When the Brown school was built in 1908, Teddy Roosevelt was president, Henry Ford was producing his first Model T, and Somerville needed a new school to accommodate an influx of working families. Today, Brown is not only the city's oldest elementary school, it's still known for its family atmosphere and strong focus on both academics and personal development.

With just over 250 students, it is the smallest school in Somerville, making for a tight-knit academic community backed up by very involved parents. Extensive afterschool programs (many led by parents) run from homework help to rock climbing. The building itself is nestled on a leafy neighborhood street in the Davis Square area with a small blacktop area for exercise and a school garden out front. The school is an international demonstration site for the Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations, a nonprofit program that helps students set goals and reach them, and the social-emotional curriculum, Second Step, is also taught to students.

School stats and test scores are available on the school's website and here. Kathleen J. Seward is the principal.