High School

BASIS Independent Manhattan Grads Head to Top Universities: Class of 2024 College Acceptances

May 7, 2024 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

We are thrilled to announce the college acceptances of our inaugural graduating class at BASIS Independent Manhattan! These outstanding results reflect their hard work, dedication, and pursuit of excellence. We are inspired by their achievements and proud to see them succeed.

A Pioneering Spirit Sets the Stage
As Ms. LaNette Hodge, Head of School, reflects, “This is a truly significant milestone for BASIS Independent Manhattan. Many of these students joined us in the very first year we opened our doors. Witnessing their development and evolution throughout their 6th-12th grade experience has been truly rewarding. They are pioneers, setting a high standard for future BASIS Independent Manhattan graduates.”

College Enrollment Reflects Exceptional Achievements
Here’s a glimpse into the impressive colleges our Class of 2024 will be calling home this fall (listed in order of commitment date):

Wesleyan University
Yale University
Duke University
University of Virginia (2 students)
Cornell University
Stanford University
University of California San Diego (UCSD)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Lafayette College
Carnegie Mellon University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
University of Colorado Boulder

(Full list of college acceptances will be included below.)

The statistics speak volumes about the caliber of this graduating class:

23% of students secured spots at top-10 ranked universities.
Over 62% received offers from institutions within the top 25 nationally and internationally, including prestigious names like Stanford, Yale, Duke, and the University of Virginia (three graduates this year!).
An impressive 92% gained acceptance to schools ranked in the top 50.
Remarkably, 100% were accepted to colleges within the top 75.

These statistics are reflected across the BASIS Independent Schools Network! Check out our blog highlighting the acceptances from our fellow campuses in Brooklyn, McLean, Silicon Valley, and Fremont. Read the blog: The Class of 2024 – Achieving New Heights and Redefining Success

A Journey of Self-Discovery and Opportunity
Ms. Andie Abrams, College Counselor, shares her experience, “While we weren’t quite sure what to expect from our first graduating class, we are absolutely thrilled with their achievements. The students embraced the college application process early, focusing on self-discovery and finding schools that truly aligned with their goals. They celebrated every milestone, big and small, and I have no doubt that they are all well on their way to incredible success.”

We at BASIS Independent Manhattan are beyond proud of our Class of 2024 and their remarkable accomplishments. They are a testament to the power of a nurturing and rigorous academic environment, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to them all! We can’t wait to see the amazing things they achieve in the years to come.

Full List of College Acceptances:

American University
Babson College
Boston University
Carnegie Mellon University
Cornell University
Denison University
Duke University
Elon University
Emory University (2)
Fordham University (2)
George Mason University
George Washington University (2)
James Madison University
Lafayette College
Lehigh University (2)
McGill University (2)
New York University
Northeastern University
Ohio State University, The
Pomona College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2)
Rochester Institute of Technology (2)
Rutgers University
SUNY Albany
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY Stony Brook
Stanford University
University of California – Berkeley
University of California – Davis (2)
University of California – Irvine
University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of California – San Diego (3)
University of California – Santa Barbara
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Indiana at Bloomington
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Massachusetts Amherst (2)
University of Rochester
University of Virginia
Washington University in St Louis
Wesleyan University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2)

Interested in learning more about our program and the Senior Year? 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.

2023 – 2024 Startups at Spring Competition: Creativity

March 28, 2024 by msnyder Leave a Comment

Thinking of a creative and unique business idea is a challenge for even the globe’s most talented and proven business professionals. Give that same challenge to a group of high school students all attending exceptional schools and the results are sure to impress. How could students in Grades 9 – 12 create a start-up idea, product, or service from inception to implementation? One that would also impress a panel of judges made up of industry professionals? That’s what a group of educators discovered at the Startups at Spring Competition.

The competition is open to high school students attending a Spring Education school and focuses on a specific type of business start-up. This year’s theme was creativity and it allowed the students to think outside of the box and present their ideas, first to their local school, and then one team from each school was selected and invited to attend a network-wide competition. Students then made the same presentation but, instead of it being in front of their peers and school administration, it was in front of industry professionals.

The professionals judge the competition on the feasibility and profitability of each idea presented. Judges listened to see if the teams explained their business idea clearly, was it unique, and implemented the year’s theme. Beyond those basic judging expectations, they also sought to see if the team understood and addressed the financial challenges of starting a business, did they effectively present their market strategy, and could they answer confidently improvisational questions regarding their “pitch”.

Ms. Jaymie Silva, BASIS Independent Schools Subject Expert Teacher and organizer of the competition said, “I’m always impressed by what our students are capable of and I appreciate that this competition is open to all high school students across our network of schools. These students develop their ideas and compete in their free time and the passion and engagement in their projects show. They are truly dedicated to making our future world better with their ideas and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!”

Third Place (awarded $2,000)

Team Name: Inclusive Experience Corp
Team Members: Stella C. (Grade 10) and Dashiell S. (Grade 10)
School: BASIS Independent Manhattan

Start-Up: The Inclusive Experience Organization (TIEO)
Selected Charity: Adaptive Design Association

Pitch: As music enthusiasts continue to bemoan outrageous concert prices and how they aren’t able to attend concerts due to economic conflicts, they forget that most venues aren’t even accessible to all fans.

The Inclusive Experience Organization (TIEO) would make the concert experience available for those who have a disability that prevents them from physically attending the venue but still want to enjoy their favorite singer’s performances. Through virtual reality, we plan on solving this issue as well as addressing physiological and psychological disabilities.

Team Take Away

“We want to say we are proud of ourselves as we are some of the younger participants and we feel inspired that we were able to bring an altruistic purpose to this competition.”

To view their entire presentation, click here.

Second Place (awarded $3,000)

Team Name: Slidebean
Team Members: Shoshana E. (Grade 12)
School: Laurel Springs

Start-Up: HelpUnplugged
Selected Charity: Hostage and Missing Families Forum

Pitch: HelpUnplugged is an AI portable assistance for off-the-grid health concerns. Currently, no smart diagnostic tools with offline capabilities exist for public use. No offline messaging systems exist to link patients with medical help directly. Unwell hikers in remote locations face gnawing worry and possible danger. In Arizona County, 12 hikers died from medical emergencies in remote locations over just 13 years.

HelpUnplugged would be an AI diagnostic tool that functions completely offline; obtaining vital signs and symptoms, processing data, and signaling help. HelpUnlpugeed will ensure that hikers in peril are aware of their condition and prevent further complications.

Team Take Away

“Startups at Spring was an amazing experience. The project I pitched related to neural networks and offline communication, but participating in Startups at Spring taught me far more than just machine learning — from the mechanics of marketing to the technicality of TAM calculations. I hope to use what I have learned in college and beyond, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to compete.”

To view their entire presentation, click here.

First Place (awarded $5,000)

Team Name: Claw-Some Cash Cats
Team Members: Zitao (Tommy) D. (Grade 10), Charan S. (Grade 10), and Anshay C. (Grade 10)
School: BASIS Independent Silicon Valley

Start-Up: flAIvr
Selected Charity: Amnesty International

Pitch: Video call an AI chef anytime, anywhere. It is difficult for inexperienced home cooks and people who just want to cook something with the ingredients and equipment they have in hand to actually have a good cooking experience. More than half of Americans struggle with the most basic recipes. Pacing, unfamiliar or difficult techniques, and inaccessible ingredients and equipment all cause this struggle.

flAIvr is a personalized AI cooking assistant that guides users through video calls with the AI for guidance and assistance in their cooking.

Team Take Away

“The Startup at Spring contest has been an incredible journey for the three of us. The process of turning a creative idea into a feasible business was a valuable opportunity for us to gain entrepreneurial experience and have fun along the way. We are proud to donate our cash prize to Amnesty International to help defend the human rights of oppressed groups worldwide. Lastly, we would like to thank Ms. Silva for her dedication and generous support throughout our journey.”

To view their entire presentation, click here.

Congratulations to all the students who participated!

Expert Judging Panel

Mr. Gordon Green is Co-Founder / Partner at Jordan Partners. Before forming Jordan, he spent eleven years at Light Street Capital in Palo Alto investing in public and private technology companies globally. While at Light Street, Gordon served on the Investment Committee and helped the firm scale from approximately $30M to $3B in AUM across long/short, long-only, and growth equity vehicles. Prior to Light Street, Gordon started his career as an analyst in the Financial Institutions Group at UBS in New York, where he advised banks and insurance companies on M&A and capital markets activities.

Gordon earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce with a concentration in Finance from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.

Mr. David Jen serves as the Managing Director of Finance and Corporate Development at X, Alphabet’s Moonshot Factory, where he is responsible for driving business growth through strategic planning and partnerships. In this role, David has led investments in self-driving cars (Waymo), drone delivery (Wing), novel approaches to cyber security (Chronicle), as well as Alphabet’s bets in sustainability and accessibility.

In addition to his full-time role at X, David is also a board member at Quincus, a SaaS logistics company based in Singapore that powers some of the largest 3PLs in the world and a venture partner at UP.Partners, where he invests in technologies that will enable a greener and more accessible planet.

Before joining X, David held various finance roles at Google and worked in consulting and banking. He is also actively involved in volunteering, serving as a board member for the Tufts University Derby School of Entrepreneurship and on the advisory committee for the Asian American Fund. In his free time, David enjoys binge-watching TV from the 90s, listening to music he’s embarrassed to tell people about, and hanging out with his wife and two young children.

Mr. Amrit Saxena is the Founder & CEO of SaxeCap, an AI transformation and private equity investment firm that conducts AI-levered buyouts and transforms enterprises with AI & automation technology. Additionally, he has successfully founded & sold two AI companies (Stella.ai and Fancy That) and is an active angel investor in data, AI, web3, and enterprise software companies in Silicon Valley, investing in 200+ early-stage technology companies (including several unicorns and companies that have gone public), private businesses, and PE/VC funds.

Prior to SaxeCap, Amrit founded and scaled Stella, a talent-sourcing AI company, to over 150 large enterprise clients (including 10% of the Fortune 500), leading technology (data science, product, engineering, etc.) and operations (pre-sales, client integrations, etc.). Stella was sold to Cornell Capital and Trilantic Capital Partners in a $1B+ private equity transaction in 2021. Additionally, Amrit founded, scaled, and sold Fancy That, a retail AI company, to Palantir (NYSE: PLTR) in 2015. Between his two AI startups, Amrit has experience buying a company, selling two companies, and scaling teams from zero to 50+ people. Amrit previously worked at Bain & Company, Groupon, AmEx, and e2e Analytics and taught and researched AI at Stanford University & MIT.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence and M.S. in Management Science & Engineering with a concentration in Operations Research, both from Stanford University with Distinction. Additionally, he has garnered numerous accolades, including being awarded seven U.S. patents (relating to AI and optimization), a three-time finalist in the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), winner of the American Mathematics Competition (AMC), finalist in the United States Physics Olympiad (USAPhO), Congressional Award Gold Medalist, Research Science Institute (RSI) Scholar, American Regions Math League (ARML) winner, and was selected for the President’s Award for Academic Excellence and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society while at Stanford.

Personalized Attention, Big Dreams: BASIS Independent Manhattan Seniors Shine with College Counselor Support

December 4, 2023 by msnyder

Anticipation grows as BASIS Independent Manhattan’s Class of 2024 eagerly awaits college decisions. But amidst the nervous excitement, there’s a sense of calm confidence. That’s thanks to the unwavering support of our College Counseling program, led by the inspiring Ms. Abrams.

Ms. Abrams goes beyond just checking applications. She’s a champion for each student, guiding them through the maze of personal statements, essays, and resumes. Her personalized approach, fueled by a deep understanding of each senior’s unique strengths, helps them craft narratives that shine.

Their work together began well before their senior year and picked up during their junior year. In partnership with Ms. Abrams, students created a starter list of colleges tailored to their needs and interests and wrote a strong personal statement draft before leaving for summer vacation. With her expertise, she guided them to identify their priorities and toward their perfect college fit.

Now, the seniors meet with Ms. Abrams in a daily 50-minute College Counseling Workshop. She provides presentations about major checkpoints in the application process including:

writing a personal statement,
crafting supplemental essays,
building a resume,
exploring different methods of applying to college,
understanding financial aid, conducting college research, and
exploring career and personal interests.

Also, Ms. Abrams provides a kind of personal attention that is very unique to our school. She meets with each senior individually to check on their progress. Leveraging the advantages of small class sizes, Ms. Abrams provides personalized feedback and guidance to help each student polish their essays and stand out in their applications. With her deep understanding of each senior, she is able to assist them in generating ideas and brainstorming essay topics that highlight their unique qualities and experiences.

Ms. Abrams also plays a significant role in helping seniors kickstart their Senior Projects. Many of the seniors have been matched with impressive organizations around the world, where they will intern for 10 weeks from March to June. These internships cover a diverse range of fields, including finance, special education, computer science, physics laboratories, and support for Ukraine.

This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone at BASIS Independent Manhattan as we move through the college applications and admissions process together. We are so proud of the work our students are putting in and eagerly anticipate sharing their college decisions in the coming months.

More than 60% of High School Students Earned AP Scholar Distinction

October 27, 2023 by msnyder

At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, we prioritize cheering on 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 2023 AP scores more than 60% 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 48% of our students reach that highest level of AP Scholar with Distinction by the time they graduate.

“Academically all of our students qualified as AP Scholars by the time they finished their junior year,” said Josh Harmon, Head of School for BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Upper School. “When looking at all students in grades 9-12 more than 60% of our entire high school was awarded the honor of AP Scholar or higher. Moreover, our students sat for more AP exams in 2023 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:

72 students in our high school were named AP Scholar or higher distinctions, representing approximately 67% of our high school in May 2023 when the exams were taken.
Our school was 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 2023 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
Alex D. ’23
Luke D. ’23
Eden E. ’24
Axel F. ’25
Charlotte J. ’24
Rachel K. ’25
Viola L. ’25

Avi L. ’24
Noah L. ’23
Jason P. ’25
Talin P. ’26
Nadia S. ’25
Sasha T. ’25
Rei W. ’24
River W. ’26
Lyra Y.-M. ’23

AP Scholar with Honor: 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. 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.

Jack C. ’25
Mabel C. ’23
Nicholas D. ’25
Laila G. ’24
Miles H. ’23
Laith H. ’25
Alexa L. ’24

Aidan L. ’25
Katreen L. ’23
Matthew R. ’23
James R. ’25
Richard S. ’25
Evan S. ’25
Daniella S.-B. ’23

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. At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, a third of students finishing sophomore year received the distinction.

Overall in our high school, the following 40 students received this honor:

Hong-Yuan B. ’24
Krishan B. ’24
Isabella B. ’23
Jack B. ’24
Katie B. ’23
Zeke B. ’24
Luca C. ’23
Syun D. ’24
Zach D. ’23
Colin D. ’25
Sofia G. ’24
Samantha G. ’24
Diego G. ’24
Angelina G. ’24
Maxwell H. ’25
Mateo K. ’25
Ye L. ’24
Shamei L. ’23
Thomas M. ’25
Dilan M. ’24

Maddox M. ’25
Ben N. ’24
Oliver P. ’24
Charles P. ’24
Gustavo P. ’25
Daniel P. ’24
Alex R. ’24
Colton R. ’24
Skye S. ’25
Maxim S. ’25
Felix S. ’25
Nadine S. ’24
Yuna S. ’24
Jonah S. ’24
Lucas S. ’24
Morgan S. ’23
Ryan T. ’23
Isaac W. ’24
Maren W. ’23
Andrej Z. ’24

Please join us in congratulating all of our BEARS!!!

All comparisons are based on publicly available data from the College Board, National Center for Education Statistics, and National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Our Class of 2024 gathered together in the senior lounge the first week of the school year with Dean Matthew Goldman, Associate Head of School Robert Runyon, Director Darlene Forde, Head of School Josh Harmon, and College Counselor Matt Brauch.

A Family Affair: Brother and Sister Elected Student Council President and Vice President at BASIS Independent Manhattan Upper School

October 13, 2023 by msnyder

BASIS Independent Manhattan Upper School has elected a new student council president and vice president for the 2023-2024 school year: Hudson (Gr. 11) and Stella L. (Gr. 8). This brother-sister duo are passionate about making the Upper School a better place for all students.

During their lunch break, we had an opportunity to sit down and ask them a few questions. This interview provides a chance for the student body to get acquainted with their new leaders and learn about their plans for the upcoming year.

Hudson and Stella L. mentioned that their primary goal is to improve the student experience. They have three areas of focus right now:
Improve the creature comforts in our campus building.

Optimize lunchtime for enjoyment.
Create a textbook swap or ways to reuse them among students.
They also plan to continue growing the BASIS Green Committee, which focuses on eco-conscious decisions at school.

How To Achieve These Goals?

The duo intends to ensure that students follow the school rules, respect school resources, and do not take them for granted. They will work closely with the administrators to address any concerns raised by the students. They have already initiated a partnership with one of the facilities team members to make progress in this regard.

Now with a full school, they would like to implement simple adjustments to streamline lunch. These include rearranging tables and seating, making lines more efficient, and increasing the number of trash and recycling bins. The objective is to spend less time cleaning up and more time enjoying meals with friends.

With textbooks, Hudson and Stella are aware of how expensive they can be and plan to create a system that spans grades – such as a book swap – so that textbooks can be passed on from year to year and reused. They will also work with the Wildcat Family Committee to create a full-scale effort that involves both students and parents.

Representing All Student Voices

At an Upper School with students in grades 6-12, Hudson and Stella L. explained that they are both high school and middle school students themselves, and they know their classmates and peers. They also have a representative from each element as part of the Student Council, who will talk to their class and bring their feedback to the meetings.

Lastly, they talked about not being just leaders but representatives of everyone. They would like to encourage all students to share their ideas, comments, and concerns with them.

Term Project Trip 2023: Galapagos Islands

September 25, 2023 by ekugler

During the final week of the academic year, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley celebrates Term Project Week, an enriching experience for students across all grade levels. This week provides a unique platform for collaborative, multidisciplinary projects, and engaging activities or trips. Students are grouped with dedicated teachers who guide and facilitate their learning throughout the week.

Each year, we offer a diverse range of project options, continually seeking to expand our offerings based on the interests and input of both our faculty and students. These projects challenge our students to be cooperative learners and to function as a team. This Term Project Trip was to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands located west of South America.

Day 1: Students and their chaperones departed from SFO to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival at the airport in Quito, students were met by their course leader and headed to their hotel. Once at the hotel, they were formally welcomed by their course leader and given an overview of the key concepts they would learn and the sites they would visit throughout the program.

Day 2: The group traveled from Quito to Santa Cruz Island, the second largest in the Galapagos archipelago. Their adventure began with an exploration into the misty highlands, where they encountered a diverse array of ecological communities.

During their highland expedition, they paused at a ranch and witnessed giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Later in the day, they explored lava tunnels, where they learned about volcanic landforms and tectonic plate dynamics. Their day culminated with a visit to the Darwin Research Center, where they deepened their understanding of the islands’ climate, geography, and ecology.

Day 3: Students explored Isabela Island, focusing on its estuaries and endemic mangroves in the Wetlands. Their first stop was Playa de Amor, where they observed flamingos and gained insights into Darwin’s finches. Following this, they visited the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, dedicated to safeguarding the species throughout its life cycle. There, they conducted species differentiation studies and engaged in ecological relationship activities with their host.

The day concluded with a memorable snorkeling experience at Concha Perla, an underwater haven teeming with fish, sea lions, and the Galapagos penguin, providing an ideal snorkeling opportunity.

Day 4: The students went on an immersive excursion to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano area. They hiked along the six-mile crater rim, where they closely viewed lava fields and fumaroles. As they explored the area, their guide educated them on the distinctive ecological terrain and how to identify various types of volcanic rock.

Following their exploration, the group headed to Las Tintoreras where they enjoyed some time in the water and snorkeled. To end the day, some students engaged in a friendly game of basketball with local residents.

Day 5: Students explored Isabela Island, where they came face to face with some of the Galapagos’ most intriguing residents, such as marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, lightfoot crabs, green sea turtles, and resting whitetip reef sharks. After exploring Isabela Island and its wildlife, they returned to back to Balta on Santa Cruz Island by boat.

Day 6: The students flew back to Quito from Santa Cruz Island and made a memorable stop at the Mitad del Mundo, which translates to “The Middle of the World.” Here, they stood precisely on the equator at zero degrees latitude, engaging in interactive exhibits that illuminated the distinctive scientific aspects of this unique location. After visiting the Mitad del Mundo, the group headed by bus to the neighboring city of Otavalo, Ecuador.

Day 7: On their last full day, the group had a busy day in Otavalo, Ecuador. They explored a lively open market in the morning and then visited Cuicocha Volcanic Lake and Peguche Waterfall. Lunch was at a unique Pachamanca ceremony, where they helped cook food underground. They squeezed in a game of soccer before dinner and then headed to the airport for their flight back to SFO.

3 BASIS Independent McLean Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 15, 2023 by ekugler

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, ofﬁcials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semiﬁnalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program – including 3 BASIS Independent McLean students. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 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.

“Congratulations to our Red-Tailed Hawk National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists! We could not be prouder of them. They are all such great examples of what can happen when you work hard and dedicate yourself to the pursuit of academic greatness.” said Jason Shorbe, Head of School at BASIS Independent McLean.

The honored students at BASIS Independent McLean are:

Chelsea H. ’24

Paulina H.’24 (Not Pictured)

Orien L.’24

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 2024 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 375,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

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 Red-Tailed Hawks!

BASIS Independent Manhattan Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 15, 2023 by msnyder

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, ofﬁcials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semiﬁnalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. In our school’s first year of eligibility, we are pleased to share that two BASIS Independent Manhattan seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists. These students have been with our school since the beginning, starting in 6th grade. Throughout their time here, they have consistently excelled in academics, extracurricular activities, and community service.

Among the16,000 Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, we are pleased to recognize our honored students at BASIS Independent Manhattan: Scarlett S. (Class of ’24) and Zachary S. (Class of ’24).

“Watching the students go through the full academic experience at BASIS Independent Manhattan and starting to receive these awards and honors feels gratifying and motivating. Proper recognition is finally coming our way, marking the beginning of an incredibly strong future for our school,” said LaNette Hodge, Head of School at BASIS Independent Manhattan.

Zach and Scarlett at an awards ceremony during their grade 6 year at BASIS Independent Manhattan.

When asked about this achievement, Scarlett commented, “It feels really great to be honored for all of the hard work I have put into my studies.” She has always been a student who goes above and beyond, which is something our community witnessed just last year when Scarlett placed second in the BASIS Means Business competition as the only all-female, one-person team.

Ms. Williams (Subject Expert Teacher, Latin) said, “I have had the pleasure of teaching Zach Latin for the past six years. He is a student who — once exposed to a new topic — will dive into it whole-heartedly by not only participating in all class activities but also researching deeply. I am astounded at his academic ability and brilliant thought processes which enable him to make connections far beyond the classroom.”

These two Wildcats consistently impress their peers and teachers with their diligence and dedication. In addition to this recognition, both Scarlett and Zach have been awarded as AP Scholars with Distinction.

More about the National Merit Scholarship Program: High school juniors entered the 2024 program by taking the 2022 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 scholarship winners will be selected from a group of Finalists between April and July 2024.

Please join us in congratulating our incredible Wildcats!

10 BASIS Independent Fremont Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 14, 2023 by ekugler

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

Although, National Merit Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and at our school they represent one out of four of our seniors this year which is an incredible achievement!

“As the first graduating senior class, it is exciting to have our students nationally recognized for all of their efforts in being exemplary scholars and future leaders. This nomination is one of many indicators of their strength and potential to succeed in all that they do. I am incredibly proud of our students. Congratulations Yellow Jackets!” said Francine Davis, Head of School at BASIS Independent Fremont.

The honored students at BASIS Independent Fremont are:

Christopher C.

Heeya D.

Shirley F.

Revant K.

Yifei L.

Alicia P.

Aidan P.

Anjali P.

Ruoqing W.

Alan X.

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 Yellow Jackets!

BASIS Independent Fremont is a grades TK-12 private school based in Fremont, California, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum.

22 BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 14, 2023 by ekugler

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, ofﬁcials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semiﬁnalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program – including 22 BASIS Independent Silicon Valley students. Alongside our 22 Semifinalists, we proudly celebrated 40 Commended Scholars, totaling over 70% of the class receiving recognition. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

“I continue to be amazed by our student body every year. This external validation of our students, and their hard work and determination, is always an exciting way to start off the school year with our upcoming Senior Class. Congratulations to our Bobcats!” said Sara Kolb, Head of School at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley.

The honored students at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley are:

Akshaya A. Ajan

Paras Goel

Alina Huang

Robert Ji

Shreyas Kapavarapu

Saanchi Kapoor

Nivedita P. Kripalani

Ethan Y. Liu

Shreyas M. Nanjanagud

Alyssa E. Naoumov

Maggie J. Peng

Max Polosky

Maya Sriram

Anoushka A. Tamhane (not pictured)

Caitlyn N. Tom

Brandon M. Tsai

Shivaani Venkatachalam

Achyuth K. Vivek

Ellie Xi

Paulina Xu

Ivan Y. Zhang

Meryl Zhang