Lower School
In Lower School, we strive to fan the flames of our students’ innate desire to learn. With joy, wonder and excitement, our girls run to school each morning, eager to experience new ideas and try new things to develop and strengthen their humanity and intellect. Their curiosity and the realization of their roles within the Brearley community are supported in all we do by a foundation of our five core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, courage and kindness.
In a warm and supportive environment, our girls learn to take risks, stretch their imaginations and expand their boundaries. Students are guided throughout their journey by a caring, experienced faculty who understand how they feel, think and learn. We encourage their natural instinct to question and challenge, cultivating the start of a lifelong joy in exploration and the acquisition of knowledge.
Our girls learn to take risks, stretch their imaginations and expand their boundaries.
Small School,
Big Program
Just because our students are small doesn’t mean they don’t possess mighty intellects. In these formative early years, we challenge students to stretch their minds, develop a love of language and take on new obstacles with gusto. A kindergarten visit to a city green market inspires multimodal work on sustainability and healthy eating, while all students in Class III receive their own instruments for the first time as part of our robust music program. Class IV students perform plays in Mandarin as part of our annual Lunar New Year celebration, and in their Measure, Cut and Code class, they delve into the intersection of art, technology and science through interactive projects in our Idea Kitchen.
A School Within
a School
Located on three contiguous floors of our newest building, the Lower School is both a physical and emotional haven for our youngest students. The spiral staircase connects our classrooms and creates a warm, inviting space for our students to experience their community coming to life. While kindergarteners spend most of the day in their homerooms, venturing out primarily for gym and the library, older students traverse the building as their independence and responsibility grows. The Lower School also meets once a cycle in the Performance Hall for assemblies and performances, such as homeroom plays, concerts and holiday celebrations.
Building Character, Building Community
With the guidance of our faculty, our students begin their journey to becoming strong, kind, confident women who respect one another and are committed to improving the world around them. Our community is diverse and inclusive, where all our students, including the youngest, are taught to regulate emotions, promote empathy and make others feel valued. This social and emotional learning is a critical component of our Lower School curriculum.
Kindergarten Curriculum
Class I Curriculum
Class II Curriculum
Class III Curriculum
Class IV Curriculum
Beyond the Classroom
Brearley Libraries
The Lower School Library is a friendly, inviting space for storytelling time, classes with librarians and browsing for books to take home.
Explore our libraries
Arts
The visual and performing arts play an integral role in the curriculum and life of Brearley students.
DanceDramaMusicVisual Arts
Afterschool Activities
Beaver Den is the after-school program for Lower School students Classes K-IV.
Read more about Beaver Den
Service Learning
Service begins in the Lower School, with a sequence of projects and trips intended to develop a sense of agency and responsibility to society in our students.
See how we serve