Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:36
Subject: Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's so weird to me that people view Basis as revolutionary in any way. It's essentially what schools were before they were hijacked by watered down grades, social promotion, overuse of screens, and the educational fad of the week. What my kids are receiving at Basis is very similar to the schooling I had in the late 80s. They're learning grammar, reading books, taking notes by hand in a notebook, doing homework, studying, taking tests, and not just receiving As for showing up. If a kid hasn't learned what they need to access the next grade level curriculum, they don't move on to the next grade. It's not a new or fringe approach. It's old-school schooling.
+1. BASIS is very similar to the public program I grew up in. It lacks the quality arts/phys ed program I also had, but I don't think those programs exist in public schools the same way anymore even where I grew up. But as for the academics, it's essentially what I learned at the same time. It's what drew me to the school.
If it’s not that special, the comps are not that hard, and many more kids are capable of the work than are allowed to enroll in upper grades, why does Basis claim to need a test in order to backfill?
This. If BASIS is much like the public programs many of us grew up in, why can't it take in new students in later grades the way traditional public schools always have? Also, I went to a suburban middle and high school in an upper class town and got a good education, but my schools also had remedial students who struggled academically. It had an honors track, a regular track, and a remedial track in most subjects to address this. Even when you only have UMC or rich kids you still have kids with learning disabilities, behavioral issues, or who are just not that academic or engaged. My schools assumed they would have kids like this and handled it. Yet BASIS is not expected to do this and the presumption is that it's impossible to get bright, motivated kids the challenge they need if you also have to work with kids who aren't bright and motivated. Yet all public schools used to do both.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:31
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
No. I'm obviously questioning what you know about Basis, which is clearly not much. Your one small tour does not make you an expert on the school.
Never said I was an expert. But doing all of the above and talking to families is all I need to know that it was not a good fit for my kid. I don’t see you refuting what I said above.
Please get some insight as to why Basis families are not very well liked. You can’t even acknowledge truths.
The issue isn't that you took a tour, felt that the school wouldn't be a good fit, and went elsewhere. Lots of people do that. It's that you then proceeded to go on a Basis thread and act like you know anything at all about the school based on that tour. You clearly have some sort of axe to grind since you're seeking out threads for a school your kid has never attended and then criticizing the school based on.... nothing?
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:29
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
No. I'm obviously questioning what you know about Basis, which is clearly not much. Your one small tour does not make you an expert on the school.
Never said I was an expert. But doing all of the above and talking to families is all I need to know that it was not a good fit for my kid. I don’t see you refuting what I said above.
Please get some insight as to why Basis families are not very well liked. You can’t even acknowledge truths.
Then why do you continuously post on BASIS threads?
I think it's because you do have a high aptitude kid, and who are constantly wondering if you missed an opportunity by not considering BASIS. So you come here to feel justified in your decision... by restating your thought process over and over again, and trying to dismiss the parents who say their kids are happy at BASIS.
Your school seems great. is it DCI? Then just be happy, post on DCI threads on continue to inform prospective parents there. I have friends there is it seeems like it has many pros! We should be thankful that there are options for smart kids EOTP.
Of which BASIS is one.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:29
Subject: Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's so weird to me that people view Basis as revolutionary in any way. It's essentially what schools were before they were hijacked by watered down grades, social promotion, overuse of screens, and the educational fad of the week. What my kids are receiving at Basis is very similar to the schooling I had in the late 80s. They're learning grammar, reading books, taking notes by hand in a notebook, doing homework, studying, taking tests, and not just receiving As for showing up. If a kid hasn't learned what they need to access the next grade level curriculum, they don't move on to the next grade. It's not a new or fringe approach. It's old-school schooling.
+1. BASIS is very similar to the public program I grew up in. It lacks the quality arts/phys ed program I also had, but I don't think those programs exist in public schools the same way anymore even where I grew up. But as for the academics, it's essentially what I learned at the same time. It's what drew me to the school.
If it’s not that special, the comps are not that hard, and many more kids are capable of the work than are allowed to enroll in upper grades, why does Basis claim to need a test in order to backfill?
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:16
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
I very much agree.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:14
Subject: Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:It's so weird to me that people view Basis as revolutionary in any way. It's essentially what schools were before they were hijacked by watered down grades, social promotion, overuse of screens, and the educational fad of the week. What my kids are receiving at Basis is very similar to the schooling I had in the late 80s. They're learning grammar, reading books, taking notes by hand in a notebook, doing homework, studying, taking tests, and not just receiving As for showing up. If a kid hasn't learned what they need to access the next grade level curriculum, they don't move on to the next grade. It's not a new or fringe approach. It's old-school schooling.
+1. BASIS is very similar to the public program I grew up in. It lacks the quality arts/phys ed program I also had, but I don't think those programs exist in public schools the same way anymore even where I grew up. But as for the academics, it's essentially what I learned at the same time. It's what drew me to the school.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:11
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
You are still missing that PPs point. You actually can't know. Because you never experienced it. So your repeated "feedback" on the school will never be accurate. You can speak about your current school, which sounds great.
And please drop this one. BASIS has so many clubs and sports. Many, many clubs take place after school at the school, and this fall, xcountry, soccer and flag football practice on the national mall. Parents do have to occasionally pick up their kids from games elsewhere?
I know both programs have grown and were much smaller a few years ago.
Why don’t you list the actual sports and actual clubs offered last year then? And how competitive your teams are and what division championships they have won in their league? Who here can say that their kid does all their clubs and sports and EC interests at the school?
Because what is stated in the brochure is far from what is actually offered at the school.
What? I'm not a potential parent looking at a brochure. I'm an actual parent whose kid is signed up for two clubs, and who was interested in 4 clubs out of the 30 offered but didn't have time for all of them. These aren't hypothetical clubs that exist in a "brochure", but actual clubs with teacher leads, locations, and meeting times. I'm not going to list them all, but I suppose I could if you really don't believe me for some reason (!)
Sports offered this year:
MIDDLE SCHOOL
CROSS COUNTRY
FLAG FOOTBALL ˶
SOCCER
BASKETBALL
CHESS
BASEBALL
TRACK & FIELD
HIGH SCHOOL
CROSS COUNTRY
SOCCER
FLAG FOOTBALL
BASKETBALL
CHESS
INDOOR TRACK
SWIMMING
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
TRACK & FIELD
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:04
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
No. I'm obviously questioning what you know about Basis, which is clearly not much. Your one small tour does not make you an expert on the school.
Never said I was an expert. But doing all of the above and talking to families is all I need to know that it was not a good fit for my kid. I don’t see you refuting what I said above.
Please get some insight as to why Basis families are not very well liked. You can’t even acknowledge truths.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:04
Subject: Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:It's so weird to me that people view Basis as revolutionary in any way. It's essentially what schools were before they were hijacked by watered down grades, social promotion, overuse of screens, and the educational fad of the week. What my kids are receiving at Basis is very similar to the schooling I had in the late 80s. They're learning grammar, reading books, taking notes by hand in a notebook, doing homework, studying, taking tests, and not just receiving As for showing up. If a kid hasn't learned what they need to access the next grade level curriculum, they don't move on to the next grade. It's not a new or fringe approach. It's old-school schooling.
Thanks for sharing. I find this infuriating. Why can’t it be on offer everywhere?
Anonymous
10/22/2025 13:00
Subject: Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
It's so weird to me that people view Basis as revolutionary in any way. It's essentially what schools were before they were hijacked by watered down grades, social promotion, overuse of screens, and the educational fad of the week. What my kids are receiving at Basis is very similar to the schooling I had in the late 80s. They're learning grammar, reading books, taking notes by hand in a notebook, doing homework, studying, taking tests, and not just receiving As for showing up. If a kid hasn't learned what they need to access the next grade level curriculum, they don't move on to the next grade. It's not a new or fringe approach. It's old-school schooling.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 12:59
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
You are still missing that PPs point. You actually can't know. Because you never experienced it. So your repeated "feedback" on the school will never be accurate. You can speak about your current school, which sounds great.
And please drop this one. BASIS has so many clubs and sports. Many, many clubs take place after school at the school, and this fall, xcountry, soccer and flag football practice on the national mall. Parents do have to occasionally pick up their kids from games elsewhere?
I know both programs have grown and were much smaller a few years ago.
Why don’t you list the actual sports and actual clubs offered last year then? And how competitive your teams are and what division championships they have won in their league? Who here can say that their kid does all their clubs and sports and EC interests at the school?
Because what is stated in the brochure is far from what is actually offered at the school.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 12:55
Subject: Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Come on, almost any BASIS kid can keep up with the math with the right prep and support (read STEM oriented parents and tutors in the US context).
BASIS parents like to boast about having kids who can do well academically. From what I've seen, what these kids tend to have in common are UMC parents and possibly tutors, math whiz classmates and summer enrichment programs, that help.
In my native Taiwan, almost all the kids were doing BASIS level, or harder math, from the upper ES grades. What you Americans consider to super-duper GT math has been normal in regular Taiwan schools from a young age for several generations.
What happens here is that too many of the students don't get the math prep or push they need to succeed at BASIS before they start in 5th grade. For the most part, the problem is a lack of ambition and commitment to good math instruction on the part of the society, not the kids' innate ability. But self-congratulate away, don't let me stop you.
Don't bother. Americans don't get it. We weren't impressed with math teaching in the BASIS middle school. It was average overall.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 12:54
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
No. I'm obviously questioning what you know about Basis, which is clearly not much. Your one small tour does not make you an expert on the school.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 12:53
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
You are still missing that PPs point. You actually can't know. Because you never experienced it. So your repeated "feedback" on the school will never be accurate. You can speak about your current school, which sounds great.
And please drop this one. BASIS has so many clubs and sports. Many, many clubs take place after school at the school, and this fall, xcountry, soccer and flag football practice on the national mall. Parents do have to occasionally pick up their kids from games elsewhere?
I know both programs have grown and were much smaller a few years ago.
+1. You can collect information and get impressions, but you can never know everything unless you actually try it. If it were the other way, no one would ever make a mistake.
Also it is true that the sports and ec programs have grown even from a few years ago. But as always, every school isn't for everyone. Good for you for making a choice that has worked out for your kid.
Anonymous
10/22/2025 12:50
Subject: Re:Basis fills a gap that shouldn’t exist.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My comment on these retention numbers is that there is a very high chance your kid will be wanting to leave if they go to Basis.
So be prepared to continue playing the lottery and no guarantee of getting in anywhere.
Guess your kid can stay at Basis and be miserable. Last option is move.
It just seems like such a crapshoot about whether any particular kid will like the school. When we started looking into lottery schools we started with the assumption that getting into Basis was a ticket to high school, that if our kid got in we'd be set, and we could stay in our EOTP house. But we have since talked to so many people who ended up having to scramble to find other middle schools or high schools, including some who moved. Most of the time, the kids who didn't like it fit mold of the kids we're all told will like Basis -- the bright, hardworking kids who take school seriously. It has made us very cautious about the school. We'll probably send our math-oriented kid there if he gets in but we'd be sending him with our eyes wide open and have some backup plans. If he gets into either Latin, we're sending him there instead.
This is going to invite a lot of anger, but the kids I know who like it all have 98th or 99th percentile math scores.
This is something parents know about their kids in late elementary.
I have a kid that fits the math profile above. We looked at Basis and declined. Did not even list Basis in the lottery. We also knew a family that did list Basis and got in. They decided to turn down the offer after some thought because did not think it would be a good fit.
We knew our kid could handle Basis but that doesn’t mean kid will be happy. There is much more to school than being a high performer. It is not a race but a marathon and you need to look at the long haul. You need to know your kid.
Luckily, kid needed up somewhere where he could be challenged and having a more happier, well rounded experience. If middle school did not work out, we would have moved to the burbs.
But how do you know that your kid wouldn't have been challenged, happy, and well rounded at Basis, given that your kid didn't attend? One of the reasons the Basis threads are so toxic is that so many people like you have strong opinions about Basis without any firsthand experience.
Are you seriously questioning what I know about my own kid? We did the whole tour and talked with HOS, looked at the curriculum, etc…
Because my kid needs more than just challenging academics to be happy.
He needs open spaces and to burn off energy which he gets with 1/2 hour play at lunch and PE and fields.
He is very social and clubs and sports are important to him. Tons of that at his school where he does it 4 days a week and we don’t have to drive him anywhere.
He has other interests outside of academics and the large selection of electives offered at the school meets this need. In fact, so many great electives that it was hard to choose 6 for the year.
We have been in the Basis building with no light, cramped classrooms and hallways especially. It is damn depressing.
That’s why. You don’t have to be an actual student at the school to know what the deficits are as a family. Tour the building, talk to admin with your questions, and look at the limited curriculum. It is all there.
You are still missing that PPs point. You actually can't know. Because you never experienced it. So your repeated "feedback" on the school will never be accurate. You can speak about your current school, which sounds great.
And please drop this one. BASIS has so many clubs and sports. Many, many clubs take place after school at the school, and this fall, xcountry, soccer and flag football practice on the national mall. Parents do have to occasionally pick up their kids from games elsewhere?
I know both programs have grown and were much smaller a few years ago.