It's simply a myth that Basis is full of happy kids.

From what I've observed, the places sucks the energy out of most over time. Ed leaders don't seem to mind.

Anonymous wrote:I’m listening to my Basis kid laughing during virtual class because the teacher is funny and the students are having fun. From my perspective it’s a very happy place. And I think all the criticisms about things missing there lose sight of its location — so close to the National Archives, flagship city public library, Smithsonian museums. My kid in normal times often does homework after school at a museum, so we talk less about the drab school building than the lovely spaces so nearby and their changing exhibits. And I think many of the students participate in travel sports leagues and dance/music/arts programs that require a big time commitment so they are not looking for school extracurriculars the way kids in a less urban setting might be. It’s an amazing place for the right kids.

NP. 5th grade parent? Wait till 7th grade.

My right kid with straight As at BASIS, one of the top half dozen math students in his cohort, begged to leave in 7th grade. He's not into sports, if that's what you mean, he's into "urban" extra-curriculars, e.g. debate, drama and chess.

Anonymous wrote:That's not an admirable attitude.

There are in-boundary parents of various backgrounds think a lot of their in-boundary middle schools outside the Deal District, and little of BASIS. They're certainly not the majority, but they're out there.

Try respecting others' views.

Nobody has said that basis is better for your kid than the in-bound. What we have said is that it isn’t good for every kid. And if it isn’t a good fit for your kid, it doesn’t mean it isn’t good for others. It is very much a school you either fit or you don’t. They don’t hide the ball.

That's not an admirable attitude.

There are in-boundary parents of various backgrounds think a lot of their in-boundary middle schools outside the Deal District, and little of BASIS. They're certainly not the majority, but they're out there.

Try respecting others' views.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My math and science whiz kid wasn't a good match because he wanted a school library where he could sit and reflect and select books. He wanted a gym, where he could shoot baskets to blow off steam. He wanted windows in the cafeteria. He wanted basic inputs any halfway decent public school serving more than 500 "academically advanced" students should obviously offer.

Oh for goodness sakes! The whole point is you can't get that stuff (at a good school) in DC unless you move inbounds for Deal/Wilson or go private. Duh.

Tell that to the UMC parents enrolling their children at Maury, Eliot-Hine and Stuart Hobson. I dare you.

There’s no need to. Basis is flooded with families IB for those schools.

Signed,
Basis family IB for S-H (with at least five Basis kids within a block of our house)

Anonymous wrote:I’m listening to my Basis kid laughing during virtual class because the teacher is funny and the students are having fun. From my perspective it’s a very happy place. And I think all the criticisms about things missing there lose sight of its location — so close to the National Archives, flagship city public library, Smithsonian museums. My kid in normal times often does homework after school at a museum, so we talk less about the drab school building than the lovely spaces so nearby and their changing exhibits. And I think many of the students participate in travel sports leagues and dance/music/arts programs that require a big time commitment so they are not looking for school extracurriculars the way kids in a less urban setting might be. It’s an amazing place for the right kids.

How much does BASIS make use of the National Archives, MLK Library, Smithsonian museums as teaching and learning aides?

Give us break. For the most part, they still act like the building is in an Arizona suburb, a decade in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My math and science whiz kid wasn't a good match because he wanted a school library where he could sit and reflect and select books. He wanted a gym, where he could shoot baskets to blow off steam. He wanted windows in the cafeteria. He wanted basic inputs any halfway decent public school serving more than 500 "academically advanced" students should obviously offer.

Oh for goodness sakes! The whole point is you can't get that stuff (at a good school) in DC unless you move inbounds for Deal/Wilson or go private. Duh.

Tell that to the UMC parents enrolling their children at Maury, Eliot-Hine and Stuart Hobson. I dare you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds to me like most of the BASIS posters here have 5th, 6th, maybe 7th graders. I don't know too many high school families are thrilled with BASIS. OK, maybe, loving it, no longer.

Happy BASIS high school parent here and we had a child graduate from BASIS DC who is in college. The kid currently there loves it and is is thriving and we have zero regrets about staying at the school for high school. I haven’t posted on this forum in years because I was tired of being called a senseless booster when I said anything positive about the school.

And I'm tired of being told that my kid was not a "good match" by veritable senseless boosters because he couldn't be happy in a school with little in the way of fun, exercise, art education, natural light or respect for individual learning styles and preferences. He's also thriving elsewhere.

This is the exact definition of not a "good match"
Didn't jive at BASIS, thriving elsewhere.
No one is saying your kid is dumb

Anonymous wrote:This dog in the manger parent wanted to deal with the same HOS at least two years running, a situation that wasn't 100% known. Shove your holier than thou posts.

No parent is in a position to know exactly how their child will react to to the crappy building, which often isn't too clean. I admit to having erred on the side of optimism.

The boosters can’t handle this kind of post. It makes far too much sense. Leave them to their pretense that it’s a kid’s fault, or a family’s fault, or that there’s an axe to grind when posters state the obvious. You’re well shot of the whole scene, PP.

Anonymous wrote:My math and science whiz kid wasn't a good match because he wanted a school library where he could sit and reflect and select books. He wanted a gym, where he could shoot baskets to blow off steam. He wanted windows in the cafeteria. He wanted basic inputs any halfway decent public school serving more than 500 "academically advanced" students should obviously offer.

Oh for goodness sakes! The whole point is you can't get that stuff (at a good school) in DC unless you move inbounds for Deal/Wilson or go private. Duh.

I’m listening to my Basis kid laughing during virtual class because the teacher is funny and the students are having fun. From my perspective it’s a very happy place. And I think all the criticisms about things missing there lose sight of its location — so close to the National Archives, flagship city public library, Smithsonian museums. My kid in normal times often does homework after school at a museum, so we talk less about the drab school building than the lovely spaces so nearby and their changing exhibits. And I think many of the students participate in travel sports leagues and dance/music/arts programs that require a big time commitment so they are not looking for school extracurriculars the way kids in a less urban setting might be. It’s an amazing place for the right kids.

Anonymous wrote:This dog in the manger parent wanted to deal with the same HOS at least two years running, a situation that wasn't 100% known. Shove your holier than thou posts.

No parent is in a position to know exactly how their child will react to to the crappy building, which often isn't too clean. I admit to having erred on the side of optimism.

What do you mean “deal with the HOS”? What could you possibly have to do with the head of school directly? I have seen absolutely no difference since the change, but I’m not super insecure about my kid not being smart enough, as your posts make it clear you are. It doesn’t mean he is a bad kid. He was a bad match, and you shook shave known it. Bad choice, mama.

Anonymous wrote:
And I'm tired of being told that my kid was not a "good match" by veritable senseless boosters because he couldn't be happy in a school with little in the way of fun, exercise, art education, natural light or respect for individual learning styles and preferences. He's also thriving elsewhere.

Your kid literally was not a good match for the school, since the school didn't have the right atmosphere or offerings for your child. "Not a good match" doesn't mean that your child isn't smart enough (although that it the case for some kids who aren't a good match). It literally means that the school does not provide the things that your child values most. Academic superstars who want to play on competitive sports teams would also not be a good fit, not because they can't handle the academics, but rather because the school doesn't offer the things they want. BASIS is operating on a somewhat limited budget, and they can't offer all of the things that the local public or private schools can offer.

PP, I'm getting the impression that you have a huge axe to grind with BASIS because you're insecure that your child will think he failed at BASIS or that other people will assume that your child wasn't smart enough for BASIS. So, you want the school destroyed because you can't handle that it wasn't a good fit for your kid. Why not just accept that your child is happy and thriving where he is, and many BASIS kids are happy and thriving at BASIS?

The new HOS is fabulous and will hopefully stay!!

But no HOS, regardless of the length of their tenure, will fix the crappy building or change the curriculum expectations.

Fine that you erred on the side of optimism for how your child would adjust without athletic fields, natural light, etc. But your bitterness about it seems unfounded.

Anyway, glad you found a better option for your child. But no reason to question those of us whose kids are happy at the school.

This dog in the manger parent wanted to deal with the same HOS at least two years running, a situation that wasn't 100% known. Shove your holier than thou posts.

No parent is in a position to know exactly how their child will react to to the crappy building, which often isn't too clean. I admit to having erred on the side of optimism.