How learning works at Brent.
At Brent, foundational literacy and science meet the arts, field studies, and opportunities to make and share meaningful work.
The highest-scoring elementary school in Washington, DC.
Brent scored 89.4 on the District's 2024–25 school report card, the highest score among DC public and charter elementary schools. The score reflects student growth as well as achievement.
Brent Bears are guided by values, driven by excellence.
We believe enduring courage in the face of adversity creates students who are leaders in and out of the classroom.
We believe compassion and understanding are building blocks for engaged and passionate students.
We believe that students should be engaged and active participants in their own education.
We believe in instilling a sense of ownership in our students, giving them agency over their education.
How learning works at Brent
Responsive Classroom
Brent uses Responsive Classroom to help students practice cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. Morning meetings, shared rules, logical consequences, guided introductions to new materials, and thoughtful classroom design support independence, caring, and learning.
Curriculum by grade band
Brent follows DCPS-approved curricula while giving teachers room for field studies, Atelier work, and responsive teaching. Its Reggio Emilia-inspired approach gives students time to observe, make, revise, and explain their thinking. Teachers use student work and questions to guide learning; targeted literacy support includes Orton-Gillingham-informed approaches where appropriate.
Families can learn more through weekly teacher emails and Back-to-School Night. For academic and curricular questions, contact Sara Ewbank, Assistant Principal, at sara.ewbank@k12.dc.gov. For math and science, contact Rhonda Quintanilla, Instructional Coach, at rhonda.quintanilla@k12.dc.gov.
- ECE (PK3 and PK4): Reggio Emilia-inspired learning.
- ECE through grade 1: Heggerty phonemic awareness supports early literacy.
- Kindergarten: Eureka Math Squared, Orton-Gillingham+ Structured Literacy, and Let's Gather read-aloud materials.
- Grade 1: Heggerty Bridge to Writing connects grammar and the writing process.
- Grade 2: Arts and Letters integrates reading and writing with science, history, and the arts.
- Grades 3–5: Wit and Wisdom provides integrated English language arts.
Explore these programs and resources
Field Studies
Washington's museums bring history, science, literature, and art into Brent's field studies. Students encounter original works and artifacts, then create exhibits and performances of their own through writing, visual art, music, and hands-on science.
Each year, Brent focuses on a school-wide theme, which creates a web of learning and common experience between grades. A class studying the chemistry of water might visit the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop to explore how water interacts with clay and glazes in pottery-making. George Washington's medicine kit at the Smithsonian might open a discussion of sanitary conditions during the Revolution, and send students off to research and perform a play about how soldiers lived.
Language skills leave the page when students write the labels for their own exhibits and serve as docents, explaining the displays to visitors. Each year's theme culminates in all-school exhibitions.
These are open to the public. Please come and bring your family!
Library
Students visit the library weekly and can find Destiny Discover, Britannica Elementary, PebbleGo, BrainPOP, and Sora e-books and audiobooks through Clever. Every DC student can also get a DC Public Library card at a local branch.
Explore these programs and resources