2023 Niche results: Basis McLean #1 in VA in 3 categories: best private HS in VA, best college prep…

[Anonymous]

Pay to play site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BIM is a feeder for Northeastern.

What a lie!
The fact is, BASIS graduates go to very good colleges every year.

[Anonymous]

How is Northeastern not a very good college? Your snobbery is showing, BIM booster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC is currently in the Early Learning Program so at least from that perspective and talking to countless families in the primary school, I don’t understand the extreme negative reviews here at all. The teachers have been amazing, the curriculum and activities keep DC engaged and interested in learning, and the staff I’ve talked to in the ELP have all been wonderful. There is no pressure cooker environment, although I’ve heard the homework and tests get alot more serious around 4th grade. The turnover before the school year started hasn’t affected the learning at all, except for ONE music teacher vacancy, and that vacancy has since been filled. Maybe there is a lot more chaos going on in the administration, but I haven’t found that to affect DC’s experience at all.

You wouldn't see 95% of the chaos and tension downstairs in the ELP wing. It's all happening a floor or two above in the rest of the school. By all accounts, BIM does a decent job with the little ones. But if they stick around to 5th grade and beyond, they better be ready for a pressure cooker. That's all BIM offers in MS and HS.

More comments on this? How do middle or high-schoolers do at BIM if they also have a significant after-school sport or activity (music etc.)? Is the homework too time-consuming to keep up with interests outside of school work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC is currently in the Early Learning Program so at least from that perspective and talking to countless families in the primary school, I don’t understand the extreme negative reviews here at all. The teachers have been amazing, the curriculum and activities keep DC engaged and interested in learning, and the staff I’ve talked to in the ELP have all been wonderful. There is no pressure cooker environment, although I’ve heard the homework and tests get alot more serious around 4th grade. The turnover before the school year started hasn’t affected the learning at all, except for ONE music teacher vacancy, and that vacancy has since been filled. Maybe there is a lot more chaos going on in the administration, but I haven’t found that to affect DC’s experience at all.

You wouldn't see 95% of the chaos and tension downstairs in the ELP wing. It's all happening a floor or two above in the rest of the school. By all accounts, BIM does a decent job with the little ones. But if they stick around to 5th grade and beyond, they better be ready for a pressure cooker. That's all BIM offers in MS and HS.

More comments on this? How do middle or high-schoolers do at BIM if they also have a significant after-school sport or activity (music etc.)? Is the homework too time-consuming to keep up with interests outside of school work?

It depends. My kids handle it well.

[Anonymous]

BIM just posted all these jobs for "immediate hire" so you have to wonder, what school does that in January??????

You can check the listings on Indeed.com to verify or the BIM site itself.

BASIS Independent - 4 new jobs posted

Dean of Students-High School | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Director of Student Affairs-Elementary | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Dean of Students-Middle School | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Dean of Students-Elementary | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Staff), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BIM just posted all these jobs for "immediate hire" so you have to wonder, what school does that in January??????

You can check the listings on Indeed.com to verify or the BIM site itself.

BASIS Independent - 4 new jobs posted

Dean of Students-High School | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Director of Student Affairs-Elementary | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Dean of Students-Middle School | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Dean of Students-Elementary | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Staff), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

They are probably expanding. With the new #1 ranking, the student body is probably growing fast.

[Anonymous]

How fetch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC is currently in the Early Learning Program so at least from that perspective and talking to countless families in the primary school, I don’t understand the extreme negative reviews here at all. The teachers have been amazing, the curriculum and activities keep DC engaged and interested in learning, and the staff I’ve talked to in the ELP have all been wonderful. There is no pressure cooker environment, although I’ve heard the homework and tests get alot more serious around 4th grade. The turnover before the school year started hasn’t affected the learning at all, except for ONE music teacher vacancy, and that vacancy has since been filled. Maybe there is a lot more chaos going on in the administration, but I haven’t found that to affect DC’s experience at all.

You wouldn't see 95% of the chaos and tension downstairs in the ELP wing. It's all happening a floor or two above in the rest of the school. By all accounts, BIM does a decent job with the little ones. But if they stick around to 5th grade and beyond, they better be ready for a pressure cooker. That's all BIM offers in MS and HS.

More comments on this? How do middle or high-schoolers do at BIM if they also have a significant after-school sport or activity (music etc.)? Is the homework too time-consuming to keep up with interests outside of school work?

It depends. My kids handle it well.

Same here. My 9th grader has instruments and sports outside school that are really time consuming. We know of kids doing multiple activities (music, dance, sports). Everyone seems to do fine in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DC is currently in the Early Learning Program so at least from that perspective and talking to countless families in the primary school, I don’t understand the extreme negative reviews here at all. The teachers have been amazing, the curriculum and activities keep DC engaged and interested in learning, and the staff I’ve talked to in the ELP have all been wonderful. There is no pressure cooker environment, although I’ve heard the homework and tests get alot more serious around 4th grade. The turnover before the school year started hasn’t affected the learning at all, except for ONE music teacher vacancy, and that vacancy has since been filled. Maybe there is a lot more chaos going on in the administration, but I haven’t found that to affect DC’s experience at all.

You wouldn't see 95% of the chaos and tension downstairs in the ELP wing. It's all happening a floor or two above in the rest of the school. By all accounts, BIM does a decent job with the little ones. But if they stick around to 5th grade and beyond, they better be ready for a pressure cooker. That's all BIM offers in MS and HS.

More comments on this? How do middle or high-schoolers do at BIM if they also have a significant after-school sport or activity (music etc.)? Is the homework too time-consuming to keep up with interests outside of school work?

It depends. My kids handle it well.

Yes. They all are gifted in many ways and work hard.


Same here. My 9th grader has instruments and sports outside school that are really time consuming. We know of kids doing multiple activities (music, dance, sports). Everyone seems to do fine in school.

[Anonymous]

Curious that BIM has no admissions deadline, unlike all of the other selective top schools in the region.

They can keep running those radio ads and reeling in the new students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious that BIM has no admissions deadline, unlike all of the other selective top schools in the region.

They can keep running those radio ads and reeling in the new students.

It’s called rolling admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious that BIM has no admissions deadline, unlike all of the other selective top schools in the region.

They can keep running those radio ads and reeling in the new students.

It’s called rolling admissions

All the other schools have a set number of openings, and a significant amount of interest. BIM has an infinite number of openings, and little interest. So, they will keep rolling to get as many students as they can admitted, and even into the school year. They will even squeeze students into classes beyond advertised cap sizes, so be careful about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious that BIM has no admissions deadline, unlike all of the other selective top schools in the region.

They can keep running those radio ads and reeling in the new students.

It’s called rolling admissions

All the other schools have a set number of openings, and a significant amount of interest. BIM has an infinite number of openings, and little interest. So, they will keep rolling to get as many students as they can admitted, and even into the school year. They will even squeeze students into classes beyond advertised cap sizes, so be careful about that.

Not true! Instead, they will test candidates and provide a realistic assessment of whether the kid is a good fit. I believe it has been established over the years that Basis is focused on the long game. By now it has built an outstanding academic record and the flaws (size/sports/others) are also well known. Tuition is also much cheaper than in top privates despite better academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BIM just posted all these jobs for "immediate hire" so you have to wonder, what school does that in January??????

You can check the listings on Indeed.com to verify or the BIM site itself.

BASIS Independent - 4 new jobs posted

Dean of Students-High School | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Director of Student Affairs-Elementary | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Dean of Students-Middle School | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Managers), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

Dean of Students-Elementary | Mc Lean, VA
Administration (Staff), BASIS Independent Virginia Jobs

They are probably expanding. With the new #1 ranking, the student body is probably growing fast.

Bingo!