The Elementary Division, First Grade through Fourth Grade, continues Mandell's commitment to academic excellence and good citizenship. Students develop solid foundations in both literacy and numeracy and are supported as they gain confidence in their abilities as increasingly independent learners. Through small group and individualized work, students master early academic skills and become effective readers, problem solvers, and communicators. Outside of their home classroom, students have small group classes in Music, Fine Arts, Wellness/Athletics, American Sign Language, Alternate Languages, Musical Instrument Instruction, Drama and Library. French and Spanish are taught simultaneously in the Elementary Division. In Fourth Grade students have the opportunity to join intramural sports.

The Elementary Division language arts program focuses on reading, writing, speaking and listening. Through a personalized learning plan, our goal is for each student to successfully express their ideas and beliefs. These skills are built through an integrated curriculum with students exploring their voices through daily journal entries, autobiographies, myths and science projects.

Mathematics curriculum in Kindergarten through Fourth Grade is integrated into classroom routines and explorations. The standards-based experiences in Kindergarten mathematics provide a solid foundation for First Grade work with experiential mathematics and TERC Investigations. Throughout the Elementary Division conceptual learning of abstract concepts is reinforced by skill-based learning and assessment. The Elementary Division is designed to ensure that all of our students have a solid foundation in all strands of mathematics without "gaps or holes" in their mathematical tool box. As a result they will be able to engage in the increasingly abstract problem solving of the Preparatory Division.

Reading and mathematics specialists are available to provide both enrichment and support to all students.

Community service is an important part of student life at the Mandell School. A year-long community service project is a recurring curriculum unit from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.

Each grade is divided into two sections, with a homeroom per section. Students do much of their work in small subgroups comprised of subsets of the grade as a whole.

Formal conferences are held several times a year. In Third and Fourth Grade, end of the year conferences are held with the Head Teacher, parents and student. Parents may request a parent only conference. Teachers and specialists are available at all times via e-mail. A full roster of after school programs is available to these grades including drama, art, music, photography and sports.