Anonymous
Post 12/25/2025 14:26     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have friends with kids at BIM and just heard some very disturbing news about what's going on there. They did a good job with distance learning, by most accounts, but their enrollment for the fall has supposedly collapsed so badly that they are not bringing back some popular teachers, over the protests of parents and students. Does anyone know what's really happening there? The school hasn't released any real info about this anywhere.

We shouldn't be surprised after the parade of management mess-ups in their first four years. The fourth head of school there now will serve one more year, then apparently they are shipping him out too. Yet another new leader to promise the world and not deliver. The new owners (the original company sold the private school network to a mystery private equity firm) apparently didn't like losing money any more than the first group, so they proposed subletting the half of their giant building that they don't use now (because they never managed to recruit enough students). That shattered what little confidence was left among many parents. Successive leaders and the company CEO had promised to build a grand facility with hundreds and hundreds of students. God knows what kind of numbers they will have this fall. They never release them.

It's an endless series of broken promises from management. Some kids thrive on the tough curriculum and heavy test-centric atmosphere. Many teachers get good reviews. But it sounds like the ship is starting to sink. Can you imagine planning to put your child there for the next 6-7 years?

If anyone else still connected to BIM has more info, we would be interested. What a sad story.


They attract families that basically want a college consultant masquerading as a school. They better have some out of school activities that they love.


We were connected throughout the 2024-2025 year and we really didn't like it. My child came home and said that they were bullied for many reasons, including being non-binary. But yes, it is still sad. According to my child, they still have friends who like it there, even though it is a very tough curriculem, mainly focusing on accedemics and not really caring about outside life.


BIM is not the place for anyone who doesn't fit their mold. A parent who thinks, we like the rigor, but my kid is XYZ, will they fit in?

They probably won't.


True. They seem pretty focused on boosting their college admission stats almost to the exclusion of other concerns.
Anonymous
Post 12/25/2025 08:28     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have friends with kids at BIM and just heard some very disturbing news about what's going on there. They did a good job with distance learning, by most accounts, but their enrollment for the fall has supposedly collapsed so badly that they are not bringing back some popular teachers, over the protests of parents and students. Does anyone know what's really happening there? The school hasn't released any real info about this anywhere.

We shouldn't be surprised after the parade of management mess-ups in their first four years. The fourth head of school there now will serve one more year, then apparently they are shipping him out too. Yet another new leader to promise the world and not deliver. The new owners (the original company sold the private school network to a mystery private equity firm) apparently didn't like losing money any more than the first group, so they proposed subletting the half of their giant building that they don't use now (because they never managed to recruit enough students). That shattered what little confidence was left among many parents. Successive leaders and the company CEO had promised to build a grand facility with hundreds and hundreds of students. God knows what kind of numbers they will have this fall. They never release them.

It's an endless series of broken promises from management. Some kids thrive on the tough curriculum and heavy test-centric atmosphere. Many teachers get good reviews. But it sounds like the ship is starting to sink. Can you imagine planning to put your child there for the next 6-7 years?

If anyone else still connected to BIM has more info, we would be interested. What a sad story.



We were connected throughout the 2024-2025 year and we really didn't like it. My child came home and said that they were bullied for many reasons, including being non-binary. But yes, it is still sad. According to my child, they still have friends who like it there, even though it is a very tough curriculem, mainly focusing on accedemics and not really caring about outside life.

I wouldn’t worry too much. Those kids doing the bullying, would probably be getting bill if they were at just about any other school.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2025 10:31     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have friends with kids at BIM and just heard some very disturbing news about what's going on there. They did a good job with distance learning, by most accounts, but their enrollment for the fall has supposedly collapsed so badly that they are not bringing back some popular teachers, over the protests of parents and students. Does anyone know what's really happening there? The school hasn't released any real info about this anywhere.

We shouldn't be surprised after the parade of management mess-ups in their first four years. The fourth head of school there now will serve one more year, then apparently they are shipping him out too. Yet another new leader to promise the world and not deliver. The new owners (the original company sold the private school network to a mystery private equity firm) apparently didn't like losing money any more than the first group, so they proposed subletting the half of their giant building that they don't use now (because they never managed to recruit enough students). That shattered what little confidence was left among many parents. Successive leaders and the company CEO had promised to build a grand facility with hundreds and hundreds of students. God knows what kind of numbers they will have this fall. They never release them.

It's an endless series of broken promises from management. Some kids thrive on the tough curriculum and heavy test-centric atmosphere. Many teachers get good reviews. But it sounds like the ship is starting to sink. Can you imagine planning to put your child there for the next 6-7 years?

If anyone else still connected to BIM has more info, we would be interested. What a sad story.



We were connected throughout the 2024-2025 year and we really didn't like it. My child came home and said that they were bullied for many reasons, including being non-binary. But yes, it is still sad. According to my child, they still have friends who like it there, even though it is a very tough curriculem, mainly focusing on accedemics and not really caring about outside life.


BIM is not the place for anyone who doesn't fit their mold. A parent who thinks, we like the rigor, but my kid is XYZ, will they fit in?

They probably won't.


True. They seem pretty focused on boosting their college admission stats almost to the exclusion of other concerns.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 20:01     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:What's the word at basis these days? It has survived more than a few years now, so it must be ok?

It is what it’s always been.
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 12:46     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

What's the word at basis these days? It has survived more than a few years now, so it must be ok?
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 12:40     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

You revived a five year old thread
Anonymous
Post 12/21/2025 12:32     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have friends with kids at BIM and just heard some very disturbing news about what's going on there. They did a good job with distance learning, by most accounts, but their enrollment for the fall has supposedly collapsed so badly that they are not bringing back some popular teachers, over the protests of parents and students. Does anyone know what's really happening there? The school hasn't released any real info about this anywhere.

We shouldn't be surprised after the parade of management mess-ups in their first four years. The fourth head of school there now will serve one more year, then apparently they are shipping him out too. Yet another new leader to promise the world and not deliver. The new owners (the original company sold the private school network to a mystery private equity firm) apparently didn't like losing money any more than the first group, so they proposed subletting the half of their giant building that they don't use now (because they never managed to recruit enough students). That shattered what little confidence was left among many parents. Successive leaders and the company CEO had promised to build a grand facility with hundreds and hundreds of students. God knows what kind of numbers they will have this fall. They never release them.

It's an endless series of broken promises from management. Some kids thrive on the tough curriculum and heavy test-centric atmosphere. Many teachers get good reviews. But it sounds like the ship is starting to sink. Can you imagine planning to put your child there for the next 6-7 years?

If anyone else still connected to BIM has more info, we would be interested. What a sad story.



We were connected throughout the 2024-2025 year and we really didn't like it. My child came home and said that they were bullied for many reasons, including being non-binary. But yes, it is still sad. According to my child, they still have friends who like it there, even though it is a very tough curriculem, mainly focusing on accedemics and not really caring about outside life.


BIM is not the place for anyone who doesn't fit their mold. A parent who thinks, we like the rigor, but my kid is XYZ, will they fit in?

They probably won't.
Anonymous
Post 12/20/2025 20:08     Subject: BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:We have friends with kids at BIM and just heard some very disturbing news about what's going on there. They did a good job with distance learning, by most accounts, but their enrollment for the fall has supposedly collapsed so badly that they are not bringing back some popular teachers, over the protests of parents and students. Does anyone know what's really happening there? The school hasn't released any real info about this anywhere.

We shouldn't be surprised after the parade of management mess-ups in their first four years. The fourth head of school there now will serve one more year, then apparently they are shipping him out too. Yet another new leader to promise the world and not deliver. The new owners (the original company sold the private school network to a mystery private equity firm) apparently didn't like losing money any more than the first group, so they proposed subletting the half of their giant building that they don't use now (because they never managed to recruit enough students). That shattered what little confidence was left among many parents. Successive leaders and the company CEO had promised to build a grand facility with hundreds and hundreds of students. God knows what kind of numbers they will have this fall. They never release them.

It's an endless series of broken promises from management. Some kids thrive on the tough curriculum and heavy test-centric atmosphere. Many teachers get good reviews. But it sounds like the ship is starting to sink. Can you imagine planning to put your child there for the next 6-7 years?

If anyone else still connected to BIM has more info, we would be interested. What a sad story.



We were connected throughout the 2024-2025 year and we really didn't like it. My child came home and said that they were bullied for many reasons, including being non-binary. But yes, it is still sad. According to my child, they still have friends who like it there, even though it is a very tough curriculem, mainly focusing on accedemics and not really caring about outside life.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2020 18:21     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:Hey what is the latest on this school? I am hearing it is just getting worse and worse over the summer...a lot of talk about urgent need to sub let the rest of the huge building and school given up on any plan to expand the facility and the Private Equity grip beginning to tighten on the school managers and the whole company...job cuts at HQ. No one seems to know anything. I am worried they plan to expand in other places and they are just going to scratch this school out.


Everything at BIM is a big secret, from the specific enrollment numbers to any actual plans going forward. Whatever they say is subject to 100% reversal on zero notice anyway, as long-term parents know very well.

The school will stay open as long as the new owners like losing money. They need 600+ students to break even and have maybe half that this year, down from the last two years. Sure, the school could get rubbed out anytime, or it could keep limping along under yet a new HOS (that would be the fifth in six years) in fall 2021.

Place your bets and take your chances. That's all you will get from BIM. Some great teachers working in a shoddy organization.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2020 13:59     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

A lot of attention to Basis. Something is going on... maybe it is indeed a disaster and we have caring people trying to alert others, but the vibe of denigrate and destroy makes one wonder. Could have pissed off few wrong people. Anyways, how did they fare in metrics such as high school and college placements?
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2020 10:03     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hey what is the latest on this school? I am hearing it is just getting worse and worse over the summer...a lot of talk about urgent need to sub let the rest of the huge building and school given up on any plan to expand the facility and the Private Equity grip beginning to tighten on the school managers and the whole company...job cuts at HQ. No one seems to know anything. I am worried they plan to expand in other places and they are just going to scratch this school out.


Thanks troll. Sublet is one word, as is landlord. This whole rant didn’t make much sense, but that was an early sign that you were below mean. Go back to the public forums please.


Thank God I listened to my friend and transferred my 7th grade daughter to Nysmith.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2020 21:20     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:Hey what is the latest on this school? I am hearing it is just getting worse and worse over the summer...a lot of talk about urgent need to sub let the rest of the huge building and school given up on any plan to expand the facility and the Private Equity grip beginning to tighten on the school managers and the whole company...job cuts at HQ. No one seems to know anything. I am worried they plan to expand in other places and they are just going to scratch this school out.


Thanks troll. Sublet is one word, as is landlord. This whole rant didn’t make much sense, but that was an early sign that you were below mean. Go back to the public forums please.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2020 21:13     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Hey what is the latest on this school? I am hearing it is just getting worse and worse over the summer...a lot of talk about urgent need to sub let the rest of the huge building and school given up on any plan to expand the facility and the Private Equity grip beginning to tighten on the school managers and the whole company...job cuts at HQ. No one seems to know anything. I am worried they plan to expand in other places and they are just going to scratch this school out.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2020 17:03     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:With the issues at BASIS, I don't know why parents don't transfer their children to Nysmith.



That would be like jumping from a burning building to a sinking ship.


Why don't you stick to the public school forum?


Why are they not allowed to criticize Nysmith on a Basis forum?

Curious what these schools are planning for the fall?

If Nysmith plans in person learning they may need to rethink their model of having elementary students switch classrooms for each class.
Anonymous
Post 08/10/2020 17:02     Subject: Re:BASIS Independent McLean Finally Falling Apart?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:With the issues at BASIS, I don't know why parents don't transfer their children to Nysmith.



That would be like jumping from a burning building to a sinking ship.


Why don't you stick to the public school forum?


Why are they not allowed to criticize Nysmith on a Basis forum?

Curious what these schools are planning for the fall?

If Nysmith plans in person learning they may need to rethink there model of having elementary students switch classrooms for each class.