walls and elsewhere including private.
Perhaps it's getting better on that front.
It is getting better because it is harder to get into Walls.
When it used to be a test - BASIS students were all in play for being selected for the interview.
Now that the test is removed, not everyone from BASIS who wants to move makes the cut.
BASIS is getting better? Proof of this? The HoS does seem better but that's about it.
BASIS DC is in terrible debt and it shows in the way the campus runs. BASIS' high school isn't getting bigger either if that's what you're claiming.
Look at the BASIS college results so far -- the 7 kids who have declared their schools are: 3 at U Penn, 1 at Harvard, 1 Dartmouth, 1 GW, 1 Wesleyan. 5/7 at Ivies is truly impressive.
We are there and I do think it's getting better every year. Better retention, and they adapt to feedback (added more writing and typing skills, reduced the proportion that the comps count to relieve stress, etc )
Not big improvements. In our experience, for every student getting into an Ivy from BASIS, there are 8 or 10 who aren't happy or all that accomplished. The way BASIS essentially crams four years of high school into three doesn't work for many students. The kids don't necessarily have time for serious ECs. Most kids with access to J-R would be better off there with a larger selection of APs, far better ECs and facilities, a more flexible and less repetitive curriculum, a happier experience and more going on to top colleges by the numbers (but not as a %).
Math is not your strength, eh?
Huh? PP above is right about J-R. There are strong, super experienced advanced math teachers there. BASIS mostly gets young ones who leave after a few years for better pay, training and working conditions in DCPS or the burbs.
Huh? Maybe sit this one out.
CAPE math scores for high school (4+):
BASIS DC (high school): 89.2%
J-R: 30.2%
The fact is that the vast majority of J-R students are below grade level in math.
Great job showing you have no clue how CAPE scores work. They only test Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and the best students are past those courses by the end of 9th grade. BASIS forces kids to take CAPE tests below their level. JR doesn't. Hence, the best math students at JR don't take the CAPE math test at all.
But please, feel free to lecture us.
I guess that those wonderful J-R math teachers don't teach the peasants and just leave them to struggle with the CAPE math test...
And those strong J-R math students must not take the SAT either because the average SAT score at J-R is 1072 (517 in math)--way below the scores at BASIS.
Also, FYI, BASIS students take CAPE tests below their level because they are are already advanced far beyond those levels by the time CAPE comes around. They start algebra and geometry in 7th grade.
The advanced math students at every other school in DC take the Algebra I and Geometry CAPE tests in 7th and/or 8th grade. BASIS inexplicably has their students wait until 9th and 10th grade for the same tests.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 18:23
Subject: Re:Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes some parents choose one school over the other. But please remember that Basis actively counsels kids out in middle school. And before anyone argues that this isn’t true, I know a child who goes to Basis whose parents were told this probably wasn’t a good fit for them and too difficult and they might want to transfer.
That's right. It's not a school for everyone. It's a school that works best for kids who are ok with very accelerated work (literally just learning more in within the same time period). Not geniuses, just kids who are not stressed by acceleration.
This thread is about why some people in bounds for JR might choose BASIS (or Latin). Hopefully it's clear that it's not crazy for some families to make that choice. Clearly many, many families choose to stay at JR.
I am PP and totally agree with you. But others on this thread are acting like Basis takes the same population as kids at JR and gets them all into Ivies. It’s more the kids that stay at Basis into HS versus Basis teachers or curriculum. And how Basis gets kids who might need extra support to struggle to leave.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 16:45
Subject: Re:Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Yes some parents choose one school over the other. But please remember that Basis actively counsels kids out in middle school. And before anyone argues that this isn’t true, I know a child who goes to Basis whose parents were told this probably wasn’t a good fit for them and too difficult and they might want to transfer.
That's right. It's not a school for everyone. It's a school that works best for kids who are ok with very accelerated work (literally just learning more in within the same time period). Not geniuses, just kids who are not stressed by acceleration.
This thread is about why some people in bounds for JR might choose BASIS (or Latin). Hopefully it's clear that it's not crazy for some families to make that choice. Clearly many, many families choose to stay at JR.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 15:53
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The answer is yes if they live in-bounds for both Deal and JR because they know that's always a backup if it isn't working out.
Basis has a larger issue for HS in that it is so small. It doesn't offer the "high school experience" so to speak...so you see attrition to Walls and elsewhere including private.
Perhaps it's getting better on that front.
It is getting better because it is harder to get into Walls.
When it used to be a test - BASIS students were all in play for being selected for the interview.
Now that the test is removed, not everyone from BASIS who wants to move makes the cut.
BASIS is getting better? Proof of this? The HoS does seem better but that's about it.
BASIS DC is in terrible debt and it shows in the way the campus runs. BASIS' high school isn't getting bigger either if that's what you're claiming.
Look at the BASIS college results so far -- the 7 kids who have declared their schools are: 3 at U Penn, 1 at Harvard, 1 Dartmouth, 1 GW, 1 Wesleyan. 5/7 at Ivies is truly impressive.
We are there and I do think it's getting better every year. Better retention, and they adapt to feedback (added more writing and typing skills, reduced the proportion that the comps count to relieve stress, etc )
Not big improvements. In our experience, for every student getting into an Ivy from BASIS, there are 8 or 10 who aren't happy or all that accomplished. The way BASIS essentially crams four years of high school into three doesn't work for many students. The kids don't necessarily have time for serious ECs. Most kids with access to J-R would be better off there with a larger selection of APs, far better ECs and facilities, a more flexible and less repetitive curriculum, a happier experience and more going on to top colleges by the numbers (but not as a %).
Math is not your strength, eh?
Huh? PP above is right about J-R. There are strong, super experienced advanced math teachers there. BASIS mostly gets young ones who leave after a few years for better pay, training and working conditions in DCPS or the burbs.
Huh? Maybe sit this one out.
CAPE math scores for high school (4+):
BASIS DC (high school): 89.2%
J-R: 30.2%
The fact is that the vast majority of J-R students are below grade level in math.
Great job showing you have no clue how CAPE scores work. They only test Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and the best students are past those courses by the end of 9th grade. BASIS forces kids to take CAPE tests below their level. JR doesn't. Hence, the best math students at JR don't take the CAPE math test at all.
But please, feel free to lecture us.
I guess that those wonderful J-R math teachers don't teach the peasants and just leave them to struggle with the CAPE math test...
And those strong J-R math students must not take the SAT either because the average SAT score at J-R is 1072 (517 in math)--way below the scores at BASIS.
Also, FYI, BASIS students take CAPE tests below their level because they are are already advanced far beyond those levels by the time CAPE comes around. They start algebra and geometry in 7th grade.
Anonymous
01/18/2025 15:45
Subject: Do parents choose Latin/BASIS over Deal/J-R?
Anonymous wrote:out of 45 high school seniors, there are already 6 of them accepted to Ivy League Schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The answer is yes if they live in-bounds for both Deal and JR because they know that's always a backup if it isn't working out.
Basis has a larger issue for HS in that it is so small. It doesn't offer the "high school experience" so to speak...so you see attrition to Walls and elsewhere including private.
Perhaps it's getting better on that front.
It is getting better because it is harder to get into Walls.
When it used to be a test - BASIS students were all in play for being selected for the interview.
Now that the test is removed, not everyone from BASIS who wants to move makes the cut.
BASIS is getting better? Proof of this? The HoS does seem better but that's about it.
BASIS DC is in terrible debt and it shows in the way the campus runs. BASIS' high school isn't getting bigger either if that's what you're claiming.
That means that well over 13% of the class was accepted early to Ivies (SCEA/ED), and we are still early in the admission season.
What other public school in DC can match that percentage?