Beginning in 5 year-old kindergarten, our elementary students in the immersion program spend half the day studying the regular grade level curriculum and standards in classes conducted in the target language. The other half of the day is conducted in English.  Mathematics, science and literacy are taught in the target language. English language arts and social studies are taught in English.

The immersion program begins in 5-year-old kindergarten at the following schools: 

• Centerville Elementary (Spanish)
• Deerfield Elementary (Spanish starting in 2023-2024)
• Gilbert Elementary (Spanish)
• Meadow Glen Elementary (Mandarin Chinese) 
• Midway Elementary (French)
• Pleasant Hill Elementary (Spanish)
• Red Bank Elementary (Spanish)

At the middle school level, immersion students have the opportunity to continue their language learning by taking two courses in the target language:

• Language arts course: This is a high school credit-bearing course that will help students begin to focus on how the language works. Students will begin more in depth studies of the language itself, literature and cultural idioms. Accuracy, grammar and literacy will become more emphasized in this phase of their language learning.

• Passport: Conducted in the target language using a hands-on, project-based learning approach, learners will communicate and collaborate with students and experts from across the country and the target cultures to explore real-world problems and cultural practices.

The middle school immersion schools are:

• Centerville and Gilbert Elementary Spanish immersion students will attend Gilbert Middle School 
• Deerfield and Pleasant Hill German and Spanish immersion students will attend Pleasant Hill Middle School
• Meadow Glen Elementary Mandarin Chinese immersion students will attend Meadow Glen Middle School
• Midway Elementary French immersion students will attend Lakeside Middle School
• Red Bank Elementary Spanish immersion students will attend Carolina Springs Middle School

At the high school level, immersion students have the opportunity to continue their language learning by taking honors and advanced-leveled language courses.  To be recognized as an Immersion Completer at high school graduation, students must: 

• finish 8th grade immersion 
• take 2 or more immersion courses in high school
• qualify for the second language portion of the Seal of Biliteracy 

The high school immersion schools are:

• Carolina Springs Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend White Knoll High School
• Gilbert Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend Gilbert High School
• Lakeside Middle School French immersion students will attend River Bluff High School
• Meadow Glen Middle School Mandarin Chinese immersion students will attend River Bluff High School
• Pleasant Hill Middle School German and Spanish immersion students will attend Lexington High School

The immersion program is a K-12 experience.  For the requirements to be recognized as an Immersion Graduate at high school graduation, please reference the Immersion Completer Guidelines.