Brooklyn Arbor offers a Spanish dual-language program in grades K-4. Students in the dual-language classroom receive half of their instruction in Spanish and half in English. The classroom combines native Spanish speakers with students who have little to no Spanish language fluency, leading to a community of bilingual scholars.

The natural environment is a keystone of education at Brooklyn Arbor. All students visit Arbor's outdoor classroom, which features a pollinator garden and native plantings. We have a bee hive at Arbor and a team of trained staff members who care for the hive year round. 

Brooklyn Arbor employs a full-time health and wellness teacher, who works with every classroom on a weekly basis. In wellness, students learn not only about physical health but also about mental health, emotions, healthy eating, online safety and mindfulness.

All Arbor students attend weekly art class with a dedicated art teacher. Students learn about a variety of mediums and techniques, including sculpture, water color, collage, pastels and self-portraits. Student work is displayed at a culminating art show at the end of each school year.

All Arbor students receive dedicated music education from the school's full-time music teacher. Students learn about rhythm, musicality, instruments and vocal performance.

A selection of staff-led after school clubs are offered each fall and spring, free of charge, a few days a week. Clubs often include drama, chess, chorus, debate and coding.

Classrooms at Brooklyn Arbor follow the Responsive Classroom approach. This evidence-based framework is a social and emotional approach to teaching that creates safe, joyful and engaging classrooms. For more information: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/

Brooklyn Arbor offers a well-stocked school library with a wide variety of literary genres and reading levels. Materials are also available in Spanish. Students visit the school library weekly and are able to check out books.

All Arbor classrooms are equipped with Promethean Boards and student Chromebooks. We follow an SLT-written Screen Time Policy, designed to limit device usage.  As one of the first elementary schools in NYC to teach computer science through the SEPJr/CS4All initiative, all students receive one unit of computer science a year.

Brooklyn Arbor students enjoy outdoor recess daily. This time allows them to play freely and connect with the school community. Arbor employs an Recess Enhancement Program (REP) Coach who provides organized opportunities for sports and structured games during recess which teaches students additional physical skills and encourages teamwork and cooperation.

Starting in 2026, Brooklyn Arbor will be partnered with Grand Street Settlement to provide a free after school program during the school year. The program runs from dismissal until 6pm and offers homework help, sports, art activities and more. For information, contact Site Director, Karen Mendez at kmendez@grandsettlement.org. 

Several private programs also pick students up from Arbor for offsite after school programs.

On Friday mornings, students' family members are welcomed into the classrooms. Families lead an activity, craft or do a read-aloud to the class. It is an opportunity for parents and guardians to spend time in the classroom and experience our school community while sharing a special skill with the students.