BASIS Austin Primary

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

Posted: December 18, 2023

We are drowning in homework. My kid goes to “student hours” which is an after school supplement, everyday, except for Friday and is still struggling to keep up.

Homework is anywhere from 3-4 hours nightly, often times homework on the weekends. No joke.

Though he really enjoys the extracurricular classes like art and engineering…this school is overworked (read indeed teacher reviews) and won’t pause for anyone.

Specifically my kid with adhd (who wouldn’t be overwhelmed in this environment) and dyslexia.
Though programs are put in place, the principal does not take it seriously and teachers don’t implement policy.
So the 504 plan is obsolete.

With the several meetings I’ve had with the principal, my feelings are they see it as a weakness and don’t put forth capacity, much past the minimal, legal paperwork, to help.

They are too busy with the kids that are chewing up the curriculum and spitting it out.
My kid tells me, kids here, are getting high grades for their parents…not for themselves…and I believe him.

Shout out to Mrs. Burke though, the special needs teacher! If only she was able to do her job.

Definitely no work/life balance going on here, though it may feel like it initially with the luring “hands on” projects. This is not a think out of the box kind of school, it’s a private school with a big ego on performance. They want numbers from your kid. Not enrichment.
Not balanced.
Maybe we could hang on for a little bit this year, but in the end, it’s too much for my guy to handle and he and I are constantly stressed with deadlines and papers due.
They treat 4th graders like college students. In my opinion, school at a young age should still be fun. Learning should be fun period. You stop learning when it’s about the numbers…and unfortunately it comes down to that here.

If your kid is destined to learn 7th grade content in 4th grade, with 3-4 hours of daily homework, after-school tutoring
and learning disabilities not taken seriously, this is your jam.

If you want no free time as a parent (you will be helping your kid in that 3-4 hour time frame), then I urge you to apply to this school.

Mental health is very important to me and work/life balance is the key to excellence. Academics alone, are cool, but not THAT cool.
Life is waiting for us on the other side. We will not be attending next year.

There were some great teachers along the way, so shout out to them for helping when they could.
Not our style.