BASIS Independent Manhattan is thrilled to announce its remarkable success in the 2025 Best Schools Niche Rankings! We have burst into the scene in our inaugural year of eligibility, securing spots in the Top 15 Best Private Schools in Manhattan and Top 20 Best Private High Schools in New York. These outstanding achievements are a testament to our dedicated faculty, supportive staff, talented students, and close-knit community. We take great pride in the achievements of our graduating seniors, the Class of 2024, and their impressive college acceptances, which have significantly contributed to our growth and enhanced our profile in NYC.
2025 Rankings: BASIS Independent Manhattan
BASIS Independent Manhattan: A+ Grade
#15 Best High School for STEM in New York
#19 Best College Prep Private High Schools in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
#87 (out of 3,180) Best Private K-12 Schools in America
“Receiving these prestigious rankings is an honor, but I’m most proud of the exceptional educational experience we’ve created,” said Ms. LaNette Hodge, Head of School. “These rankings are a validation of our faculty and staff’s dedication and commitment to our school. Achieving these impressive results in our first year of eligibility is remarkable, and I’m confident that our upward trajectory will continue as we build upon our successes.”
Other BASIS Independent Schools Achieve High Honors
While BASIS Independent Manhattan has made significant strides in New York City, other BASIS Independent Schools across the country have also achieved impressive rankings. BASIS Independent Brooklyn, McLean, Silicon Valley, and Fremont have all secured top positions in their respective regions. These collective achievements solidify BASIS Independent Schools’ position as a leading network of K-12 institutions. Read full network rankings »
The 2025 Niche private school rankings are here, and BASIS Independent Schools has once again secured its spot as one of the nation’s top, private K–12 institutions! This year, five of our seven campuses were eligible for ranking, and all of them received high honors: BASIS Independent Brooklyn, McLean, Silicon Valley, along with Fremont and Manhattan, which were eligible for rankings for the first time this year. BASIS Independent Bellevue and Bothell, our newest schools, will be eligible for ranking in the next few years.
2025 Rankings: BASIS Independent Schools
National Achievements
State and Region Achievements
Niche national rankings
national rankings 2025
Top Rankings by Campus
BASIS Independent McLean: A+ Grade
#1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Virginia
#1 Best High Schools for STEM in Virginia
#1 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Virginia
#1 Best Private High Schools in Virginia
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley: A+ Grade
#3 Best High Schools for STEM in California
#5 Best High Schools for STEM in America
BASIS Independent Brooklyn: A+ Grade
#9 Best College Prep High Schools in New York
#11 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
BASIS Independent Manhattan: A+ Grade (First year eligible for Rankings)
#15 Best High Schools for STEM in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
BASIS Independent Fremont: A+ Grade (First year eligible for Rankings)
#6 Best High Schools for STEM in the San Francisco Bay Area
#9 Best High Schools for STEM in California
#13 Best Private K-12 Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area
Niche, a trusted leader in K–12 school rankings, provides detailed profiles for schools across the U.S. using comprehensive search and data tools. The 2025 rankings are based on an in-depth analysis of key data points and millions of reviews from students and parents. Factors such as SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges students pursue, student-teacher ratios, and private school ratings are considered. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users, and the schools themselves.
“We are both extremely proud and also not surprised by this recognition and attention for BASIS Independent Schools,” says Toby Walker, Vice President of BASIS Independent Schools. “This year, two additional schools were eligible to be ranked and the impressive rankings for BASIS Independent Fremont (CA) and BASIS Independent Manhattan only goes to show the consistency of excellent across our network of schools.”
These exciting achievements further highlight our continued excellence and commitment to delivering world-class education year after year, and further demonstrates the dedication of our Learning and Subject Expert Teachers, and their unwavering commitment to helping students achieve success at the world’s leading colleges and universities. The strength of our network is evident from coast to coast, consistently delivering outstanding results.
BASIS Independent Schools offer the high-achieving BASIS Curriculum, which was developed in 1998 and serves students from preschool through Grade 12. BASIS Independent Schools educates students to the highest international levels with a spiraling liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked to the best education systems in the world. Our advanced curriculum, unmatched in breadth and depth, prepares students to be innovative, well-rounded leaders across disciplines. BASIS Independent Schools currently offers private school campuses in California, New York, Northern Virginia, and Washington State.
The 2025 Niche private school rankings are here, and BASIS Independent Schools has once again secured its spot as one of the nation’s top, private K–12 institutions! This year, five of our seven campuses were eligible for ranking, and all of them received high honors: BASIS Independent Brooklyn, McLean, Silicon Valley, along with Fremont and Manhattan, which were eligible for rankings for the first time this year. BASIS Independent Bellevue and Bothell, our newest schools, will be eligible for ranking in the next few years.
2025 Rankings: BASIS Independent Schools
National Achievements
State and Region Achievements
Niche national rankings
national rankings 2025
Top Rankings by Campus
BASIS Independent McLean: A+ Grade
#1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Virginia
#1 Best High Schools for STEM in Virginia
#1 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Virginia
#1 Best Private High Schools in Virginia
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley: A+ Grade
#3 Best High Schools for STEM in California
#5 Best High Schools for STEM in America
BASIS Independent Brooklyn: A+ Grade
#9 Best College Prep High Schools in New York
#11 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
BASIS Independent Manhattan: A+ Grade (First year eligible for Rankings)
#15 Best High Schools for STEM in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
BASIS Independent Fremont: A+ Grade (First year eligible for Rankings)
#6 Best High Schools for STEM in the San Francisco Bay Area
#9 Best High Schools for STEM in California
#13 Best Private K-12 Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area
Niche, a trusted leader in K–12 school rankings, provides detailed profiles for schools across the U.S. using comprehensive search and data tools. The 2025 rankings are based on an in-depth analysis of key data points and millions of reviews from students and parents. Factors such as SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges students pursue, student-teacher ratios, and private school ratings are considered. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users, and the schools themselves.
“We are both extremely proud and also not surprised by this recognition and attention for BASIS Independent Schools,” says Toby Walker, Vice President of BASIS Independent Schools. “This year, two additional schools were eligible to be ranked and the impressive rankings for BASIS Independent Fremont (CA) and BASIS Independent Manhattan only goes to show the consistency of excellent across our network of schools.”
These exciting achievements further highlight our continued excellence and commitment to delivering world-class education year after year, and further demonstrates the dedication of our Learning and Subject Expert Teachers, and their unwavering commitment to helping students achieve success at the world’s leading colleges and universities. The strength of our network is evident from coast to coast, consistently delivering outstanding results.
BASIS Independent Schools offer the high-achieving BASIS Curriculum, which was developed in 1998 and serves students from preschool through Grade 12. BASIS Independent Schools educates students to the highest international levels with a spiraling liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked to the best education systems in the world. Our advanced curriculum, unmatched in breadth and depth, prepares students to be innovative, well-rounded leaders across disciplines. BASIS Independent Schools currently offers private school campuses in California, New York, Northern Virginia, and Washington State.
The 2025 Niche private school rankings are here, and BASIS Independent Schools has once again secured its spot as one of the nation’s top, private K–12 institutions! This year, five of our seven campuses were eligible for ranking, and all of them received high honors: BASIS Independent Brooklyn, McLean, Silicon Valley, along with Fremont and Manhattan, which were eligible for rankings for the first time this year. BASIS Independent Bellevue and Bothell, our newest schools, will be eligible for ranking in the next few years.
2025 Rankings: BASIS Independent Schools
National Achievements
State and Region Achievements
Niche national rankings
national rankings 2025
Top Rankings by Campus
BASIS Independent McLean: A+ Grade
#1 Best Private K-12 Schools in Virginia
#1 Best High Schools for STEM in Virginia
#1 Best College Prep Private High Schools in Virginia
#1 Best Private High Schools in Virginia
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley: A+ Grade
#3 Best High Schools for STEM in California
#5 Best High Schools for STEM in America
BASIS Independent Brooklyn: A+ Grade
#9 Best College Prep High Schools in New York
#11 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in America
BASIS Independent Manhattan: A+ Grade (First year eligible for Rankings)
#15 Best High Schools for STEM in New York
#20 Best Private K-12 Schools in New York
BASIS Independent Fremont: A+ Grade (First year eligible for Rankings)
#6 Best High Schools for STEM in the San Francisco Bay Area
#9 Best High Schools for STEM in California
#13 Best Private K-12 Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area
Niche, a trusted leader in K–12 school rankings, provides detailed profiles for schools across the U.S. using comprehensive search and data tools. The 2025 rankings are based on an in-depth analysis of key data points and millions of reviews from students and parents. Factors such as SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges students pursue, student-teacher ratios, and private school ratings are considered. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche users, and the schools themselves.
“We are both extremely proud and also not surprised by this recognition and attention for BASIS Independent Schools,” says Toby Walker, Vice President of BASIS Independent Schools. “This year, two additional schools were eligible to be ranked and the impressive rankings for BASIS Independent Fremont (CA) and BASIS Independent Manhattan only goes to show the consistency of excellent across our network of schools.”
These exciting achievements further highlight our continued excellence and commitment to delivering world-class education year after year, and further demonstrates the dedication of our Learning and Subject Expert Teachers, and their unwavering commitment to helping students achieve success at the world’s leading colleges and universities. The strength of our network is evident from coast to coast, consistently delivering outstanding results.
BASIS Independent Schools offer the high-achieving BASIS Curriculum, which was developed in 1998 and serves students from preschool through Grade 12. BASIS Independent Schools educates students to the highest international levels with a spiraling liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked to the best education systems in the world. Our advanced curriculum, unmatched in breadth and depth, prepares students to be innovative, well-rounded leaders across disciplines. BASIS Independent Schools currently offers private school campuses in California, New York, Northern Virginia, and Washington State.
At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we believe that strong parent-teacher partnerships are essential to student success. Our dedicated teachers are passionate about providing a nurturing and supportive learning environment and are committed to open communication and collaboration with parents.
In this blog post, our teachers offer experiential advice on how to start the school year off right. Building lasting relationships is possible with these top three tips for parents of students at any age:
Attend events
Reach out
Meet in person
Tips for Parents: Start Strong with Effective Communication from Day One
Attend back-to-school events to establish initial connections with teachers.
At the start of the year, we emphasize relationship-building within our Wildcat community! In addition to Meet the Teacher nights, we also have welcome-back carnivals at both the Upper and Lower Schools for socializing in a relaxed atmosphere.
Attending parent events has been a game-changer for me. It’s great to get to know parents and build a personal connection. This has really strengthened my relationships with families and helped me better support their children.
Mr. Smith Visual Arts SET, Upper School
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Proactively reach out to teachers with questions or concerns, especially at the beginning of the year. You can share your child’s strengths, interests, and any challenges they may be facing, but be prepared to work in partnership with the teacher. Math Subject Expert Teacher, Ms. Perez remembers when a parent reached out to share that their upper school student struggles with math even though they put in a lot of effort. Establishing that connection early opened up so many options for support.
This insight helped me better prepare for supporting the student, ensuring I worked with the parent to address difficulties before they became overwhelming. It also allowed me to be more understanding and patient with the challenges the student faced.
Ms. Perez Math SET, Upper School
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Our Learning and Subject Expert Teachers subscribe to this trust-building type of collaboration that requires impactful two-way communication. In our experience, a strong teacher-parent partnership addresses specific student needs, increases learning, and benefits the child’s well-being.
BASIS Independent Manhattan has a unique system that replaces traditional parent-teacher conferences, typically hosted twice for only 15-20 minutes, with weekly parent hours. Teachers are accessible to parents to discuss their child’s progress, set goals, and identify a support plan if needed.
Our teachers have found that it is best when parents come prepared to ask specific questions and follow up on any action items discussed during these meetings. Mr. Smith also notes, “Parents play a huge role in keeping students accountable outside the classroom, which ensures that when they are at school, we are able to be as productive as possible.”
By fostering a team sensibility, we create a supportive and collaborative learning environment that benefits our students. Remember, open communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to your child’s success are key to building lasting relationships.
Thank you to our amazing teachers for their dedication and passion. We are grateful for your commitment to our students and our school community.
If you are interested in this kind of parent-teacher relationship or would like to meet our incredible teachers, please attend one of our Fall Open Houses.
On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program – including 26 BASIS Independent Silicon Valley students. Alongside our 26 Semifinalists, we proudly celebrated 32 Commended Scholars, totaling around 64% of the senior class receiving recognition. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
High school juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
“These students truly exemplify the spirit of excellence that we see throughout the hallways of this school. Their accomplishment reflects the level of achievement that we strive for at BISV, and I am sure that I speak for the entire community when I say that we couldn’t be more proud of these individuals and commend them on their hard work and dedication,” said Sara Kolb, Head of School at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley.
From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. The scholarship winners of 2025 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. All Merit Scholar recipients are selected based on their abilities, achievements, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
On behalf of all BASIS Independent Schools, we are so proud of you – and of all of our students – for your continual academic achievements both big and small. Please join us in congratulating our incredible Bobcats!
Shreyas Avula Joshua Balmin Rohan Das Hamed Fazel-Rezai Henry Jin Yashas Khattar Xiaoyue (Nicole) Lai Andrew Li Sophia Li Cindy Liu Samuel Liu Stephanie Liu Alex Luo Ruinan (Sherry) Mao Srilalitha Nair Diya Pillai Oliver Qi Sonya Sar Yourui Shao Kenneth Sun Aindra Tan Antony Wang Luofei (Angela) Wang Allison Zhang Brianna Zheng
Congratulations, Bobcats!
BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.
At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, we prioritize celebrating our students’ accomplishments across many areas–from fine arts to community service, debate competitions, sports, and beyond. However, academic accomplishment remains a shared priority within our community. Today we can proudly share that based on the 2024 AP scores approximately 68% of our high school students qualified as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars during their time in our program. Students move from AP Scholar to AP Scholar with Honor and then AP Scholar with Distinction. Approximately 75% of our students reach that highest level of AP Scholar with Distinction by the time they graduate.
“The AP Scholar distinctions our students earned this year are yet another measure of the success that’s earned here at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, ” said Josh Harmon, Head of School for BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Upper School. “Academically all of our high school students qualified as AP Scholars by the time they finished their junior year. When looking at all students in grades 9-12 nearly 70% of our high school was awarded the honor of AP Scholar or higher. Moreover, our students sat for more AP exams in 2024 than ever before with the growth of our high school.”
AP Scholar awards recognize students who have demonstrated both a depth and breadth of knowledge and whose work has shown college-level mastery across multiple disciplines. The College Board awards the following distinctions for AP exams, and we have students who have achieved all levels.
AP Scholar: students who received a score of 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams.
AP Scholar with Honors: students who received a score of 3 or higher on 4 or more exams, and have an average score of at least 3.25 across all exams taken.
AP Scholar with Distinction: students who received a score of 3 or higher on at least 5 exams, and an average score of 3.5 across all exams taken.
Nationwide, only about 10% of students earn the distinction of AP Scholar or higher by the time they graduate (based on historic data provided by the College Board). We are thrilled to share some of the top accomplishments here:
75 students in our high school were named AP Scholar or higher distinctions, representing approximately 68% of our high school in May 2024 when the exams were taken.
75% of our seniors received the AP Scholar with Distinction, the highest award offered by the College Board.
Our school has been recognized as a Platinum Member of the AP School Honor Roll. This is the highest recognition possible for a school on the Honor Roll, and it is based on our students’ outstanding results.
Congratulations to all our students who have earned an AP Scholar Award for their performance on the exams during their High School tenure. See the full lists of student recipients updated to include the 2024 results below:
AP Scholar: Students who received a score of 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams.
Victor B. ’25
Matthias B. ’25
Leo B. ’25
Eden E. ’24
Abraham G. ’27
Joaquim H. ’26
Douglas H. ’27
Gabriel H. ’26
Charlotte J. ’24
Rachel K. ’25
Katherine K. ’26
Avi L. ’24
Hendrix N. ’25
Jason P. ’25
Saajan P. ’26
Sasha T. ’25
AP Scholar with Honors: Students who received a score of 3 or higher on 4 or more AP exams and have an average score of at least 3.25 across all exams taken. Nationwide, only about 6% of students will graduate high school with this degree of recognition or higher. Nearly all of these honorees have done so well before graduation.
Wyatt A. ’26
Laila G. ’24
Archie H. ’26
Laith J. ’25
Alexa L. ’24
Viola L. ’25
AP Scholar with Distinction: Students who have a score of 3 or higher on at least 5 exams, and an average score of 3.5 across all exams taken. These students have already completed at least a semester’s worth of college credit while still in high school. Only about 4% of graduating seniors receive this award, and less than 1/10th of 1% of students receive it after sophomore year.
Overall in our high school, the following 50 students received this honor:
Philip B. ’26
Radha B. ’26
Jack B. ’24
Zeke B. ’24
Jack C. ’25
Nathaniel C. ’26
Mia C. ’26
Nicolas D. ’25
Colin D. ’25
Axel F. ’25
Sofia G. ’24
Alexa G. ’26
Samantha G. ’24
Diego G. ’24
Angelina G. ’24
Maxwell H. ’25
Mateo K. ’25
Lianna L. ’26
Aidan L. ’25
Ye L. ’24
Thomas M. ’25
Sabrina M. ’26
Dilan M. ’24
Maddox M. ’25
Ben N. ’24
Sefir O. ’26
Oliver P. ’24
Talin P. ’26
Charles P. ’24
Gustavo P. ’25
Daniel P. ’24
Kanika R. ’26
Noah R. ’26
James R. ’25
Alexander R. ’24
Skye S. ’25
Nadia S. ’25
Xinyi S. ’26
Gregory S. ’26
Maxim S. ’25
Nadine S. ’24
Yuna S. ’24
Jasmine S. ’26
Jonah S. ’24
Lucas S. ’24
Ryan T. ’25
Beckham V. ’26
Isaac W. ’24
River W. ’26
Andre Z. ’24
Photo (above): Our Class of 2025 posing with Associate Head of School Leo Yoon, Head of School Josh Harmon, and College Counselor Matt Brauch.
BASIS Independent Manhattan is proud to announce that nearly half (48%) of our Advance Placement (AP) test-taking students have been recognized by the College Board for their exceptional performance on the 2023-24 AP Exams. These dedicated 23 students demonstrated a remarkable commitment to rigorous academic pursuits and have earned the following prestigious AP Scholar awards.
15 AP Scholars with Distinction: Students who scored 3 or higher on five or more AP exams and an average score of at least 3.75.
5 AP Scholars with Honor: Students who earned scores of 3 or higher on four or more AP exams and an average score of at least 3.5.
4 AP Scholars: Students who scored 3 or higher on at least three AP exams.
1 AP Capstone Diploma: Students who earned a qualifying score on both the AP Seminar and AP Research exams.
“We are incredibly proud of our students’ outstanding accomplishments on the AP Exams,” said Ms. Cyndriel Meimban, Academic Programs Manager at BASIS Independent Manhattan’s Upper School. “Their hard work, dedication, and intellectual curiosity have enabled them to excel at the highest levels of academic achievement.”
Additional results worth highlighting include:
The average AP score for our students was 4.02 (out of 5), whereas it was 2.96 for the rest of the country and abroad.
For two years in a row (2022-2023 and 2023-2024), approximately 75% of our AP students reach the highest level of AP Scholar with Distinction by the time they graduate.
What is increasingly impressive is that our students on average complete 12.4 AP exams and complete their AP course requirements during their first three years of high school. These AP Scholar awards are a testament to the exceptional quality of education at BASIS Independent Manhattan in a supportive learning environment with experienced teachers who provide students with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Interested in learning more about our program and the High School Years? We invite you to explore our website, visit our school, or contact our Admissions team to see if BASIS Independent Manhattan is the right fit for you.
BASIS Independent Manhattan, a private school offering PreK through Grade 12, is based in Manhattan, New York. Students thrive alongside Subject Expert Teachers as they engage in a liberal arts program with STEM offerings.
One of the defining features of a high-quality private school education is the advantage of small class sizes. At BASIS Independent Fremont, we understand that the number of students in a classroom significantly impacts the learning experience. Smaller class sizes allow for a more personalized approach to education, enabling teachers to meet the unique needs of each student and foster an environment where academic excellence can thrive.
Individualized Attention for Every Student
In smaller classrooms, teachers can get to know each student personally. This close teacher-student relationship allows for a deeper understanding of each child’s strengths, challenges, and learning styles. Teachers can tailor their instruction to meet the needs of individual students, offering extra support where needed or providing advanced materials to challenge those who are excelling. This level of personalized attention is often difficult to achieve in larger classes, where teachers may struggle to address the varied needs of many students simultaneously.
Enhanced Classroom Engagement and Participation
Smaller class sizes also encourage greater student engagement and participation. With fewer students in the room, each child has more opportunities to contribute to discussions, ask questions, and interact with both the teacher and their peers. This active participation reinforces learning and builds confidence and communication skills. Students in smaller classes are less likely to feel overlooked, and teachers can facilitate a more inclusive and dynamic classroom environment where every voice is heard.
Stronger Academic Outcomes
Research consistently shows that students in smaller classes perform better academically. The combination of personalized attention, increased participation, and a supportive learning environment leads to stronger academic outcomes. At BIF, our commitment to maintaining small class sizes ensures that each student receives the guidance and resources they need to succeed. Whether it’s mastering foundational skills or exploring more advanced concepts, students benefit from an educational setting that prioritizes their individual growth and development.
In conclusion, the benefits of small class sizes extend far beyond the classroom. At BASIS Independent Fremont, we believe that a more personalized and engaged learning experience is key to fostering academic excellence. By maintaining small class sizes, we create an environment where every student can thrive, ensuring that they are not just meeting academic standards but exceeding them.
Helping students manage their time and schoolwork effectively is core to the BASIS Curriculum. One of our most important tools in developing students with life-long habits of self-direction and disciplined, critical enquiry is the Communication Journal (CJ).
At first glance, it’s an analog daily planner. In practice, it’s the epicenter of our students’ educational experience, a record of their wins, their losses, and most importantly, their areas for improvement. During the school day, we focus on building the student-teacher relationship. The CJ is critical in helping families feel involved in their child’s education at the end of the day. It is the first daily touch-point between teachers and parents and acts as a discussion started at home between students and their families.
The CJ is central to our curricular philosophy not to post homework or grades online, or remove students from conversations about their own education. It is the tool that makes this philosophy a powerful growth opportunity for students to own their own academic and intellectual progress.
Over time, after successful usage of the CJ has been proven, students can expect to have more independent ownership of their CJ, and less and less oversight by their teachers and parents. Our goal is to start strong and while they are building their habits, have consistent daily checks. But as the years move on, we train students to become more independent, and less dependent on others for their own academic responsibilities.
Kindergarten Communication Journal
Even our youngest students have their own CJs to record their work and have their parents sign each evening. Kindergarten students are expected to record their own CJ notes each morning.
Students in Kindergarten recording their CJ notes for the day
Grades 1 – 3 Communication Journal
Unlike students in Kindergarten who primarily stay in their classroom throughout the day, students beginning in Grade 1 travel from classroom to classroom for each subject. The expectation of a CJ note from each Subject Expert Teacher (SET) begins in Grade 1 and continues on through high school. Students in Grades 1 – 3 receive assistance recording their CJ notes from their Learning Expert Teachers (LET) who will often give out stamps or stickers for a job well done!
A Grade 2 student’s CJ notes for the week
Grades 4 – 5 Communication Journal
For students in Grades 4 and 5, the use of the CJ is now a daily habit. Though our Grade 4 students still have their LET to help them, in Grade 5 the responsibility rests solely on the student. Students who have been with us throughout their elementary years know its power in keeping them accountable for their education, and even new students can appreciate this tool for helping them keep their upcoming assignments and assessments organized on a daily basis.
A student in Grade 4 sits right down to record their CJ note for Science even before class begins
Grades 6 – 8 Communication Journal
In middle school, we start to see more and more students not needing their parent signature every night. There are fewer CJ checks happening in the classroom and at home depending on the student. But, at the first sign of disorganization, the first step expressed by their Dean of Students, one of their SETs, or their parents is always the same, “Let’s look at your CJ.”
A Grade 8 student shows off their well-organized CJ with their friend
Grades 9 – 12 Communication Journal
In high school, the CJ is perfected. Not only are students rarely needing their parents to sign their CJ, but they are now using it as their own tool to organize their after-school activities. Many high school students will write reminders for things to print at home, office hours to attend, and even their clubs in their CJ. The goal of being organized, thinking ahead, and ready for each day has been achieved.
Grade 9 students CJ showing its use for not only their classes, but also their after-school enrichment activities
Unsurprisingly, our Alumni often cite the use of the CJ as one of the most helpful habits learned from our program. Many use their own tools of organization with their electronic devices now, but every year we have a few seniors who ask us for an extra CJ before they leave us.
Our educational philosophy is centered around student autonomy and self-advocacy and the Communication Journal is just one tool that helps us achieve that.
