Language Immersion Programs

Kindergarten Language Immersion Program Application

Step 1: Register your student with your neighborhood elementary school before applying for the immersion program. New student registration is now open on the Registration page.

Step 2: Submit this application for the language immersion program.

1st - 5th Grade Language Immersion Program Application

Step 1: Your student must be registered with your neighborhood elementary school before applying for the immersion program. If your student is new, please register them on the Registration page.

Step 2: Contact the Educational Programs Assistant to see if there is room at this time in the language immersion class for your student to join. If not, you can always be added to the waitlist for the class. 

Step 3: Submit this application for the language immersion program.

After applying, your student will need to be assessed by the Literacy Specialist to make sure they are at the language level concurrent with the class they will be joining. 

Eligibility

Applicants must register at their resident school in addition to completing the language immersion application. LOSD will consider students who have requested a transfer into LOSD from outside the district if space is available. 

Early admission students (born between September 2-15) will be considered by a supplemental lottery should space be available after all spots have been filled by age-eligible students. Early admission students will be subject to all early admission application procedures and requirements. Children with birthdays after September 15th of the school year are not eligible for enrollment or early admission consideration according to school board policy. 

---

Heritage Speakers Preference

Heritage speakers, in the language being taught, have priority for enrollment at the kindergarten level and on each grade's waitlist. Heritage Speakers are individuals who have learned a language from their families. This language learned at home differs from the primary language spoken in the country/society in which they have lived most of their lives. Additionally, a heritage speaker has received most, if not all, of their educational instruction in a different language than they hear at home. 

---

Younger Siblings of Students in the Immersion Programs

Younger siblings of students currently in kindergarten through 4th grade of the Spanish Immersion program have priority for enrollment only at the kindergarten level. Sibling priority does not apply to current siblings on the waitlist.

If you currently have a child enrolled in the District’s kindergarten through 4th-grade language immersion programs, you will have priority for enrollment in the kindergarten program, but you must submit an application to the program prior to the lottery deadline to be assured a slot.

Slots not filled by Heritage Speakers or sibling applications will be available in the general lottery. 

---

Program Locations

The elementary immersion programs are located at the Palisades World Language School.  

The middle and high school level Spanish immersion programs are located at Lakeridge Middle School and Lakeridge High School, respectively.

The middle and high school level Mandarin-Chinese immersion programs locations will be decided at a future date.  

---

Transportation

As a courtesy to our north and southside elementary families, a shuttle bus is provided to pick up students from designated bus stops and transport them to Palisades World Language School. The shuttle bus will have no adult supervision at either the pick-up or drop-off sites. 

Kindergartners require a parent or guardian to meet the school bus at student drop-off in order for the driver to release the student.

No transportation will be provided for middle or high school northside immersion families. 

Interest in our immersion programs is strong and continues to grow. The application to apply to our immersion programs opens at the end of January, two weeks after kindergarten registration begins. The application deadline prior to a lottery being held is the first Friday in March. We have limited spots available in our Spanish kindergarten and Mandarin-Chinese kindergarten cohorts. Please see the eligibility and enrollment section for details.

When on the Language Immersion waitlist, it is important that your student has an introduction and education in the language that they intend to join. Resource Guides are available on the Language Immersion webpage on the LOSD website:

Mandarin-Chinese Resource Guide

Spanish Resource Guide

If a spot becomes available in a Kindergarten through 5th grade Language Immersion class, the next family on the waitlist will be contacted by the Literacy Specialist.

1. At this time, an appointment will be scheduled for the student to have their English and second language assessed.
2. This is to make sure they will be comfortable and at a language level concurrent with the classroom they will be joining. 
3. Based on the student’s performance, a recommendation will be made.
4. If it is determined that the student will be transferring to Palisades World Language School, a starting date will be communicated and the student’s records will be transferred from their resident school to Palisades.

Language Immersion Kindergarten Orientation Presentation

Mandarin & Spanish Immersion Information Night Presentation

Palisades World Language School

Language Immersion FAQ

Language Immersion Curriculum & Instruction

Mandarin Chinese Resource Guide

Spanish Resource Guide