This school is not good for the wellbeing of your child. Firstly, the lunchtime is 25 minutes. They only are able to go outside twice a week, for 25 minutes each day. My child's classmate reported a peer being punched in the face and the teachers doing nothing about it. The curriculum is very rigorous, which is great, however, 1 unit in almost every class usually lasts around 3-4 days: they cover too much in such a short period of time to try to cram everything in, and make the students learn the material through constant assessments. This is fine as they get a wide berth of knowledge, but don't learn the "in-depth" material and reasons behind the concepts unless they stay for another few years (this is because of their "spiraling" curriculum where they revisit concepts to add more depth). Every week, they have at least 1 quiz/test, (because of their math studies), but most weeks, it's 2 or 3. In addition to this, if your child stops for 30 seconds to tie their shoe 2 minutes after dismissal times due to a bathroom stop, they will immediately be asked to attend "Late Bird" for ~$45 because they are "delaying". There is no PE for middle/high school unless you take it as an elective. Lastly, the culture there is very toxic. There is hardly any sense of community as everyone is competing with each other and children often learn, from their peers, to believe that receiving a 99% on their test is "poor performance". The teachers do little to combat this, and this is the same attitude they have towards kids calling out derogatory comments in the midst of lessons. read more

Been at the school for a few years. Staff retention is an issue with teachers frequently and suddenly leaving (usually less than 1 week notice). Have experienced this 4 times in just a handful of years. Leadership turnover is also near constant. COVID response has been insufficient with a refusal to innovate, use outdoor spaces, invest in classroom cameras or communicate an objective decision matrix for return to class. Plus unqualified tuition increases occur every year. Curriculum remains excellent. Teachers are wonderful too. read more

My children attended BIM for 4 years, I'm very disappointed with the school especially the administration. The turnover in administration is so much that now the secretaries are running the school. The administration bullies and terrorizes the children. As for teachers, Some of them are good and but most of them are horrendous. The good ones leave. There is no consistency with the teachers. They allow the teachers to teach whatever they want and that creates such discrepancy that the kids miss out. I wanted this school to succeed so badly that I stayed for 4 years but unfortunately, they don't have a plan or desire to do so. I advise you to go elsewhere. Additionally, The school was sold to a Chinese company, and it no longer rum by Basis parent company. read more

In theory, this should be a fantastic school. The philosophy behind it is great and its charter school equivalent has done extremely well. However, in only its second year of existence, this school is showing that it is all about the profit and not about the eduction. The school does not seem to listen to feedback and would prefer to rationalize what it is already doing than to try to find ways to make sure it creates the best experience for the students. If it continues going down this path, it will not last long in the Northern Virginia market where there is a lot of competition. Word spreads quickly! read more

9/17 Update: A friend who sent her son to Basis McLean reports it no longer calls itself either a STEM or STEAM school. Now it is a European school with art and music required at the elementary level. The upper grades offer same as electives. Tuition is now $30k w parity w other independents the goal. As a new school dependent on parent committees, stability is an issue. Admin and faculty also still influx. We explored Basis' upper school because we'd like our daughter to be in a more international community as she experienced in Silicon Valley. A high honors student at a leading independent upper school, she seemed eligible. I had scheduled a tour and stated what grade our daughter is in. Basis collateral, messaging and the admissions rep who called me failed to indicate she would need a transcript consisting of almost all AP credits to transfer to Basis. The entire Basis upper school curriculum - 5 core courses per day, no art, no PE, no frees - is AP courses. Our daughter's school doesn't subscribe to this approach. The independents teach most classes above grade level, use college text books, offer honors classes to first and second year students, and some AP classes; however, I'm not aware of any offering a full menu of APs. It would benefit Basis to refine its messaging. (Note: Basis' unique 100% AP curriculum seems to be why their charter high schools outrank TJ, Gunn, Stuyvesant - all schools - on surveys). The tour date didn't work for us, so we went to an open house thinking our daughter was eligible for the school. Here is what I observed and later researched about this unique school. Good international mix. Zero African Americans at our session. Significant cadre of Nysmith School families. Teachers never teach any subject but the one they know and love. Subject experts. We will have a makers' area one day. For the pre-K and lower school only. Not art. We expect parents here working to make us the best. Parent committees. (Parent bullying reported at Basis charter schools). We want kids to ask questions. Target classroom size is 25. (An issue?) We are dedicated to your kids at Basis. (David Safier writes in Basis Education...Success by Attrition, established AZ Basis charter schools show continuous attrition with high school graduating classes so small success can't be measured. Mclean is private. Attrition unknown). Cofounder Olga Block states Basis is not for exceptional children it is for children who are workaholics. Recess? The parents who spoke at the open house reported 2 hours of homework per night. I assume their kids are top students who do not struggle with homework. School ends at 3:45pm. Lots of after school clubs, zero fine or performing arts, a handful of sports. No mention of participation. Open to all but very limited spots on teams like the Debate Club. Winners only on teams. As a for profit school, this makes sense. Build the brand. In terms of credentials and experience, the teachers who presented were average based on our daughter's school and other independent open houses we have attended. All were well qualified, experienced educators. Unlike her teachers and those at other schools, Basis teachers culturally seemed exceptionally jingoistic. The Upper school English teacher derisively stressed grades from other schools would never be considered valid at Basis. The Latin teacher spent 5 of his 10 minutes with us speaking Latin. Then asked us to raise our hands if we understood him. Publicly shaming all but 2 individuals in the room. And distant. This distance from prospective parents and students could be a function of the school's "retention" policy. At its charters, students take year end exams to qualify for advancement to the next grade. A child is "retained" in the current grade if he/she fails the exams. As a private school, I assume new students are thoroughly tested (IQ etc) and vetted (current grades, letters of recommendation) mitigating "retention" risk since "flunking out" adversely impacts children socially and emotionally and getting a spot at highly ranked private schools gets harder as children age. My husband and his brother thrived at a top public technical high school in NYC. STEAM schools have their place in my opinion, though Basis seems more STEM than STEAM and their upper school liberal arts might be better labeled neo-liberal. That said, they are clearly very committed to their model and $25K per year is a relative bargain for private school here. (Basis offers no financial aid which keeps tuition low. But get the picture?). The parents we met were great people. Very multicultural, except zero African Americans. The student ambassadors were delightful. Excellent facilities. More schools. More choices. Good for the DMV. read more

We have tried public and private schooling for our children, always supplementing with tutoring to make up for educational gaps in their schools. We first heard of BASIS opening a campus in the area in September of 2015, and were already somewhat familiar with the format due to friends attending an Arizona BASIS campus. We just began school this fall and we are completely blown away by our experience after just a matter of weeks. This school effectively covers all aspects we care about, including: organization skills, personal accountability, excellent academics, and strong curriculum. The kids are proud of their efforts, and feel like they are a part of a strong team of students. Academic success is celebrated, and kids are motivated to continue to work even harder. This school feels like an incredible opportunity for our kids. I only wish we could have started with the Pre-K program! read more

Basis Independent McLean provides my 5th grade son with an outstanding, truly world class education. In his second year at Basis, he continues to meet challenges that push him to work harder, study smarter and identify opportunities which require him to find individual support from his teachers. Basis Independent McLean is not an "old school" school. There are no great lawns to maintain. There is no long standing network of alumni who seek and find favoritism for kids who may not have earned placement based on ability. The tuition fees are far more affordable than the "old school" private schools. Our money is funneled into my son's education, not great lawns and first class tennis facilities that require large maintenance crews. Basis Independent McLean, as with all Basis schools, demands diligent and enduring academic effort. Basis Independent McLean recognizes and rewards academic achievement. Every student is not a "winner." We are a community that values and recognizes hard work that result in academic excellence. While Basis does not identify its program as STEM, like the 6% of applicants who attend Thomas Jefferson high school, my son finds challenges in mathematics, science, technology and engineering every week. And yes, there are soccer teams and math clubs, along with fencing and computer programming clubs, among many other opportunities offered to enrich and challenge students after classes end every day. read more

In 1 year, this place has proven it cannot handle the pace and rigor that it demands from its students. In the first year, we came to a place that had no building to call a school. When we walked through the doors, it was empty and stark and had the feeling of an institution. As parents, we saw they did not pay attention to aesthetics or anything left brain in children. But we accepted that in exchange for the rigor of the academics. Even with accusations of cheating by teachers in upper grades, devastating students who did nothing, we renewed. This year has been an exponential disaster. The headmaster left within 6 weeks and then the second headmaster announced he is leaving in the last 6 weeks of school. The CEO is full of fluff and lies and has no educational background. He calls it a communication issue when it is actually a knowledge issue... he does not know what he is doing. There is no proof of the strength of the academics in any of the private schools, and they base their reputation on the charter school success. THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL, it is a charter school where parents are dooped and nickled and dined for everything. The Operations of the school is a roadblock and nothing gets answered or done. After contracts are signed, curriculums change causing kids to seek summer AP programs at the last minute. This place has no idea what it is doing. read more

Good school for motivated students like my 10 and 12 year old. The school is new but I strongly suggest more attention be given to emotional development - some exclusion seen in lower grades. More attention should be given at the beginning of the year to help students adjust to the BASIS culture - higher expectations, rigorous schedule, etc... read more

My child is a 5th grader at Basis Independent McLean and loves the school. The academic program is rigorous, wide and deep, but the school also makes an effort for students to understand why all the subjects are relevant and important to them. All the teachers and staff are highly motivated to make this a great school, and they are very responsive to ideas and requests of students and parents. read more

We have had a fabulous experience with BASIS Independent McLean. Our son couldn't be happier socially and is blossoming in an accelerated and supportive learning environment. The teachers are highly motivated, care deeply about his success and share an enthusiasm for learning that is infectious. The administration is the most professional team I've ever seen within an academic institution and has been extraordinarily responsive to our requests. We couldn't be more satisfied with our choice and look forward to watching our son develop in this unique program. read more

My son just started 3rd grade at BASIS Independent Mclean last week. He loves BASIS. He has learned more in a week at BASIS than he learned in two years in public school. He is excited to have different teachers for each subject matter who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable. In addition, the students have been so kind and welcoming that my son felt like he belonged at BASIS by the end of his first day at BASIS. When I picked up my son from school the first day of school, he said that he was so happy we made the change from public school to BASIS. If you have a child who wants more challenge than what most traditional public schools offer, BASIS is a great school for your child. read more