It is important to introduce world languages to our students at an early age. Lexington District One has focused on offering world languages to elementary school children for over 30 years. Today, more than ever, we are dedicating to providing our students with a choice of programs and languages to better prepare them to be 21st century citizens and leaders.

Currently, Elementary Spanish is offered to all elementary students who are not in immersion, beginning in kindergarten. This course is an exploratory course that students attend during Related Arts.  It is designed to introduce students to the basics of the Spanish language and culture in Spanish-speaking countries, and to help students gain a global perspective. 

Dual-Language Immersion is a means of acquiring a world language through content-matter instruction. In this program, students develop communicative and academic proficiency in the target language while succeeding academically in all subject areas at levels comparable to those they would have reached if they had been schooled only in English.

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 and science are taught in the target language. English language arts, social studies and related arts are taught in English.  

We offer the following immersion languages to students:

• Spanish 
  • Centerville Elementary
  • Deerfield Elementary (starting 2023-2024)
  • Gilbert Elementary
  • Pleasant Hill Elementary
  • Red Bank Elementary 
• French
  • Midway Elementary 
• Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Meadow Glen Elementary
• German
  • Only for current German Immersion students

What do Lexington One immersion classrooms and students look like at elementary and middle school? Check out this peek into our immersion classrooms at elementary and middle school!

For more information about the immersion program, please visit the Dual-Language Immersion page.

Starting in the 2012–2013 school year, world language became part of the students’ core curriculum at middle school. This means that each year students now take classes in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and world language.

Assessments in the middle school world language classes will reflect and mirror performance-based instructional activities taking place in the world language classroom on a daily basis. Learners must demonstrate what they know and can do in the language, showing their progress toward increased language proficiency in multiple ways using real-world tasks.

Languages offered at middle grades include French, German, Spanish, Latin, and Chinese.

Partial Immersion students have the opportunity to continue the program through their middle school years. Students will take two courses in their target language: one as part of core curriculum and the other as an immersive passport class.

The core class focuses on how the language works. This includes more in-depth studies of grammar, literacy, and culture.

Taking more of a project-based learning approach, the Passport class is conducted over a period of 4-9 weeks. Students take a more hands-on approach, communicating and collaborating with students and experts. The Passport course focuses more on cultural studies, teaching students about the target country's performing arts, culinary arts, political perspectives, and more, to give them a well-rounded view of the country as a whole.

For more information and up-to-date details regarding Lexington One's World Language Program, please visit our microsite.

World languages are now Exploratory for our middle school students. The following languages are offered as part of our Exploratory curriculum, in varying levels:

• Spanish
• French
• German
• Latin
• Chinese (Mandarin)

Lexington One currently offers Levels 1 – 5 in Spanish, French, German, and Latin. We also offer levels 1 and 2 in Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabic at our Center for World Languages and International Business. As the middle school program grows, the high school offerings will change to meet the needs of our learners.

Center for World Languages and International Business

The goal of the Center for World Languages and International Business at Lexington High School is to create plurilingual global citizens and leaders.

Students will exit their Center studies being world citizens who are open to new experiences and cultures, who are able to solve problems with exciting and creative solutions, and who are ready to begin a job with an international company or continue on to a university program of studies.

Center students will use their language skills to solve real-world problems using their knowledge of business and culture, as well as their intermediate language proficiency in at least two languages. Students have opportunities to increase their understanding of other cultures and the skills necessary to conduct business at the international level.

The program is open to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Lexington One who are on track to complete three levels of a target language, Language 2 (L2). A more comprehensive selection of coursework will be available when the Center is fully developed.

For more information and up-to-date details regarding Lexington One's World Language Program, please visit our microsite.

Our high school world language courses offer the most variety and depth of studies. Levels 1–5 of the following languages are offered at all high schools:

• Spanish
• French
• German
• Latin
• Chinese (Mandarin)