Our school history is evident in our name. In 1972, Bruce-Monroe Elementary School was built on Georgia Avenue as an integrated school. The name reflected two separate Black elementary schools which were closed: James Monroe, named for our fifth president, and Bruce, named in honor of Blanche Kelso Bruce- who was born in slavery and became an educator and the first Black US senator to serve a full term.
In 2008, the school merged again with Park View Elementary School at its current location. Both schools had been slated for closure (and Park View for conversion to a charter school) under the leadership of Mayor Adrian Fenty and School Superintendent Michelle Rhee. Bruce-Monroe families saved the school by holding “cacerolazos” (banging pots and pans to music) on Georgia Avenue. Bruce-Monroe was given the Park View building and Spanish became one of the languages of instruction. Raymond Elementary School became the English-only option for Park View residents.
Teachers collaborate in grade level teams and with special education teachers, a speech and language pathologist, an occupational therapist and mental health providers to reach the needs of all of our learners. Students have weekly time in art, music, physical education, mindfulness movement, and project-based learning where they engage in activities aligned to grade-level instruction.