Brilla Caritas Charter School

Brilla Caritas Charter School, an elementary school (K-5) in the Bronx, is part of the Brilla Public Charter Schools network, known for its academically rigorous and virtue-centered education with a classical approach and high expectations. The school utilizes a rigorous, evidence-based curriculum, including the Core Knowledge Sequence, and employs a blended learning and co-teaching model to provide targeted small group instruction. Academically, the school's ELA proficiency is at the citywide median, while math proficiency is above the median. Brilla students, including those at Caritas, have notably exceeded state performance in math and demonstrated gains in ELA, particularly among multilingual learners. A distinctive feature is its comprehensive character development program, which explicitly teaches virtues like courage, justice, wisdom, and self-control. These virtues are integrated into daily routines, including a "Quietest Moment of the Day" for reflection, and celebrated at weekly "Roosting Rallies." The school fosters a joyful culture built on positive relationships and emphasizes strong parent partnership, offering frequent communication, monthly "Coffee and Conversations," and "Parent University" sessions. Parents describe a warm and inviting culture and appreciate the high expectations and strong communication from teachers.