Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:26
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'd agree with you if BASIS DC put real resources into setting up and supporting the senior projects. They don't. In our experience, the whole arrangement is essentially a joke for most of the seniors, an excuse for admins, teachers, parents and especially the kids to check out. Those fascinating opportunities exist mainly on paper.
The main problem is that BASIS DC is too cash-strapped to pull this approach to learning off on good form. The funding, support and supervisory infrastructure isn't there meaning that the kids often end up with little to show for their projects. Applying knowledge to the real world, growth...frankly more like mass goofing off and spinning in a way that's lonely for many.
I think the point of a gap year is to practice adulthood and take responsibility for your own life. This is what BASIS is giving the kids -- seems clear from the comments and some students rise to the occasion, and others wait for somone to tell them what to do and end up doing nothing.
It is not a gap year. You are cramming 3 years of high school and then just letting kids do their own senior project. PPabive is correct that if this is the case then you need an advisor, staff, networks, connections, and money to support these kids. Basis just does not have any of this in place. So what most kids do is grind out all this work in 3 years and then they feel they deserve to relax and goof off their last year.
A true gap year is after after high not during high school. The senior year is supposed to be a “senior project”
If this is what you want, private school is your answer.
Though i taught at a DC private school, and we had a similar program. We had an entire department dedicated to helping kids find an internship... and we *still* had kids who slacked off or worked halfheartedly for their parents friends. And, we had kids who found truly impressive projects on their own.
When you give kids freedom, they have a chance to show you what they can are made of.
Sure but when you don’t give them support and advice and guidance, they are more likely to fail. These supports continue into college. You can’t expect a 16-18 year old kid to do it all themselves. As a school, your job is to help guide them.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:25
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Come on, six of one, half dozen of the other. BASIS students would obviously find college applications and visits more manageable if they weren't expected to complete all their AP work by the end of junior year. The sequencing is nonsense - even the most highly competitive colleges don't expect applicants to have completed all their AP work by the end 11th grade.
My kid did all his college visits on YouTube. If you're aiming high across the board, silly to spend time and money visiting a bunch of colleges admitting in the single digits and teens. The time and money can be better spent.
We had our BASIS student take a couple Cambridge Intl Exams in Nov of senior year (for a language and science) at a British international school rather than many AP exams in May of junior year. We know another BASIS family who made the same arrangement for their senior.
The senior project our student did, related to health care, was supervised in the sense that it was a community college class we paid for. Kid didn't need to the experience of designing his own project or class to learn or grow.
You're allowed to do your own thing at BASIS by the end. You don't have to march in step on every last detail to the finish line.
My kid did all his college visits on YouTube. If you're aiming high across the board, silly to spend time and money visiting a bunch of colleges admitting in the single digits and teens. The time and money can be better spent.
We had our BASIS student take a couple Cambridge Intl Exams in Nov of senior year (for a language and science) at a British international school rather than many AP exams in May of junior year. We know another BASIS family who made the same arrangement for their senior.
The senior project our student did, related to health care, was supervised in the sense that it was a community college class we paid for. Kid didn't need to the experience of designing his own project or class to learn or grow.
You're allowed to do your own thing at BASIS by the end. You don't have to march in step on every last detail to the finish line.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 14:21
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'd agree with you if BASIS DC put real resources into setting up and supporting the senior projects. They don't. In our experience, the whole arrangement is essentially a joke for most of the seniors, an excuse for admins, teachers, parents and especially the kids to check out. Those fascinating opportunities exist mainly on paper.
The main problem is that BASIS DC is too cash-strapped to pull this approach to learning off on good form. The funding, support and supervisory infrastructure isn't there meaning that the kids often end up with little to show for their projects. Applying knowledge to the real world, growth...frankly more like mass goofing off and spinning in a way that's lonely for many.
I think the point of a gap year is to practice adulthood and take responsibility for your own life. This is what BASIS is giving the kids -- seems clear from the comments and some students rise to the occasion, and others wait for somone to tell them what to do and end up doing nothing.
It is not a gap year. You are cramming 3 years of high school and then just letting kids do their own senior project. PPabive is correct that if this is the case then you need an advisor, staff, networks, connections, and money to support these kids. Basis just does not have any of this in place. So what most kids do is grind out all this work in 3 years and then they feel they deserve to relax and goof off their last year.
A true gap year is after after high not during high school. The senior year is supposed to be a “senior project”
If this is what you want, private school is your answer.
Though i taught at a DC private school, and we had a similar program. We had an entire department dedicated to helping kids find an internship... and we *still* had kids who slacked off or worked halfheartedly for their parents friends. And, we had kids who found truly impressive projects on their own.
When you give kids freedom, they have a chance to show you what they can are made of.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:54
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
A lot of the BASIS senior year is visiting and applying to colleges, which is a luxury to be able to do without the pressure of regular classes.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:40
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'd agree with you if BASIS DC put real resources into setting up and supporting the senior projects. They don't. In our experience, the whole arrangement is essentially a joke for most of the seniors, an excuse for admins, teachers, parents and especially the kids to check out. Those fascinating opportunities exist mainly on paper.
The main problem is that BASIS DC is too cash-strapped to pull this approach to learning off on good form. The funding, support and supervisory infrastructure isn't there meaning that the kids often end up with little to show for their projects. Applying knowledge to the real world, growth...frankly more like mass goofing off and spinning in a way that's lonely for many.
I think the point of a gap year is to practice adulthood and take responsibility for your own life. This is what BASIS is giving the kids -- seems clear from the comments and some students rise to the occasion, and others wait for somone to tell them what to do and end up doing nothing.
It is not a gap year. You are cramming 3 years of high school and then just letting kids do their own senior project. PPabive is correct that if this is the case then you need an advisor, staff, networks, connections, and money to support these kids. Basis just does not have any of this in place. So what most kids do is grind out all this work in 3 years and then they feel they deserve to relax and goof off their last year.
A true gap year is after after high not during high school. The senior year is supposed to be a “senior project”
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:19
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:I'd agree with you if BASIS DC put real resources into setting up and supporting the senior projects. They don't. In our experience, the whole arrangement is essentially a joke for most of the seniors, an excuse for admins, teachers, parents and especially the kids to check out. Those fascinating opportunities exist mainly on paper.
The main problem is that BASIS DC is too cash-strapped to pull this approach to learning off on good form. The funding, support and supervisory infrastructure isn't there meaning that the kids often end up with little to show for their projects. Applying knowledge to the real world, growth...frankly more like mass goofing off and spinning in a way that's lonely for many.
I think the point of a gap year is to practice adulthood and take responsibility for your own life. This is what BASIS is giving the kids -- seems clear from the comments and some students rise to the occasion, and others wait for somone to tell them what to do and end up doing nothing.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 13:03
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
I'd agree with you if BASIS DC put real resources into setting up and supporting the senior projects. They don't. In our experience, the whole arrangement is essentially a joke for most of the seniors, an excuse for admins, teachers, parents and especially the kids to check out. Those fascinating opportunities exist mainly on paper.
The main problem is that BASIS DC is too cash-strapped to pull this approach to learning off on good form. The funding, support and supervisory infrastructure isn't there meaning that the kids often end up with little to show for their projects. Applying knowledge to the real world, growth...frankly more like mass goofing off and spinning in a way that's lonely for many.
The main problem is that BASIS DC is too cash-strapped to pull this approach to learning off on good form. The funding, support and supervisory infrastructure isn't there meaning that the kids often end up with little to show for their projects. Applying knowledge to the real world, growth...frankly more like mass goofing off and spinning in a way that's lonely for many.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 12:42
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:Most BASIS students like what amounts to a gap year for senior year. They don't have to do any work. If that's not what you want for your student, avoid senior year at BASIS.
Most Basis students love the senior year. They could make half of it a gap year, but I actually don't know anyone doing that. Instead, I know a lot of kids who have internships (not necessarily in DC or even the US) and who are doing things like shadowing people in the careers that they are considering, in addition to or as part of the senior project. They are learning to apply their knowledge in the real world during a low stakes time in which they can really explore their interests without each thing necessarily being directly tied to future career choices. But if one wanted a break, they have earned it! I just don't know of anyone who is actually doing that, as it really isn't the culture of the vast majority of the senior class - they really like to be productive and find opportunities for growth. I certainly don't knock a gap year as an opportunity for growth either though. But don't underestimate the amount of time they are spending on leadership positions in their extracurriculars. I don't know if that lasts all year or if that gets turned over to the juniors in the Spring (I know mine worked hard to get the positions last Spring, but I don't know how much overlap there is), but for now every senior I know is BUSY exploring fascinating opportunities. I agree that the AP curriculum is a bit constrained, so this year of electives and real world experience is so important for them in my opinion.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 11:06
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:The above post is a shining example of the pervasive, and insular, BASIS DC superiority complex.
Six years ago, my sibling moved her kid from BASIS to Fairfax, where the girl took Algebra I as a 6th grader (with other 6th graders). The girl took BC Cal in 10th grade, along with 2 AP languages. The girl's a senior now, mostly taking college STEM classes through dual enrollment.
The most advanced students in the burbs don't stop taking classes sr year. Nor are they forced to take a course to complete their college applications. They take college classes instead.
Really? I think it is just stating some facts about how they structure the grades, and what classes go into each year.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 11:04
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:The above post is a shining example of the pervasive, and insular, BASIS DC superiority complex.
Six years ago, my sibling moved her kid from BASIS to Fairfax, where the girl took Algebra I as a 6th grader (with other 6th graders). The girl took BC Cal in 10th grade, along with 2 AP languages. The girl's a senior now, mostly taking college STEM classes through dual enrollment.
The most advanced students in the burbs don't stop taking classes sr year. Nor are they forced to take a course to complete their college applications. They take college classes instead.
My kid would rather take the "gap" year than continue taking classes senior year. We don't need them to finish college in 3 years so it's fine.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 10:59
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
The above post is a shining example of the pervasive, and insular, BASIS DC superiority complex.
Six years ago, my sibling moved her kid from BASIS to Fairfax, where the girl took Algebra I as a 6th grader (with other 6th graders). The girl took BC Cal in 10th grade, along with 2 AP languages. The girl's a senior now, mostly taking college STEM classes through dual enrollment.
The most advanced students in the burbs don't stop taking classes sr year. Nor are they forced to take a course to complete their college applications. They take college classes instead.
Six years ago, my sibling moved her kid from BASIS to Fairfax, where the girl took Algebra I as a 6th grader (with other 6th graders). The girl took BC Cal in 10th grade, along with 2 AP languages. The girl's a senior now, mostly taking college STEM classes through dual enrollment.
The most advanced students in the burbs don't stop taking classes sr year. Nor are they forced to take a course to complete their college applications. They take college classes instead.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 10:16
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
They don't squeeze 4 years of high school into 3 -- everything is just shifted down a year.
5-7 is middle school
8-11 is high school
12 is a special year which people clearly either love or hate. (our family likes it and my middle schooler is already thinking about how to make the most of his senior project)
8th grade is high school in all respects -- the sorts of classes they take (like Algebra 2, the option of an AP, etc) and their responsibilities (8th graders get to leave campus for lunch, just like the high schoolers).
5-7 is middle school
8-11 is high school
12 is a special year which people clearly either love or hate. (our family likes it and my middle schooler is already thinking about how to make the most of his senior project)
8th grade is high school in all respects -- the sorts of classes they take (like Algebra 2, the option of an AP, etc) and their responsibilities (8th graders get to leave campus for lunch, just like the high schoolers).
Anonymous
12/10/2025 10:10
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Most BASIS students like what amounts to a gap year for senior year. They don't have to do any work. If that's not what you want for your student, avoid senior year at BASIS.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 09:44
Subject: Re:If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole model is terrible. Very narrow curriculum, too much focus on AP. Then trying to cram everything in 3 years and the senior year is just a wasted year. On top of that, not a lot of great EC or sports in a terrible facility.
We have a high performing kid and passed on Baisi because of above. Did not even list it in the lottery.
They don't try to cram everything within 3 years. They actually use the middle school years. They are crucial. Fifth grade is mostly teaching kids how to learn with a huge concentration on executive functioning. The goal is to make them independent learners by the time they get to sixth grades. Of course, if the parents shield them from the lessons, they won't take. Sixth grade is for ensuring that all the kids are on the same level academically as they have all come from very different backgrounds, most of which are now not even preparing middle schoolers to be able to read full novels. Then seventh and eighth grade are hardcore learning years, with many students taking AP classes during that time.
But I think it was probably a good call for you to skip it. It isn't great for everyone. It doesn't try to be. Moreover, they make it extremely clear that if you want to helicopter, you and your children will hate it. DCPS, on the other hand, should be trying to great for everyone. Don't blame charters for doing what they can to at least partially fill the huge holes left by DCPS. Instead, hold the city accountable and stop lowering expectations. I can't imagine why someone would be posting about how this charter doesn't fit their advanced kid when they should be marching in the streets to insist that DCPS provide options for EVERYONE including those who can read books by the end of 8th grade.
Give us a break with your tiresome BASIS exceptionalism.
Yes, they essentially cram 4 years of high school into 3. We switched both of our kids to a private after 9th and 6th. Neither liked BASIS despite earning close to straight As. Our younger kid learned far more at the private in 7th and 8th than the elder had at BASIS in those grades. Our eldest is now a senior at the private. He's already been admitted to the college of his choice (Top 20 school) Early Decision yet is still taking AP classes and participating in intensive ECs, like his classmates.
Simply put, BASIS does with senior year is very strange, unnecessary and unimpressive. The silly time-wasting college counseling class for the entire fall semester is the worst of it. It might be different if they had substantial resources to pour into the senior projects. They don't. Don't drink the Koolaid.
Sorry it didn't work for you. My kid is kicking ass and taking names, as are her friends. That is all that matters to me.
Anonymous
12/10/2025 09:05
Subject: If you gave BASIS a chance and it didn't work out, when did you know?
I don't really get why OP asked the question.
BASIS is such an odd school that the threat of it not working for a student at a particular point seems less relevant than the question of how much your family is willing to put up with along the way (nobody can answer for you).
If you want a bona fide 4-year high school, clearly don't stick around for the one at BASIS.
BASIS is such an odd school that the threat of it not working for a student at a particular point seems less relevant than the question of how much your family is willing to put up with along the way (nobody can answer for you).
If you want a bona fide 4-year high school, clearly don't stick around for the one at BASIS.