Washington Elementary School is in downtown Berkeley, across the street from Berkeley High School, allowing the 353 students access to many programs and facilities. Students can read with buddies from nearby Berkeley Senior Center, and all kids from kindergarten through third grade get swimming and water-safety lessons at the nearby Berkeley YMCA. There are dedicated classrooms for music and science, and an art instructor from the nearby Museum of Children's Art. Rita Kimball is the principal of the school.