One of the top-ranked academic programs in the country
Our High School Program is consistently recognized as one of the best in the country, is unmatched in breadth and depth, and is where the BASIS Curriculum began as a tool to prepare students to compete and excel on the international stage. The program includes an advanced liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked to the best educational systems in the world, Subject Expert Teachers whose knowledge and passion inspire excellence in students, and a supportive culture where hard work and the pursuit of knowledge are celebrated.
Through required Advanced Placement® (AP®) coursework in all disciplines, unprecedented exposure to high-level content, and critical thinking opportunities typically reserved for university-level studies through Capstone courses and the Senior Project, students are prepared to be leaders in college and beyond.
A liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked to the highest international standards.
Our High School curriculum builds off the foundation of content and skills learned in middle school and offers students a diverse course of study that is unmatched in breadth and depth. By the time they reach grade 9, students are ready for AP courses, a key, required component of the curriculum. Externally measured and validated by the College Board, these courses allow students to study college-level work in high school. AP classes are available starting in grade 9 at our school, and because of the acceleration of our program, most students complete their AP course requirements during their first three years in high school.
Read more about AP performance and our philosophy behind our use of AP courses
In addition to advanced coursework in all disciplines, students are offered a wide variety of elective options that provide opportunities to explore their interests and discover new passions. Elective offerings change based on student interest and faculty expertise, and often include courses in the arts, engineering and computer science, economics, physical education, additional world languages beyond the requirement, and more. Students often take the initiative to create clubs or activities themselves, which allow them to experience interscholastic competition, serve the school and local community, and develop new skills in a non-academic or creative outlet. Ultimately, their passions come into focus through our unique senior year, which bridges the high school experience with the expectations of college.
A unique year dedicated to fostering independence and college readiness
The Senior Year is a unique bridge to college. Unlike typical high school programs that end with a course load in Advanced Placement, our students typically finish their requirements, including AP courses, before their senior year. Seniors’ schedules are comprised of Capstone courses, a daily seminar in college counseling, and the Senior Project, forming one of the most unique components of the high school curriculum.
Capstone Courses complement the breadth of our program by adding depth, focusing on a very narrow part of a discipline, which is often tied to the teachers’ area of expertise, such as The Biology of Cancer, Civil Rights in the Vietnam War Era, and more. They offer exposure to course content and a classroom structure similar to what students will see in their college and university seminars.
College Counseling is a strategic part of our curriculum. This daily class allows college counselors to get to know students on a deeply personal level, help them determine what college and university options will align with their educational and professional goals, and ensure they have plenty of support as they prepare their applications.
The Senior Project is a three-month, student-driven, investigative project culminating in a presentation to the community on their findings. Senior Projects offer students incomparable opportunity and access to experts in their fields, from researching in Stanford Laboratories to working with local nonprofits combating homelessness.
Our teachers possess the subject matter expertise and passion to inspire and empower their students to reach their full potential.
All high school courses are taught by Subject Expert Teachers (SETs), educators with work experience or advanced degrees in the discipline they teach. Their enthusiasm, depth of knowledge, and real life expertise brings the subject matter to life, inspiring students to embrace challenges, understand practical application of skills and content, and learn at the highest international levels.
SETs have the autonomy and flexibility to provide instruction best suited to their students’ needs and learning styles. By offering teachers this latitude, we find they are highly successful in inspiring excellence in every student. The network of BASIS Curriculum Schools teachers is a community of peers who support each other by sharing resources, research, and best practices, and whose individual classroom successes contribute to those of their colleagues’ students across the world.
On the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Test for Schools (based on PISA), a test of critical thinking and application of knowledge in math, reading, and science, BASIS Independent students consistently outperform the top-ranked region in the world: Shanghai, China.
BASIS Independent students are top performers in Advanced Placement exams; they are National Merit Finalists, academic competition winners, starters of nonprofits, and more. They gain admission to some of the world’s most prestigious colleges and universities, and are well-poised to make meaningful contributions in any field, from film to linguistics to neuroscience. See BASIS Independent Schools’ recent college admissions.
Highlights from the 2022 – 2023 School Year
- Average AP exam pass rate was 96% compared to the global average of 60%
- Average AP score was 4.32 compared to the U.S. average of 2.92
- Average SAT score was 1482 compared to the U.S. average of 1050
- Average ACT score was 33 compared to the U.S. average of 19.8
- 51% of graduates were accepted into a Top 25 school in 2023 (U.S. News & World Report Rankings)
- 90% of graduates were accepted into a Top 50 school in 2023 (U.S. News & World Report Rankings)
- 98% graduates earned AP Scholar distinction in 2023
