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You’re Invited: Explore BASIS Independent McLean at Our Fall Open House

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It’s Fall, Y’all! We are excited to open our doors once again and welcome you in for our first Open House of the school year.

Our Open House is the best way to learn about our advanced curriculum, discover our talented Learning Expert and Subject Expert teachers, meet our dynamic students and parents, and learn about the student experience.

Please join our Open House on Saturday, October 25. Click here to register!

Open House Structure:  

Participants are welcome to join us on campus beginning at 8:40 AM, and the length of the event and start time of your program will vary based on your program of interest. Please review the section below for your child’s grade of interest. Students are encouraged to join us as well.


Toddler–Kindergarten (The Early Learning Program)

Program Time: 9:00 AM–10:00 AM

Visit our Early Learning Program, where our youngest students learn and grow. Hear from Learning Expert Teachers, administrators, and parents as you learn how BIM fosters curiosity, exploration, and creativity.

Following the program, you are invited to visit with our Parent Community Association (PCA) at the PCA Meet-and-Greet.

Grades 1–4 (The Primary Program)

Program Time: 9:00 AM–10:00 AM

Visit with our Learning Expert and Subject Expect Teachers, where you will learn about our unique two-teacher model. From math and science to humanities, Mandarin, music, and more, hear about our focus on teaching students how to learn and how we spark a lifelong love of learning.

Following the program, you are invited to visit with our Parent Community Association (PCA) at the PCA Meet-and-Greet.

Grades 5–8 (The Middle School Program)                           

Program Time: 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

In the Middle School Program, we focus on developing the academic, executive functioning, and self-advocacy skills needed for success in the high school years. Hear from our Subject Expert Teachers about how they inspire excellence and from our students who address questions about the day in the life of a Red-Tailed Hawk. Plus, learn about the many athletic and academic competition teams, student clubs, international trips, and more.

If you arrive early, please join the Parent Community Association (PCA) for the PCA Meet-and-Greet and/or join our Student Ambassadors for a campus tour between 9:00 AM-10:00 AM. The last tour will depart at 9:40 AM.

Grades 9-12 (The High School Program)             

Program Time: 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

Educating tomorrow’s great innovators, pioneers, and thought leaders requires a well-rounded curriculum—one with breadth and depth across academic disciplines.

Meet students, faculty, and administrators as you and your child learn about high school at BIM, including our unique Senior Year. The High School Program will conclude with a Networking Mixer with our Student Ambassadors, teachers, and school leadership.

If you arrive early, please join the Parent Community Association (PCA) for the PCA Meet-and-Greet and/or join our Student Ambassadors for a campus tour between 9:00 AM–10:00 AM. The last tour will depart at 9:40 AM.

Don’t miss this interactive experience! Click here to register for our Fall Open House. As you get ready for a fun winter season, we hope you will choose to spend time with us and get to know our Red-Tailed Hawk community.

We look forward to seeing you and welcoming you to our Red-Tailed Hawk community!

BASIS Independent McLean is an Age 2–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Red-Tailed Hawks community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Our Entire Class of 2025 and Approximately 70% of High School Students Awarded AP Scholar Distinction

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At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, we prioritize celebrating our students’ accomplishments. Today, we can proudly share that all members of our Class of 2025 and nearly 70% of our high school students qualified as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars during their tenure at our school. Students move from AP Scholar to AP Scholar with Honor and then AP Scholar with Distinction. With the 2025 scores, BASIS Independent Brooklyn students earned the highest-ever average AP test score of 3.94 as well as the highest-ever passing rate of 94%.

“We reached a milestone this year with every one of our seniors receiving an honor of AP Scholar or higher this year at BASIS Independent Brooklyn,” said Josh Harmon, Head of School for BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Upper School. “When looking at all students in grades 9-12, our students earned the highest average score yet of 3.94 across all the exams and a pass rate of 94%. This is possible due to a number of factors: the strong drive of our students, an outstanding curriculum that spirals through the years, the expertise of our teachers, and the overall support offered by our faculty and Student Affairs team.”

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:

80 students in our high school were named AP Scholar (or higher distinctions), representing approximately 67% of our high school, after the exams were taken in May 2025.

Approximately 63% of our seniors received the AP Scholar with Distinction, the highest award offered by the College Board.

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 list of student recipients updated to include the 2025 results below:

AP Scholar: Students who received a score of 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams.

Victor Bergman-B. ’25

Dana B. ’26

Matthias B. ’25

Leo B. ’25

Leonardo C. ’27

Joaquim H. ’26

Gabriel H. ’26

Rachel K. ’25

Ethan L. ’27

Summer L. ’26

William M. ’28

Hendrix. N. ’25

Jason P. ’25

Saajan P. ’26

Ishan P. ’28

Julia R. ’28

Gabe S. ’26

Willa S. ’27

Sasha T. ’25

Vivian W. ’27

Victor Y. ’27

Erica Z. ’26

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.

Bodhi D. ’27

Laith J. ’25

Audrey L. ’27

Viola L. ’25

Noah N. ’27

Nolan S. ’27

Isabella Y. ’27

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 nationwide receive this award, and less than 1/10th of 1% of students receive it after sophomore year.

Overall, in our high school, more than 50 students received this honor:

Wyatt A. ’26

Orsen A. ’27

Iris Autier-B. ’27

Maya B. ’27

Philip B. ’26

Henry B. ’27

Jack C. ’25

Nathaniel C. ’26

Mia C. ’26

Nicolas D. ’25

Colin D. ’25

Axel F. ’25

Petra G. ’27

Alexa G. ’26

Abraham G. ’27

Douglas H. ’27

Archie H. ’26

Maxwell H. ’25

Mateo K. ’25

Sofia K. ’27

Katherine K. ’26

Lianna L. ’26

Aidan L. ’25

Harrison L. ’27

Thomas M. ’25

Sabrina M. ’26

Varick M. ’27

Maddox M. ’25

Sefir O. ’26

Talin P. ’26

Crosby P. ’27

Gustavo P. ’25

Kanika R. ’26

Noah R. ’26

James R. ’25

Skye S. ’25

Zahra S. ’26

Hudson S. ’27

Nadia S. ’25

Xinyi S. ’26

Bowen S. ’27

Gregory S. ’26

Maxim S. ’25

William S. ’27

Hugo S. ’27

Jasmine S. ’26

Indi S. ’27

Olivia S. ’27

Ryan T. ’25

Beckham V. ’26

River W. ’26

Photo (above): Our Class of 2026 posing with Head of School Josh Harmon and College Counselor Matt Brauch.

Please join us in congratulating our Bears!

BASIS Independent Brooklyn is a PreK–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bears community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Join us for an Open House at BASIS Independent Bothell

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As the leaves turn and cool, and the crisp air settles over Bothell, we’re excited to invite you and your family to our Fall Open Houses. This is your opportunity to get a true feel for our school community—right here in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. We welcome prospective families to visit our beautiful Bothell campus, meet our dedicated teachers and staff, and learn more about the Orca spirit that drives our school culture. 

Whether you’re exploring options for early learning, elementary, middle, or high school, our open houses offer a relaxed and informative way to discover what makes our approach to education unique. Enjoy our beverage cart afterwards. 

What to Expect 
At the Open House, you’ll be greeted by school leaders and members of our teaching team who are eager to share what makes our classrooms dynamic and our community strong. You’ll have the chance to explore our advanced academic programs across grade levels, experience short, engaging sample lessons with our expert teachers, chat with Parent Ambassadors about their experiences firsthand, and tour the school grounds while taking in the beauty of full autumn colors. 

Meet the Team 
Our teachers can’t wait to meet you! Each is an expert in their subject area and brings both passion and real-world experience to the classroom. They’ll be on hand to talk about their teaching philosophy, classroom culture, and how they help students grow into confident, curious learners. Expect a number of demonstrations and Q and A sessions. 

Come see what it’s like to be part of a school that values academic excellence, student well-being, and a strong sense of community—all under one roof. We can’t wait to meet you and share more about what it means to be an Orca! 

Register now

BASIS Independent Schools Earn Top 2026 Niche Best Schools Rankings and Record National Merit Scholar Achievements

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BASIS Independent Schools has earned top recognition in the 2026 Niche Best Schools Rankings and set a new record with National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, reinforcing its place among the best private and STEM high schools in the U.S.

2026 Niche Best Schools Rankings: BASIS Independent Schools Results

Our campuses earned standout placements in both state and national rankings:

• BASIS Independent McLean (VA): Rose to #4 Best High School for STEM in America, ranked #1 Best High School for STEM in Virginia, and named #1 Best College Prep High School in Virginia.

• BASIS Independent Brooklyn (NY): Ranked #5 Best Private High School for STEM in New York and #1 Best Private High School for STEM in Brooklyn.

• BASIS Independent Silicon Valley (CA): Recognized as #3 Best High School for STEM in America, continuing its leadership in STEM education nationwide.

• BASIS Independent Fremont (CA): Recognized as #6 Best High School for STEM in California, reinforcing the Bay Area campuses’ collective strength.

These 2026 Niche Best Schools Rankings underscore BASIS Independent Schools’ commitment to excellence and reflect the consistent upward trajectory of its campuses nationwide.

2026 National Merit Scholarship Results

Students across BASIS Independent Schools have set a new record in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program:

• 67% of seniors from the Class of 2026 were named National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Scholars

• 28% of seniors from the Class of 2026 were named National Merit Semifinalists

This represents nearly one-third of the combined graduating class across our five high schools in California, New York, and Virginia — up from 25% last year!

These students now advance in the competition for approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth nearly $26 million. National Merit Finalists will be announced in spring 2026.

“We are immensely proud of our students and faculty for their continued excellence,” said Toby Walker, Vice President of BASIS Independent Schools. “Our Niche rankings and National Merit results are not just achievements — they reflect the strength of our curriculum, the dedication of our expert teachers, and the hard work of our students. These results reaffirm our mission: to educate students to the highest international levels with an advanced curriculum benchmarked to the best education systems in the world.”

Learn more about the BASIS Curriculum here. 

Meet Our Teachers: Featured Educators from Our Community

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This month, our annual Meet the Teacher Night brought BASIS Independent Fremont families together to explore our campus and gain valuable insights into the learning environment that shapes their children’s educational experience. Our teachers opened their classroom doors wide, sharing their passion for education and giving parents that coveted “inside scoop” on what makes learning at BASIS Independent Fremont so special. While Meet the Teacher Night gave a taste of what’s in store, we wanted to take this opportunity to dive deeper and introduce you to three of our exceptional teachers who are making a tremendous impact on our students’ lives.

Getting to Know Our Incredible Educators

Mr. Kasper: Engineering Wonder and Curiosity

Our beloved Engineering Subject Expert Teacher for grades TK–4, Mr. Kasper, has been a cornerstone of our school community for years. His passion for education was cultivated during 17 years of teaching in South Korea, where he discovered his true calling working with elementary students.

What makes Mr. Kasper truly special is his infectious curiosity—the same quality he loves nurturing in his students. “I love teaching because every question from a curious child and every spark of creativity in their work reminds me that learning is not just about answers—it’s about the joy of discovery,” he shares.

In his Engineering classes, students dive into the Engineering Design Process, tackling age-appropriate projects that seamlessly blend math, science, and technology. Through hands-on, real-world challenges, our young engineers learn how to solve problems with tangible benefits while developing crucial STEM literacy skills.

Ms. Bhora: Individualized Excellence in Our New Role

This year, we’re thrilled to introduce Ms. Bhora in her new position as our Specialist Expert Teacher—a role we created specifically to enhance individualized instruction across subjects. After serving as an exceptional Grade 3 Learning Expert Teacher, Ms. Bhora was the natural choice for this important position.

With over 13 years of teaching experience and five years as part of our BASIS Independent Fremont family, Ms. Bhora brings a wealth of expertise to her new role, focusing on academic enrichment in math and English, intervention programs, and support for our Learning Expert Teachers.

“The beautiful thing about working one-on-one is that every student’s path looks different. My job is to help them discover their own way to reach their goals,” Ms. Bhora explains, perfectly capturing the essence of personalized learning.

Ms. Bhora’s approach creates exactly what she believes children need most: a safe, loving, nurturing, and challenging environment where every student can thrive.

Ms. Vicky: Bringing Mandarin to Life

New to our campus this year, Ms. Vicky joins us as one of our Mandarin Subject Expert Teachers, bringing over 20 years of experience in language education and an infectious passion for making Mandarin accessible and exciting.

Born and raised in Taiwan, with educational roots in New Zealand and nearly two decades of experience in the U.S., Ms. Vicky brings a truly global perspective to her classroom. Her expertise spans from preschool through 9th grade, and she’s even the co-founder of the “Fun Learning Mandarin” YouTube channel.

“Starting somewhere new is always an adventure, but the enthusiasm I see from students here makes me confident we’re going to build something amazing together,” Ms. Vicky shares with the optimism that defines her teaching approach.

Through songs, stories, games, and hands-on activities, Ms. Vicky creates an immersive Mandarin experience that connects students not just to language skills but to the rich culture and customs of Mandarin-speaking regions.

Our Meet the Teacher Night was just the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary year of learning, discovery, and growth. These three educators, along with all our incredible teachers, are ready to inspire, challenge, and support every student on their unique educational journey.

Here’s to a year filled with curious questions, creative sparks, and amazing discoveries!

Learn more about our world-class educators here.

BASIS Independent Fremont 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 BASIS Independent Fremont community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Celebrating a Record-Breaking Year for Academic Excellence

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We are thrilled to celebrate a truly outstanding year of academic achievement at BASIS Independent Manhattan, as our students have once again surpassed expectations on their Advanced Placement (AP) exams and earned significant recognition from the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

This year’s results are a testament to our students’ dedication and our teachers’ commitment to fostering a culture of excellence. We are incredibly proud to announce that 69% of our AP test-taking students received AP Scholar Awards, a remarkable achievement that demonstrates consistent growth since our first AP exam administration.

By the Numbers: Our Students Continue to Excel

The achievements of our students speak for themselves:

  • 35 students have earned AP Scholar Awards across various categories.
  • 4 juniors have received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT.
  • Our students’ average AP score was an impressive 4.28 out of 5, significantly higher than the overall average for the rest of the country and abroad, which was 3.12.
graphic showing average ap score and number of ap scholars

A Track Record of Growth and Success

Our commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the steady growth of our AP Scholar recognition year after year. The number of students receiving these prestigious awards has consistently grown since our first AP exam administration.

  • 2022-2023: 47% of test-takers were recognized as AP Scholars
  • 2023-2024: 51% of test-takers were recognized
  • 2024-2025: 69% of test-takers were recognized

“The year-over-year increase in how many of our students are honored as AP Scholars is a fantastic representation of the BASIS Independent Manhattan program and the teachers who deliver our curriculum,” said Ms. Cyndriel Meimban, Director of Academic Programs. “Hard work, dedication, and intellectual curiosity have enabled them to excel at the highest levels of academic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their outstanding accomplishments on the AP Exams.”

This upward trend is a clear indicator of our students’ rising potential and the strength of our rigorous academic program.

Recognizing Our Scholars

We would like to celebrate every one of our students who worked tirelessly to achieve these results. Their hard work and determination are truly inspiring.

National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students

  • Maxfield S.
  • Sean F.
  • Symir T.
  • Zixi Y.
national merit scholarship commended students
AP ScholarAP Scholar with HonorAP Scholar with Distinction
Daniel C. (Gr. 10)Joshua Ag. (Gr. 10)Finn B. (Gr. 10)
Anderson C. (Gr. 10)Aidan B. (Gr. 10)Stella C. (Gr. 11)
Isabella D. (Gr. 10)Yujia (Zoe) G. (Gr. 10)Charles D. (Gr. 11)
Or H-U. (Gr. 10)Saira K. (Gr. 10)Sean F. (Gr. 11)
Julia N. (Gr. 11)Lucia M. (Gr. 10)Eli F. (Gr. 11)
Evan N. (Gr. 10)Apostolos R. (Gr. 10)Felix H. (Gr. 10)
Julien N. (Gr. 10)Charles S. (Gr. 10)Kaylee H. (Gr. 10)
Uliana T. (Gr. 10)Andrew S. (Gr. 11)Arry J. (Gr. 12) + AP Capstone Diploma
Lola O. (Gr. 11)
Marcus P. (Gr. 12) + AP Capstone Diploma
Maximilian R-J. (Gr. 11)
Dashiell S. (Gr. 11)
Maxfield S. (Gr. 11)
Alex S. (Gr. 10)
Joshua (J.J.) S. (Gr. 10)
Symir T. (Gr. 11)
Amelie W. (Gr. 10)
Zixi Y. (Gr. 11)
Isabella (Izzy) Z. (Gr. 10)

Congratulations once more to these bright minds and the supportive teachers and families who have helped them along the way. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their continued success!

Interested in learning more about our program? We invite you to visit our school at an upcoming Fall Open House on October 25 (PreK–5) and October 26 (Gr. 6–12) 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. 

BASIS Independent Brooklyn Students Honored by National Merit Scholarship Corporation

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Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) just released the names of Semifinalists and Commended Scholars in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program – including 9 BASIS Independent Brooklyn students. Alexa G., Kanika R., and River W. ’26 were named as Semifinalists and will continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. Along with our semi-finalists, we proudly celebrate 6 Commended Scholars recognized by NMSC.

Photographed above: Left to right – Beckham V. ‘26, Noah R. ‘26, Head of School Harmon, Director Forde, College Counselor Brauch, Associate Head of School Yoon, Dean Robbins, Gregory S. ‘26, Philip B. ’26. Seated left to right: Sabrina M. ‘26, Alexa G. ‘26, and Kanika R. ’26.
2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists: Left to right – Alexa G. ‘26, Kanika R. ‘26, and River W. ’26.

High school juniors entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 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.

“I am incredibly proud of our National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Scholars,” said Josh Harmon, Head of School at BASIS Independent Brooklyn Upper School. “Their achievements are the result of the hard work and motivation they bring to school each day. It’s wonderful to see such diligent students and positive classmates recognized for such a prestigious achievement.”

While we could talk for hours about each and every one of our seniors, we wanted to share a brief overview of the students recognized by NMSC.

· Commended Scholar Philip B. ’26 is a founding member of our school’s High School FIRST Robotics Team, a founding member of our DECA chapter, and a member of our men’s Varsity Soccer team, which made the league playoffs every year he was a member. Philip is a proud member of our Science Team that won first place in the New York State Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) last year. He is also a founding student at our school, joining us right when our doors opened in the fall of 2014.

· Semifinalist Alexa G. ’26 is the founder and president of our French Honor Society, helping to reinforce a love of the language and French culture at our school. She has taught guitar at the Red Hook Art Project since her freshman year, and this past summer, Alexa interned with a music therapist and conducted research on ways music could improve the lives of patients with dementia. She has played on the Varsity Volleyball team, helping the team make the league playoffs each of her four years, and this year she is leading the Yearbook Club with her peers. She is also a founding student at our school, joining in grade 1.

· Commended Scholar Sabrina M. ’26 envisioned and built a website for our school’s chapter of the National Honor Society to streamline the process of connecting students with teachers in our school when they need help. That tool has made a huge difference in students’ abilities to make a difference and be of service at our school. She’s also a proud member of our school’s chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honors society. Sabrina is also a founding member of our FIRST Robotics Team, and she led the marketing efforts in the competitions.

· Commended Scholar Sefi O. ’26 co-founded our school’s FIRST Robotics Team and was instrumental in helping them win the Inspire Award in last year’s competition. Sefi was the driving force in establishing the team, recruiting members, and preparing for competitions last year.

· Semifinalist Kanika R. ’26 is editor-in-chief of our student news site The Grizzly, a leader in our International Student Journalism Society chapter, and president of our National Honor Society. Kanika is a proud member of our Science Team that won first place in the New York State Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) last year. She also founded the JASA chapter at our school, focused on helping underserved seniors in the New York City area.

· Commended Scholar Noah R. ’26 is an active Science Team member who helped lead the team to a first-place finish in the New York State Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) last year. He has worked hard to mentor younger students through the years. Noah is also a leader of our math honor society, Mu Alpha Theta.

· Commended Scholar Gregory S. ’26 co-founded our inaugural DECA club and went to the state championships this past year. He is the Vice President of our High School Leadership Team, and co-founded our school’s Jewish Affinity Club, where he delivered presentations and created events to educate his peers about Jewish culture and history in his first two years in our high school.

· Commended Scholar Beckham V. ’26 is a leader on the cross-country and indoor and outdoor Varsity Track Teams. He is recognized for winning awards and helping establish and build the teams at our school. He is a proud member of our Science Team that took home 1st place in the New York State TEAMS competition! He was a founding student at our school, joining in grade 1!

· Semifinalist River W. ‘26 co-founded the DECA chapter at our school and competed in the State Championship last year. She was a driving force on our Science Bowl team that won the TEAMS competition. River spent the last year working in computational oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering and has published in academic journals. River has proudly won track awards for the Varsity Track Team, and she is a science columnist for our student news site, The Grizzly. She was also one of the founding students at our school, joining in grade 1 in fall 2014.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, more than 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 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. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

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. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

Network Results

Across our network of BASIS Independent Schools, we are celebrating 65 Semifinalists this year. Each state has different cutoff scores for honors, and our BASIS Independent Schools are located in some of the most competitive states—CA, NY, and VA—for semifinalist qualification. This achievement represents nearly one-third of the combined graduating class across our five high schools in California, New York, and Virginia—up from 25% last year.

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 Bears!

BASIS Independent Brooklyn is a PreK–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bears community? To join our interest list for the next school year, please click here.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Seniors Achieve Record 80% National Merit Honors

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On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program — including 40 students from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. Alongside our 40 Semifinalists, we proudly celebrated 51 Commended Scholars, meaning that 80% of the Class of 2026 received National Merit recognition, setting a new record for our school community. These academically talented high school seniors now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.

More than 1.3 million juniors from roughly 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT, which served as the initial screening test for program entrants. From this group, the nationwide pool of Semifinalists — representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors — includes the highest-scoring students in each state. The number of Semifinalists from each state is based on its share of the nation’s graduating seniors.

Reflecting on this achievement, Associate Head of School Josh Henriquez shared, “These students represent the heart of BASIS Independent Silicon Valley: determination, curiosity, and a drive to excel. As a community, we are thrilled to celebrate their journey and the hard work that has led to this well-deserved recognition.”

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 2026 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.

We are incredibly proud of these students — and of all our Bobcats — for their continual academic achievements, both big and small. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone for the Class of 2026!

Aaditya Bharadwaj
Peter Chow
Xiangtuo Cui
Anna Deng
Eileen Gong
Maximilian Guo
Aanya Gupta
Ellen Hao
Chloe Ho
Grace Huang
Nishka Jain
Arshiya Kalra
Manant Kochar
Aaron Li
Albert P Li
Albert S Li
Angela Li
Jessica Li
Junren Li
Leo Li
Maggie Liu
Alexander Ma
Arjun Maganti
Nikola Mazzola
Nelson Nishio
Helen Peng
Xinyue Ren
Archita Satapathy
Manasi Sharma
Yifan Sheng
Lily Tao
Caroline Tian
Aryan Tummala
Richard Wang
Yujie Wu
Maggie Xu
Maximillian Yang
Catherine Yue
Yiyang Zheng
Lawrence Zhou

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.

From Silicon Valley to the Big Apple, nearly 1 in 3 of our students is a National Merit Semifinalist

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Students at BASIS Independent Schools have set a new record this year, with 65 seniors from the Class of 2026 named Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. This achievement represents nearly one-third of the combined graduating class across our five high schools in California, New York, and Virginia—up from 25% last year.

These exceptionally talented high school seniors now have the chance to advance in the competition for approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships, collectively worth nearly $26 million. National Merit Finalists will be announced in the spring of 2026.

This success highlights the strength of the BASIS Independent Schools program—where the rigorous, well-rounded BASIS Curriculum is brought to life by passionate Subject Expert Teachers who challenge and inspire students daily. From coast-to-coast, our student’s achievements underscore the depth of preparation, intellectual curiosity, and academic excellence that define a BASIS Independent Schools education.

Learn more about BASIS Independent Schools by joining our interest list today!

High school juniors entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 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.