The liberal arts and sciences BASIS Curriculum provides students many opportunities to demonstrate excellence in and out of the classroom. We are proud of the accomplishments of our students and teachers at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. Below is a selection of media recognition of school achievements and noteworthy happenings around campus and across our network:
BASIS: Inside the Acclaimed School Network That’s Blended Together the World’s Best Education Practices
-The 74 Million
"...Tara attends BASIS Independent Brooklyn, part of a chain of 27 public charter, private, and international schools in five states, Washington, D.C., and China that recently captured four of the top five spots on U.S. News and World Report's annual ranking of America’s best high schools. BASIS makes advanced, immersive coursework a requirement for all students, from pre-K through high school—an approach that some dub 'deep content.' But for co-founder Olga Block, there’s nothing extraordinary about such comprehensive study; it's simply the way she was taught as a child growing up in Czechoslovakia."
Keep Reading 
A revolutionary school ‘turns back the clock’ in Brooklyn
-New York Post
"...As headmaster Hadley Ruggles tells me, 'Brooklyn is a progressive place, and it looks like we have rolled back the clock.' The students are taught grammar. Math in the early grades involves drilling. Students are required to take three years of Latin. Writing is focused on analytical work, not 'journaling.' The school does offer some trendy classes: Elementary school requires several years of engineering and Mandarin. But they've also stuck with Advanced Placement classes, even as many schools have dropped them out of fear that kids will burn out from all the tests. Students as young as eighth grade are taking APs and scoring well."
Keep Reading 
Best of Brooklyn: BASIS Independent Brooklyn
-News 12 Brooklyn
Sixth- and seventh-grade students from BASIS Independent Brooklyn fell just short of moving on in this year's Department of Energy National Science Bowl.
'Initially, I was nervous, because there were so many other teams,' says Kesar S., one of five students from the school who had hoped to make it to the next round in Washington, D.C. 'Everyone was much older than us—and taller.' For the first time, the students competed at the regional competition in January, squaring off with 10 other New York City teams of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. The BASIS team finished second.
Keep Reading 'Initially, I was nervous, because there were so many other teams,' says Kesar S., one of five students from the school who had hoped to make it to the next round in Washington, D.C. 'Everyone was much older than us—and taller.' For the first time, the students competed at the regional competition in January, squaring off with 10 other New York City teams of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. The BASIS team finished second.
Brooklyn kids compete to be 'Master Chef Junior' on FOX
-Metro USA
"Donovan, a student at BASIS Independent Brooklyn has been cooking since he was three-years-old, his father told the school's blog. 'I've always been really interested in cooking Asian food, exploring unique flavor profiles and experimenting with exotic ingredients,' the science and Mandarin-loving student said. 'I love the feeling of discovering something really new and unique, like a rare spice or difficult to find seasonal fruit or vegetable. Since the show ended, I've been really focused on developing my pastry and cake decorating skills.'"
Keep Reading 
Barneys Lookbook Shot By Brooklyn Teen Photographer
- Patch.com, Gowanus-Red Hook
"The lookbook for Barneys New York's latest women's collection was shot by a photographer right here in Brooklyn — a 16-year-old photographer, that is. Red Hook high-schooler Denise Hewitt recently was awarded the honor of shooting new label FiveSeventyFive, which came out earlier this year."
Keep Reading 
5 Questions About... STEM Education
- Alina Adams, NYC School Secrets
Everyone is talking about STEM education and how important it is, but what exactly is it? How can it benefit your child? How should you evaluate an outstanding program? How does STEM fit in with all of the other subjects? Watch now to get your most important questions answered by BASIS Independent Brooklyn Head of School, Ms. Hadley Ruggles.
Watch Now 
Coming of Age During Lockdown Through the Eyes of One Young New Yorker
- Vogue
"Denise Stephanie is an 18-year-old photographer from Brooklyn. This spring, she celebrated her graduation from BASIS Independent Brooklyn, a school in Red Hook.... Ahead of graduation, we banded together and asked our high school to push the ceremony to August, so now we’re doing a very small, in-person one in the next few weeks, but I’ve still paraded in my mom’s car with graduation balloons and a sign for my bestie. In June, we surprised another friend with a birthday picnic in Fort Greene Park, and we’ve watched movies online together, talking and jesting all the way through to the end."
Keep Reading 
Red Hook schools mark Black History month
- Nathan Weiser, The Red Hook Star Revue
"Both the private BASIS [Independent] school, and the public PS 676 are Red Hook schools that helped celebrate Black History Month this past February.
The 5th grade read “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson, an excerpt from Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid and poems like “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes and “At the Cemetery, Walnut Grove Plantation, South Carolina, 1989” by Lucillie Clifton.
BASIS’s 7th grade read poetry from notable black authors like Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou."
Keep Reading The 5th grade read “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson, an excerpt from Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid and poems like “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes and “At the Cemetery, Walnut Grove Plantation, South Carolina, 1989” by Lucillie Clifton.
BASIS’s 7th grade read poetry from notable black authors like Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou."
9 Ways to Use Gentle Parenting in Real Life
- Blaire Sharp, Parents.
You wake up later than you planned, and you've got one hour to get everyone ready and out the door. When it's time to go, you nicely say, "OK, put your shoes on please." Your child refuses. You try your best, but you end up yelling and threatening to take away their favorite toy. You might make it out the door, but you feel like you've failed at parenting once again.
If this scenario feels familiar, you're not alone. With so much advice floating around it can be hard to know what to try next. If you're looking for a more tender approach, gentle parenting might be worth trying.
The evidence-based parenting style uses guidance and choices over demands and discipline. It gives children expectations that help set them up to succeed. "The idea is to approach that relationship from a place of respect and empathy, helping children garner the tools they need to navigate emotions as they grow up," says Shari D. Cameron, head of school at BASIS Independent Brooklyn Lower. "How you respond to them will determine what the relationship will look like years down the line."
Keep Reading If this scenario feels familiar, you're not alone. With so much advice floating around it can be hard to know what to try next. If you're looking for a more tender approach, gentle parenting might be worth trying.
The evidence-based parenting style uses guidance and choices over demands and discipline. It gives children expectations that help set them up to succeed. "The idea is to approach that relationship from a place of respect and empathy, helping children garner the tools they need to navigate emotions as they grow up," says Shari D. Cameron, head of school at BASIS Independent Brooklyn Lower. "How you respond to them will determine what the relationship will look like years down the line."
It’s Science: Preschool play protects your child’s mental health later in life
- Kristen Fischer, Motherly
Preschoolers who learn to play well with others have better mental health as they age, according to a recent study. The research looked at “peer play ability,” an indicator of how well kids play with each other.
The report provides the first clear evidence that peer play ability “has a protective effect on mental health,” the authors said in a statement. The study appeared in Child Psychiatry and Human Development.
Keep Reading The report provides the first clear evidence that peer play ability “has a protective effect on mental health,” the authors said in a statement. The study appeared in Child Psychiatry and Human Development.
Brooklyn teen creates mental health app to help other teens
- News 12 Staff, News 12 The Bronx
A Brooklyn teen is using her computer science skills to help launch a mental health app aimed towards helping other teens.
The app Geia was created by 19-year-old Kamie Aran, a recent graduate of BASIS Independent Brooklyn.
Aran says teens’ mental health is typically only assessed annually and by a pediatrician. Through Geia, she says teens can assess their mental wellness on their own and at any time.
Click to Watch & Keep Reading The app Geia was created by 19-year-old Kamie Aran, a recent graduate of BASIS Independent Brooklyn.
Aran says teens’ mental health is typically only assessed annually and by a pediatrician. Through Geia, she says teens can assess their mental wellness on their own and at any time.
How to Find a High School Internship
- Heidi Borst, U.S. News & World Report
While internships are traditionally part of the college experience, high school students are increasingly looking to take on internships as a way to enhance resumes and college applications while trying on a career....
Traditional part-time and summer jobs can provide teens with customer service experience and other workforce-ready skills. Internships, by contrast, focus on longer-term career exploration, says Tandy Caraway, an educator and college strategist and founder of CollegeMode Academy. Students gain real-world experience as they spend time shadowing professionals and being mentored.
Keep Reading Traditional part-time and summer jobs can provide teens with customer service experience and other workforce-ready skills. Internships, by contrast, focus on longer-term career exploration, says Tandy Caraway, an educator and college strategist and founder of CollegeMode Academy. Students gain real-world experience as they spend time shadowing professionals and being mentored.
Toby Walker Of BASIS Independent Schools On The 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School
- Authority Magazine, Medium
School is really not easy these days. Many students have been out of school for a long time because of the pandemic, and the continued disruptions and anxieties are still breaking the flow of normal learning. What can parents do to help their children thrive and excel in school, particularly during these challenging and anxiety-provoking times?
To address this, we started a new series called ‘5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School.” In this interview series, we are talking to teachers, principals, education experts, and successful parents to learn from their insights and experience.
Keep Reading To address this, we started a new series called ‘5 Things Parents Can Do To Help Their Children Thrive and Excel In School.” In this interview series, we are talking to teachers, principals, education experts, and successful parents to learn from their insights and experience.
19 Summer STEM Projects for Kids of All Ages
- Mandy Velez, CafeMom
Teaching kids through STEM (science, technology engineering, and math) exercises is so beneficial to their learning. Although one of the many benefits of STEM is sharpening math, science, or tech skills and getting kids interested in it, there's more to it. According to Shari D. Cameron, a STEM expert, educator and head of school for the BASIS Independent Brooklyn Lower School campus, these activities sharpen children's problem-solving skills, which will come in handy no matter what subject they gravitate toward in the future.
Keep Reading 
Weigh the Benefits, Stress of Taking AP Classes
- Donna Tetreault and Jackson Nimesheim, US News & World Report
Advanced Placement courses are designed to give students an intro-level college curriculum while still in high school. They allow students to explore more advanced subjects, get a taste of college-level work and even amass college credits if they pass the AP exams.
Success in AP courses, which are developed by the nonprofit College Board, can boost a student’s transcript and save families thousands of dollars on college tuition. But experts caution that there are other factors to consider when enrolling in AP, including your teen’s workload and stress level.
“The AP courses require a lot more work, and they cover a lot more material,” says Richard Tench, chair of the American School Counselor Association’s board of directors.
Keep Reading Success in AP courses, which are developed by the nonprofit College Board, can boost a student’s transcript and save families thousands of dollars on college tuition. But experts caution that there are other factors to consider when enrolling in AP, including your teen’s workload and stress level.
“The AP courses require a lot more work, and they cover a lot more material,” says Richard Tench, chair of the American School Counselor Association’s board of directors.