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United States, Washington Dc
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Stokes School offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program for PK3–5. The IB Primary Years Program provides a high-quality, challenging international education within an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary framework. From preschool, targeted language immersion is part of the learning; Pre-K has 90% instruction in the target language and 10% in English, while kindergarten through fifth grade is about half in English and half in the target language. All faculty teaching in the target language are native speakers, and every lesson integrates language objectives and intercultural learning.
Music and art are offered on a rotating basis in Pre-K. The school has a dedicated music and art room in the building to support arts education. These spaces and practices are part of the IB framework and daily learning.
The school teaches children to think, speak, read, write and learn in two languages: English and French and English and Spanish. Target language immersion begins in Pre-K with 90% instruction in the target language and 50/50 English and target language from kindergarten onward. All teachers in the target language are native speakers, and lessons include content and language objectives to develop a balanced bilingual ability. The IB framework and language-focused practices promote intercultural understanding and respect.
The Stokes volunteer program offers broad engagement opportunities, including mentoring or room parent roles, garden work, fundraising, classroom presentations, and creating instructional materials in French and Spanish; volunteers also assist during lunch or recess. The campus calendar highlights events and family involvement through activities and programs. Students and families participate in hands-on garden and arts-related activities as part of school life.
Every student can contribute to the community through service activities that prepare them to become caring neighbors and responsible citizens. The Stokes School Garden bridges science and social studies, connects students to urban agriculture, and addresses food security and waste management as part of experiential learning. These initiatives support the school's commitments to social justice and community engagement.
The school aims to prepare students to be global leaders. The Board of Trustees is comprised of diverse parents, former students, and leaders in education, government, business and the arts, and it guides programs to align with the mission. Family involvement and volunteer opportunities further foster leadership development and organizational skills.
Stokes follows the DC Healthy Schools Act; all grade levels participate in at least 150 minutes of physical education weekly, and second through fifth graders receive 80 minutes of health education weekly. The Stokes Kitchen serves three healthy meals daily, prepared in-house with locally sourced ingredients and accommodations for dietary restrictions. The Stokes School Garden supports hands-on learning about food systems, while the Peace of Mind mindfulness curriculum promotes social-emotional learning, and a school nurse provides health-related support.
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School operates across two DC campuses, Brookland and East End, serving students from PK3 through fifth grade (ages 3 to 11). The school delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in a dual-immersion framework, with English plus a target language (Spanish or French) for content-area instruction. From Pre-K, 90% of instruction is in the target language; kindergarten to fifth grade use roughly half English and half the target language, with native-speaking teachers leading lessons. The campus facilities include a kitchen that prepares three meals daily from local ingredients, a garden program, a library, a music and art room, and outdoor spaces. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association and participates in Label FrancEducation and Learn24. Support services include MTSS and English Learner supports, with targeted 1:1 or small-group instruction as needed. The program emphasizes inquiry-based learning, intercultural understanding, and student voice.
