Zone - Brown Elementary
Brown Elementary School
A Beacon School Where Teachers Work Together to Enrich Education
Location: 2550 Lowell Blvd., Denver, CO
Principal: Suzanne Loughran
Background
Although Brown Elementary first opened its doors in 1952, it was not selected for revitalization until 2003. Soon after a dedicated group of teachers, parents, and community members undertook intensive research into curricular programs, ultimately choosing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Early Years Program as the focus for the new school.
In 2005, Brown’s current principal was hired along with a predominantly new staff to implement the Revitalization Plan for Brown. Two years later, Brown International was honored as a Denver Public Schools Beacon School where teachers and principals work together to develop creative, yet rigorous research-based education plans that meet the diverse needs of students.
Partnering to Prepare Urban Teachers
Brown Elementary School is one of the feeder schools that comprise the Center for Urban Education’s (CUE) P-16 Zone for Student Achievement in northwest Denver. Metro State’s pre-service students conduct their field experiences at Brown Elementary. They provide support to classroom teachers, reinforce instruction by working with students in small groups and one-to-one, and assist at school events as needed.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Student Population: Brown currently enrolls 358 students in programs for Early Childhood Education through 5th grade. The student body’s ethnic make-up consists of 5.3 percent American Indian, 2.5 percent African American, 6.4 percent Asian, 70.4 percent Hispanic and 15.4 percent White. There are 61 students enrolled in the ELL program with the majority of these speaking Spanish. Four students speak Vietnamese and two speak Khmer. The most recent figures indicate that 78.5 percent of the student body qualify for free and reduced rate lunch.
Staff: There are 42 staff members at Brown. Seventy percent of the staff are White, 24 percent are Hispanic and American Indian, Asian and Pacific Island ethnicities are represented in the remaining 6 percent of staff. English is the primary language spoken by the staff, but 9 members of the 42 speak Spanish.
Parents/Families: Demographics are changing in the neighborhood served by Brown Elementary. Free and reduced rate lunch qualifications have dropped by 13 percent in the past year as the neighborhood attracts more upwardly mobile young families. Brown staff have successfully worked to increase parent involvement at the school, both in the classrooms and at PTA meetings. PTA families collaborated this year to sponsor a Harvest Festival on Halloween, an International Festival in the Spring, a Field Day luncheon, and a Community Garden.