elementary school teacher

assistant

high school teacher

teacher

mathematics teacher

BASIS Independent Schools

I cannot say enough about how fantastic the kids at BASIS are. The student culture is such that it's "cool" to be smart and the overall student mentality is one of strong integrity and scholastic excellence. The diverse ethnic population fosters a respect and appreciation for the cultural differences among the student population and it's truly a beautiful thing to see the next generation of leaders treat each other inclusively and with kindness and camaraderie. 

BASIS curriculum is very advanced and so as a teacher you're able to set the bar very high and students will rise up to it. You can really challenge the students in any academic discipline and they will surprise you with how excited and eager they are to learn advanced concepts. 

However, because the curriculum is so advanced, any student transferring from a non-BASIS school to a BASIS 5 - 12th grade school is set up to fail and typically won't last very long. Many students transfer out of BASIS to other charter schools for high school because they're able to achieve the same scores in their AP classes with less work. 5 - 8th graders only have a 25 minute break for lunch during their school day which lasts from 8:20am - 3:40pm (not including after school tutoring or extra curricular activities). The other 25 minutes of their "lunch break" are spent in mandatory study hall. Good luck managing your last hour 5th grade class of 35 students...

There is no administrative support for the students overall heath and well being in such a high pressure environment. Many students quietly suffer from the incredible amount of stress they endure. Teachers who advocate for students in this respect go unheard by administration. Many of the parents come from cultures where the importance of a child's emotional health is not valued so there is also very little parental support for students in this regard. It can be heartbreaking for teachers who observe this kind of negligence. 

The expectations for teachers are enormous. Expect to spend 10 - 12 hours a day working. You will be expected to hold tutoring hours, attend after school events, attend weekend events, substitute often (they do not hire outside subs), and host clubs. Consider yourself a unicorn if you're able to actually leave campus when the school day ends. 

If your students are not producing assessment scores that BASIS can then use for media recognition and recruitment you will likely be terminated. Parents are highly involved but do not have easy access to their student's grades so you will spend hours each day in correspondence with parents to communicate scores and justify why a B+ is still a reflection of academic excellence. I don't know what demands the administrative staff juggles, but you cannot rely on the deans to back you up or relieve you of anything when it comes to conflicts with parents. There is a lot of turnover of administrative staff so there's never really any consistency with teacher support. Unless you are capable of moving through massive amounts of excess work quickly and feel comfortable leaving your work at school, your personal relationships and commitments to your own family will suffer. Because of this, the attrition rate for teachers is ridiculously high. 

Salaries are competitive, although older white men seem to earn the most (confirmed by teachers lounge gossip). The benefits are good and they will match your 401K up to 9% after 5 years.

I think BASIS is a great place for a new teacher fresh out of university or for single teachers with no dependents. It's a great place to get your first teaching experience because the kids are so wonderful and it's literally sink or swim your first year. You'll be forced to learn a lot. Also, because of BASIS's reputation as a high achieving school, it's very easy to land other teaching jobs.

BUT TEACHING AT BASIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM. You will burn out, it's just a matter of when. If you're the type of teacher who is emotionally invested in your students' overall well being as a human, it will be difficult for you to observe the detrimental effects of the scholastic pressure on these kids and frustrating for you to advocate for student support because you will not be backed by administration. 

Teachers are given very little training and expected to work 8-14 hours a day during the school year. Working evenings and weekends is expected frequently (at least once a month). There is high teacher turnover due to the low salaries, long hours during the school year, minimal benefits, 1-2% raises a year, and unrealistic expectations for new teachers. Teachers are treated like hourly employees during the week and salaried employees on the weekend. Be aware of the fact that you might be required to take several hours of paid time off from vacation time if you are not able to attend a school function in the evening after working a 10 hour day, but you then will be required to come in on the following weekend for several hours and will not earn extra compensation. During the school year, expect to work 50-70 hours a week, including grading papers and class prep. on the evenings and weekends. Teachers are provided with few, if any, lesson plans for the courses. Assume that you will need to write lesson plans, exams, etc. for the entire school year and will only be given a minimal outline of course topics 1-2 weeks before the school year starts. The most enjoyable parts of the job are working with the awesome kids and the great co-workers. While co-workers are wonderful, supportive, and encouraging, it does not make up for all of the other shortcomings of the job which result in the high turnover and dismal moral. There is also a culture of blaming teachers for problems that were created by a lack of planning and foresight at the corporate level. Teachers are given expectations that are completely unrealistic and then fired or reprimanded with they are unable to meet those unreasonable expectations.

This is a true, honest review for the Fremont campus. I see these other reviews and I’ve been here for years... I truly don’t think it’s as abysmal as other reviews may have you believe. 
The pay definitely could be better. But if you live in the Bay Area, you have to take a step back and realize that you work in education. Not exactly a lucrative field. I have friends in tech making exactly the same as us so you really can’t blame BASIS for that. 
The culture is pretty solid. I adore my coworkers, have a great relationship with my manager and the kids make every day worth so much more than a paycheck. 
Your workload will most likely be heavy, but if you’ve ever worked at a school, you know that you must wear many hats. Work hard, but the reward is pretty great (happy kids)!
Management...this is perhaps my biggest gripe. Conflicting messages, unclear individual professional development plans, low raises, lack of recognition, money motivated. Sometimes it’s tough. However, bonuses are pretty sweet, managers do usually make you feel included in decisions and if you have the backbone, it is possible to fight for your own growth path. If you’re not willing to do good work and make it known, you likely won’t go far.
All that being said, if I were to spend another 4 years with BASIS, I wouldn’t be sad. I’ve found a community that - for the most part - has grown together over the years and looks out for one another. If the CEO was willing to listen to a bit of honest feedback, it would be a 5 star company across the board!

I have been working at this school for three years, having joined just a month after it opened. From the beginning, it has been a wonderful place to work. The school fosters a positive and collaborative environment where all teachers are pleasant and supportive of one another.

The administration stands out for its responsiveness and commitment to teacher well-being. Any needs or concerns raised by the teaching staff are taken seriously and addressed promptly. Leadership is open to new ideas and suggestions, and their support for both teachers and staff is evident in their daily interactions and decision-making. Flexibility with staff schedules and consideration of individual requests further contribute to the sense of being valued and respected.

One of the most effective strategies implemented at the school is having two teachers in each classroom up to Grade 4. This approach significantly helps in managing student behavior and maintaining high academic standards without unnecessary disruptions.

In essence, I genuinely enjoy working here. The supportive atmosphere keeps me energized, and the freedom to be creative allows me to thrive professionally. It’s a place where educators can truly focus on their students while continuing to grow in their own practice.

It’s an ideal school for structured teachers who collaborate effectively within a general framework. Additionally, the presence of subject expert teachers, rather than general class teachers, enhances the school’s focus and specialization, benefiting both educators and students. The friendly and positive community among the teachers further enriches the environment, fostering collaboration and support that enhances the overall teaching experience.
Teachers who are used to teaching multiple subjects to the same group of students may worry they could struggle with the transition to a model where they focus on just one subject over several shorter classes. However, once they move to this system, many find it immensely rewarding. This specialized approach allows for deeper engagement with the material and fosters a more profound connection with students, ultimately enhancing their teaching experience and satisfaction.

This place suffers from truly terrible leadership and a complete lack of accountability among those in power. The environment is toxic from the top down and it shows in every corner of the workplace. Teachers quit in the middle of the school year and even walk out on the very first day. That alone should tell you everything.

The red flags are impossible to ignore. Unqualified and underprepared coworkers are somehow the ones setting the tone. You will constantly find yourself lost and confused about what is actually expected of you. No structure. No guidance. Just chaos.

They are always hiring for the same roles year after year because no one stays. The turnover is not just high. It is outrageous. People do not leave good jobs like this unless something is deeply wrong.

If you are considering taking a position here, do yourself a favor and run. Run fast and do not look back. It is absolutely not worth it.

A lot of plug and play happening at Basis. There's several coverages everyday leading to students just watching YouTube or a very watered down version of a lesson. Class sizes are very small(<15) and some teachers still struggle with management and making lessons stick for all students. Classes are 50 mins long and ~20 is spent doing some combination of trivial work on the rug, movement breaks, doodling, relaxing in a "cozy corner." Im amazed students learn anything with the amount of lesson time they get, thank god for the rich parents who supplement their education. Supporting teachers (two teacher model) are basically baby sitting their classes. Instead of supporting and teacher 1-on-1 they take pictures of moments in the room and escort their classes like a herd.

I thrive in workplaces with autonomy, so I love working here. I have a manageable schedule of classes/workload. The kids can be a handful sometimes, but the staff is super supportive. Everyone is working towards the same goal, which is doing what is best for the students. 
They reward hard work and passion with opportunities. I started as a monitor and worked my way up to a teaching role. I love my job. I get to teach something I'm passionate about, and I get to feel like I'm making a positive impact on young people. 
I'm grateful to have found this place. I have had experiences in really toxic workplaces. It impacted my health and made me dread every day. This is the first time in my career that I've felt as though I am supported, and that the company I work for wants to see me grow and succeed. It's nice not to dread work.

I was hired as a Teaching Fellow. They hire you for something and end up doing something different.  As a teaching fellow, I was supposed to be in the classroom, but I was outside supervising the students all the time for 6 hours, and I was not allowed to sit down. One day, I sat down, and the supervisor immediate called the school principal, and I got in trouble. All the other teaching fellows were sitting down and texting, and they never got in trouble.  If you don't do what they want, they will target you and make your workday miserable. After work,  I used to get emails from my supervisor threatening of firing me. As a result, I ended up quitting.  

Most of the employees kept complaining about their jobs and how poor they were treated. I don't recommend working in this place.

I have been working with BASIS Independent Schools for the past two years. Each employee is given the opportunity to collaborate across departments and work with students at all grade levels. Employees are encouraged to share ideas, build community, and explore their interests. The culture is welcoming and inclusive with a diverse staff. With strong support from the central team, employees have the ability to thrive in their positions and promote into Administrative roles. Because BASIS Independent Schools are located across the United States, employees have the opportunity to transfer to other campuses. This company encourages employees to find their best fit, whether it’s in teaching, administration, or operations.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Elementary school teacher 88 salaries reported	$65,858 per year
Assistant 55 salaries reported	$20.62 per hour
High school teacher 48 salaries reported	$74,156 per year
Teacher 50 salaries reported	$68,310 per year
Mathematics teacher 32 salaries reported	$66,359 per year

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