Brown School

Brown school is a safe, wonderful place for education. We are so blessed to have this school within our community. Children are challenged academically, and nurtured to grow the direction they are meant to reach full potential. Incredible art program with talent! The teachers are excellent, engaged, and very approachable. One of the only schools in the country to teach the Mind Up program, this passes on much needed skills to our children we are raising to become competent adults. This emotional intelligence program includes empathy, compassion for self and others, with mindfulness of self and others. We currently have a 2nd, 4th, and 8th grader. The 8th grader has been there since 1st grade, we now feel we know the school very well. Our children love school, and we love it too!

I first learned of Brown School when looking for a full day pre-K program for my son, planning to send him for 1 year and then enroll him in public school. After a single tour, my husband and I walked out of the school knowing we were not going to be sending our children to public school. We are entering our 6th year at Brown.

We are so very fortunate to have this school in our community. The teachers are nurturing, yet expect both academic excellence and respectful behavior. The classes are small, allowing individualized educational approaches. The school’s size promotes a tight knit community where the children feel comfortable and supported.

Students are encouraged to self assess their strengths and weaknesses and create goals and plans to reach them. These goals might be academic, athletic, social or emotional. The Brown School teachers and administrators are particularly attuned to the later.

On my first visit to Brown School, I was struck by the confidence with which older students spoke to me when I visited their classrooms unannounced. I know understand this part of the Brown School culture. All students (even the nursery students) participate in musical performances and plays. I continue to amazing that 3 years olds stand up on the stage and sing to a large audience without tears As the students get older, this confidence helps as they give academic presentations.

On the eve of the first day of school, my children are not lamenting the end of the summer, they are concerned that they will not be able to sleep because they are so excited to get back to school. Brown School is a special place.

Brown School has been an excellent choice for our two children. The teachers are incredibly dedicated, knowledgeable and flexible about accommodating a wide variety of learning styles, and clearly love their work. Their joy and positive attitude permeates the culture of the school. The administrative infrastructure of the school is professional yet personable. And last, but certainly not least, the school's generous financial aid has made it a feasible choice for our family.

We spent a lot of time considering what school we wanted our son to attend. A LOT. So why did we choose Brown? They were really a head above the rest, in so many ways. All the other schools seemed to have a shtick which was attractive in theory, but felt empty after a visit: beautiful buildings, all sorts of technology, cutting edge educational theory. It was eye candy for sure. But when we sat down to figure out what we really wanted, it was simple. We wanted a genuine, authentic environment that fostered a love for learning, without gimmicks.

The teachers are top notch. Not only are the Brown faculty incredibly caring, but they are also smart and creative. They go above and beyond expectations, many times over. Their responsiveness has been outstanding if I make an inquiry: teachers, staff and administration. But perhaps what I appreciate most about them is how they all look at the kids holistically. My son is not just a name, or an attitude, or a grade. He’s a boy going in and out of developmental phases, with various things going on in his life at home. And they get that, and embrace it.

Kids and teachers walk the halls with smiles on their faces. What impressed me (and still does) is how the older kids and younger children interact with such respect towards each other. It is a community of kindness and compassion in a world that can be anything but. I am so glad for Brown’s PreK-Grade 8 spectrum which gives young students opportunities to see what’s ahead, and lets the older ones guide those who are up and coming.

Generally speaking, there are 10-12 kids per class which allows for individual attention and low stress for teachers. What a rarity! In such a small class, the kids who are behind, or ahead, get the support or enrichment they need without having to be pulled out of their class for supplementation. Plus all sorts of activities can be done within a classroom with such a small group of kids, which could never be done otherwise. The classrooms are magnificent, full of beauty and energy. The teachers obviously care about the learning environment.

Should you be concerned that Brown is all about environment, and not content, let it be known that the kids who come out of Brown are routinely placed in AP high school classes. The academics are challenging, for sure. There are so many bright kids at Brown who will knock your socks off when they open their mouths to talk. I am also really impressed by all the hands-on classwork they do. Lectures, note taking and exams are NOT the model here (thank goodness!) There is lots of collaboration, discussion and action!

The lack of standardized testing for the young children allows Brown teachers to go beyond worksheets, and into hands-on exploration of both academic subjects and the arts. Yes, the arts! The interior hallways of Brown are covered from floor to ceiling in the student’s colorful artwork. My husband, who is an art professor, noted that many of the 8th graders in Brown are more skilled than his college freshman. Music and drama are also given the same kind of attention which is such a treat when most schools have cut them entirely.

As a parent of an energetic child, I am happy to report that he comes home not just academically and emotionally satisfied, but physically content as well. There is plenty of recess, physical education, and music/movement time. Even within the classroom, he is not expected to sit at a desk all day long. For those who are kinetic learners, students can sit on yoga balls in lieu of chairs. What a relief to know that he wouldn’t be labeled as a hyper child because he needs to move, and instead is accepted for what he is: an active, healthy boy.

From the moment I met with school personnel about a mid-year transfer for my two children out of the public school system I could tell I had entered a school unlike any other. Brown School is simply outstanding in every way. The extraordinarily professional staff is highly motivated to do what is in the best interest of every single child. Brown School offers developmentally appropriate education for all of students with small class sizes, nearly more curriculum hours than any other school in the Capital District, the individualized learning experience of the I.G.N.I.T.E. program, MindUp, a research-based curriculum that uses the latest information about the brain to dramatically improve behavior and learning for all students, a strong arts program, open communication, and holistic assessment of student performance. Most importantly, however, everyone - students, staff, and parents - at Brown is genuinely thrilled to be there. Beautiful student artwork adorns the hallways, smiles abound, and academic achievement appears to happen seamlessly. My children are excited to go to school each and every day. My family simply holds Brown School in the highest regard.