In the fall of 2012, nearly 60 kindergartners walked into the Spanish immersion classrooms at Shiloh and Sun Valley Elementary and the Mandarin immersion classroom at Marvin Elementary.
It was the first year that Union County Public Schools offered dual language programs, and the young students had no idea they were making history and would ultimately serve as examples for thousands of students who would also participate in immersion programs in the future.
Today, UCPS leads the state in the number of dual language immersion programs offered to students, with seven Spanish immersion, two Mandarin immersion and two Spanish-English dual language programs offered throughout the county.
Those kindergarten students are now fifth graders, who will leave their elementary school this year proficient in Spanish or Mandarin and well on their way to being prepared for a global society and marketplace. During the past five years, they have not only maintained academic performance at or above grade level but have also demonstrated an appreciation and love for other cultures and people.
In fact, the recognized benefits of their participation in the immersion programs will only continue to grow in the coming years -- all of the fifth graders will increase their fluency as they take science and social studies in Spanish or Mandarin at Sun Valley and Marvin Ridge middle schools next school year.
Want to learn more about the school district's dual language immersion programs and its benefits to students?
