Brilla Veritas Elementary Charter School

Founded in 2017, Brilla Veritas Elementary opened in 2017 with kindergarten classes and is expanding by one grade each year until it serves students through 4th grade. The school will be located at 600 East 156th as of fall 2020 and will feed into its own middle school, which is projected to open in 2022.

Brilla—meaning “shine” in Spanish—offers a longer school day and a mix of computer-based and teacher-led instruction for reading and math. Classes have two teachers in every room to allow for one-on-one and small group instruction. The day ends at 3:45 pm, Monday-Thursday, and at 1:15 pm Friday, the school website shows. Students are required to wear a tucked in polo shirt and pants or a jumper.

The school highlights its educational approach on the Brilla website. A focus on character education centers around four virtues: courage, justice, wisdom and self-control. One feature of the academic program is a non-fiction studies block, bringing science and social studies to life through non-fiction books and articles, in addition to hands-on activities and labs. 

The Brilla network plans to open two more elementary schools starting with kindergarten classes in August 2020: Brilla Caritas and Brilla Pax. Both will be located at 2336 Andrews Avenue. Brilla publishes a newsletter called The Perch with articles about school happenings. 

ADMISSIONS: By Lottery. See the school website for more information.  (Lydie Raschka, web reports, April 2020)