School History
Broad Acres Elementary School is located in Silver Spring, Maryland. First opened in 1952, the school was originally called the Avenel School. During its first years, a student contest produced the name that it has carried ever since.
Over the years, the facility has been expanded and rebuilt to meet the changing needs of the community. The first additions, made in 1968, included a gymnasium. In 1974 and again in 1990, the building was both enlarged and modernized. In 1997, a school-based health center, Linkages to Learning, was added. Finally, during the 2005-06 school year, our administrative offices, kitchen, and all-purpose room were modernized and eleven classrooms were added, replacing the small village of portable classrooms previously supplied by the state.
Broad Acres currently serves about 450 students enrolled from Head-start through fifth grade. These students come to Broad Acres from all over the world – over 30 countries – and speak nearly as many languages. Student services include special education inclusion classes, a METS class (serving students with interrupted or no prior school experience), various academic supports (reading, ESOL, mathematics, and science), and Linkages to Learning.
Beginning in the fall of 2001, Broad Acres underwent an internal restructuring program.
Learn more about the restructuring program.