Because of their hard work, BASIS Independent students grow into self-sufficient learners who are often recognized for their talents across disciplines, in and out of the classroom. We seek these opportunities out on behalf of our students, but they are also often recognized organically by meeting eligibility for prestigious national and international awards.
BASIS Independent Brooklyn student performance builds
year after year
2017–18 Notable Recognitions
- Our co-ed Middle School Soccer Team won the NYC CSAA League Championship.
- Our MATHCOUNTS team won the Regional Championship and moved forward to compete in the New York State Competition.
- Our Varsity Girls Volleyball Team placed second in the NYC CSAA League Competition.
- 7 student winners in the Scholastic Arts Competition as well as 3 Silver and 10 Honorable Mentions awards in photography, mixed media, and painting.
- Science Bowl Team placed second in the Regional Championship.
- Debate team started on campus this year to great success. Our team placed in all competitions with teams qualifying for the City and State Championships, where two of our eighth grade students tied for fourth place in Novice Public Forum Debate competing against primarily high school seniors.
- Primary and middle school chess students won local competitions in their divisions and two students competed in the New York State Chess Championships with one student placing first in his division (K–5 Ranked Under 900).
- One grade 8 student qualified for the National History Bowl in Arlington, VA.
- One grade 6 student co-starred in a new Netflix series he filmed the summer before school started.
- Our students achieved national recognition outside of school in areas as varied as golf, rhythmic gymnastics, and music.
2018–19 Notable Recognitions
Fine Arts
- Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition – Mr. Opirhory’s visual arts students won several regional awards, including silver medals in photography (3 awards) and silver key awards (2).
- Disney Performing Arts – Our upper school band and choir, instructed by Mr. Ingels and Ms. Taylor, received awards for their selection and performance in the Disney Performing Arts Program.
- New York State Music Association – One of our students received a 99/100 “outstanding score” on a level VI NYSMA performance evaluation on Cello Solo.
Humanities
- Students on our debate team advanced to “Citi” and State Championships
- Two students in grade 9 and 10 placed third as a team in New York State Championships in High School Intermediate Public Forum Debate. One went on to place first and the other placed seventh best speaker in the state.
- At the Urban Debate League “Citi” Championships, our students placed second and ninth in Individual Speaker Intermediate Public Forum Debate.
- Our chess team won numerous accolades in local competitions throughout the year.
- One high school student earned the “Certificate of Superior Writing” from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Languages
- On the National Spanish Exam, 69% of our students enrolled in Spanish class earned a gold medal (3), a silver medal (25), a bronze medal (15), or an honorable mention (30).
- On the National Latin Exam, 30 students received awards of distinction: Gold Summa Cum Laude (2), Silver Maxima Cum Laude (4), Magna Cum Laude (4), Cum Laude (5), Ribbon plus certificate (6), Certificate (9).
Math/Science
- Our MATHCOUNTS team placed first in the Brooklyn regional competition and advanced to the state championships.
- Two students placed first and third in the Math Olympiad elementary division. In the middle school division, one student placed first, another second, and another third.
- In the Girls Adventure in Math Competition, our team (grade 6) placed 4th among other sixth to eighth graders.
- Our team placed third in the NYCIML in the regular division for both fall and spring.
- At the Broadcom Science Fair, three students presented projects as part of our inaugural team.
- Our Science Bowl team advanced to the New York City Science bowl Semifinals.
Sports
- Our co-ed Junior High School soccer team won the league championships (for the second year in a row).
- Our Boys High School, middle school boys, and co-ed grades 5–6 basketball teams both reached the league playoffs this year.
- We began competing in squash and swimming this year, and plan to expand our offerings come fall.
2019–20 Notable Recognitions
- Sixty percent of our high school students received the AP Scholar Distinction in 2019.
- The National AP Scholar award is typically the highest honor granted to a student before graduation and is granted to less than 1% of students nationwide. Seven BASIS Independent Brooklyn students received this honor. From the Class of 2020 alone, 25% of the graduates received the designation.15 out of our 16 high school seniors were awarded a 2019 AP Scholar awards.
- To achieve any AP Scholar award by the end of grade 9 is a rare feat. Nationwide, about 1,200 students, or 0.03% of grade 9 students across the country achieve this honor. More than 30% of BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Class of 2022 received an AP Scholar award in 2019.
- Our MATHCOUNTS team once again ventured to the State competition after leading the Brooklyn regional competition. Three of our students scored in the top 5% nationally in the AMC 8 as well.
- In art, eight students excelled at the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition:
- Ian B. (photography) – National Honor, 2 Gold Keys, 3 Silver Keys, 5 Honorable Mentions
- Danny D. (photography) – 1 Gold Key, 3 Honorable Mentions
- Kiana G. (photography) – 1 Honorable Mention
- Denise H. (photography) – 1 Gold Key (Portfolio!!!!), 1 Silver Key, 2 Honorable Mentions
- Chiara P. (poetry) – Honorable Mention
- Oliver R. (photography)- 1 Silver Key
- Alexander R. (drawing & illustration) – 1 Honorable Mention
- Luca S. (drawing & illustration, digital art, personal essay/memoir) – 1 Silver Key, 3 Honorable Mentions
- In debate, our team won honors at the Urban Debate League High School Tournament to advance to the state competition and qualified for national.
- Congratulations were in order for the 73 students receiving National Spanish Exam honors.
- Gold Awards: Kaeden R., Sofia G., and Natalya M. r
- Silver Awards: Addison F., Sara K., Harry N., Jonah S., Tara W., Kesar S., Neko B., Talia C., Armaan G., Danica M., Zachary D., James G., Ethan K., Krishan B., Kai C., Filip M., Max M., Odin F., Elias S., Zeyna T., Diego G., Courtney H., Kiana G., Himani S., and Daniel H.
- Our students once again received honors on the National Latin Exam.
- Elizabeth C. – Gold Summa Cum Laude
- Maren W. – Magna Cum Laude
- Sidharth R. and Oliver Kuo – Cum Laude
- Chloe Z., Polly S., Roshan W., Radha B., and James Garcia-J. – 6th Grade Outstanding
- Olivia M., Hugh V., Alexa G., Henry W., Wesley R. – 6th Grade Achievement
- This was our first year in CONSAT league, and our Gr. 4-5 and Gr. 6-8 basketball teams would have gone to the finals slated for the Barclay’s Center, but those matches were cancelled due to NY Pause.
- The Varsity girls volleyball team had a strong season, and the team made it to the second round of the CSAA League Playoffs this year!
- Varsity boys soccer team made it all the way to the CSAA League Finals!
- Our CONSAT soccer teams had great year. Gr. 4-5 soccer team finished 2nd in the CONSAT league following a dramatic final round of games. Our Gr. 6-8 Bears also had a great year making it to the league finals.
- Leaders of our National Honor Society mobilized in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate leadership in helping others from campaigns to help first responders to rallying our community to bake cookies for them or donate money to allow for food boxes from Red Hook Farm across the street. Students created art to help COVID-19 patients at NY Presbyterian Hospital thanks to Ms. Heinold helping share their work.
2017–18 Notable Recognitions
- Our co-ed Middle School Soccer Team won the NYC CSAA League Championship.
- Our MATHCOUNTS team won the Regional Championship and moved forward to compete in the New York State Competition.
- Our Varsity Girls Volleyball Team placed second in the NYC CSAA League Competition.
- 7 student winners in the Scholastic Arts Competition as well as 3 Silver and 10 Honorable Mentions awards in photography, mixed media, and painting.
- Science Bowl Team placed second in the Regional Championship.
- Debate team started on campus this year to great success. Our team placed in all competitions with teams qualifying for the City and State Championships, where two of our eighth grade students tied for fourth place in Novice Public Forum Debate competing against primarily high school seniors.
- Primary and middle school chess students won local competitions in their divisions and two students competed in the New York State Chess Championships with one student placing first in his division (K–5 Ranked Under 900).
- One grade 8 student qualified for the National History Bowl in Arlington, VA.
- One grade 6 student co-starred in a new Netflix series he filmed the summer before school started.
- Our students achieved national recognition outside of school in areas as varied as golf, rhythmic gymnastics, and music.
2018–19 Notable Recognitions
Fine Arts
- Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition – Mr. Opirhory’s visual arts students won several regional awards, including silver medals in photography (3 awards) and silver key awards (2).
- Disney Performing Arts – Our upper school band and choir, instructed by Mr. Ingels and Ms. Taylor, received awards for their selection and performance in the Disney Performing Arts Program.
- New York State Music Association – One of our students received a 99/100 “outstanding score” on a level VI NYSMA performance evaluation on Cello Solo.
Humanities
- Students on our debate team advanced to “Citi” and State Championships
- Two students in grade 9 and 10 placed third as a team in New York State Championships in High School Intermediate Public Forum Debate. One went on to place first and the other placed seventh best speaker in the state.
- At the Urban Debate League “Citi” Championships, our students placed second and ninth in Individual Speaker Intermediate Public Forum Debate.
- Our chess team won numerous accolades in local competitions throughout the year.
- One high school student earned the “Certificate of Superior Writing” from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Languages
- On the National Spanish Exam, 69% of our students enrolled in Spanish class earned a gold medal (3), a silver medal (25), a bronze medal (15), or an honorable mention (30).
- On the National Latin Exam, 30 students received awards of distinction: Gold Summa Cum Laude (2), Silver Maxima Cum Laude (4), Magna Cum Laude (4), Cum Laude (5), Ribbon plus certificate (6), Certificate (9).
Math/Science
- Our MATHCOUNTS team placed first in the Brooklyn regional competition and advanced to the state championships.
- Two students placed first and third in the Math Olympiad elementary division. In the middle school division, one student placed first, another second, and another third.
- In the Girls Adventure in Math Competition, our team (grade 6) placed 4th among other sixth to eighth graders.
- Our team placed third in the NYCIML in the regular division for both fall and spring.
- At the Broadcom Science Fair, three students presented projects as part of our inaugural team.
- Our Science Bowl team advanced to the New York City Science bowl Semifinals.
Sports
- Our co-ed Junior High School soccer team won the league championships (for the second year in a row).
- Our Boys High School, middle school boys, and co-ed grades 5–6 basketball teams both reached the league playoffs this year.
- We began competing in squash and swimming this year, and plan to expand our offerings come fall.
2019–20 Notable Recognitions
- Sixty percent of our high school students received the AP Scholar Distinction in 2019.
- The National AP Scholar award is typically the highest honor granted to a student before graduation and is granted to less than 1% of students nationwide. Seven BASIS Independent Brooklyn students received this honor. From the Class of 2020 alone, 25% of the graduates received the designation.15 out of our 16 high school seniors were awarded a 2019 AP Scholar awards.
- To achieve any AP Scholar award by the end of grade 9 is a rare feat. Nationwide, about 1,200 students, or 0.03% of grade 9 students across the country achieve this honor. More than 30% of BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Class of 2022 received an AP Scholar award in 2019.
- Our MATHCOUNTS team once again ventured to the State competition after leading the Brooklyn regional competition. Three of our students scored in the top 5% nationally in the AMC 8 as well.
- In art, eight students excelled at the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition:
- Ian B. (photography) – National Honor, 2 Gold Keys, 3 Silver Keys, 5 Honorable Mentions
- Danny D. (photography) – 1 Gold Key, 3 Honorable Mentions
- Kiana G. (photography) – 1 Honorable Mention
- Denise H. (photography) – 1 Gold Key (Portfolio!!!!), 1 Silver Key, 2 Honorable Mentions
- Chiara P. (poetry) – Honorable Mention
- Oliver R. (photography)- 1 Silver Key
- Alexander R. (drawing & illustration) – 1 Honorable Mention
- Luca S. (drawing & illustration, digital art, personal essay/memoir) – 1 Silver Key, 3 Honorable Mentions
- In debate, our team won honors at the Urban Debate League High School Tournament to advance to the state competition and qualified for national.
- Congratulations were in order for the 73 students receiving National Spanish Exam honors.
- Gold Awards: Kaeden R., Sofia G., and Natalya M. r
- Silver Awards: Addison F., Sara K., Harry N., Jonah S., Tara W., Kesar S., Neko B., Talia C., Armaan G., Danica M., Zachary D., James G., Ethan K., Krishan B., Kai C., Filip M., Max M., Odin F., Elias S., Zeyna T., Diego G., Courtney H., Kiana G., Himani S., and Daniel H.
- Our students once again received honors on the National Latin Exam.
- Elizabeth C. – Gold Summa Cum Laude
- Maren W. – Magna Cum Laude
- Sidharth R. and Oliver Kuo – Cum Laude
- Chloe Z., Polly S., Roshan W., Radha B., and James Garcia-J. – 6th Grade Outstanding
- Olivia M., Hugh V., Alexa G., Henry W., Wesley R. – 6th Grade Achievement
- This was our first year in CONSAT league, and our Gr. 4-5 and Gr. 6-8 basketball teams would have gone to the finals slated for the Barclay’s Center, but those matches were cancelled due to NY Pause.
- The Varsity girls volleyball team had a strong season, and the team made it to the second round of the CSAA League Playoffs this year!
- Varsity boys soccer team made it all the way to the CSAA League Finals!
- Our CONSAT soccer teams had great year. Gr. 4-5 soccer team finished 2nd in the CONSAT league following a dramatic final round of games. Our Gr. 6-8 Bears also had a great year making it to the league finals.
- Leaders of our National Honor Society mobilized in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate leadership in helping others from campaigns to help first responders to rallying our community to bake cookies for them or donate money to allow for food boxes from Red Hook Farm across the street. Students created art to help COVID-19 patients at NY Presbyterian Hospital thanks to Ms. Heinold helping share their work.
Last year, 51% of BASIS Independent Brooklyn high school students received AP Scholar Distinction
Nationwide, only about 10% of students earn the distinction of AP Scholar or higher by the time they graduate. 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.
*Over 70% of BASIS Independent Schools graduates are eligible for admission to Oxford and 54% to Cambridge
Colleges in the U.S. don’t have minimum academic entrance standards for applicants. On the other hand, Cambridge and Oxford, U.K. universities that are consistently ranked as the top in the world, do have minimum criteria for students to be considered. Oxford requires a score of 5 on at least three AP Exams and Cambridge expects a score of 5 on at least five AP Exams.
*Based on class of 2021 graduates
BASIS Curriculum Schools alumni are quickly proving to be leaders in their fields.
Their prowess crosses industries: we’ve graduated Intel Talent Search Winners, Division I athletes, published poets, leading physicians, mathematicians who’ve contributed to research in their fields, and Netflix series actors!