Yes. In large-scale studies over many years, university researchers have documented a very high rate of success in achieving academic proficiency for both Spanish and English-speaking children in programs similar to ours. Typically, both Spanish and English speakers achieve native or near-native fluency in their new language. On standardized academic tests, both groups outperform their counterparts who have been educated in monolingual classrooms. Spanish speakers also outperform their counterparts who have been educated in traditional bilingual classrooms.

Language is the vehicle for instruction in immersion classrooms. A visitor would not find a class conjugating verbs or memorizing prepared "dialogues." Rather, one would see children using the language --speaking, reading, writing, adding, subtracting, experimenting, singing, arguing, whispering and shouting --all in Spanish, under the guidance of a teacher, who has been specially trained to teach the language while using it.

In a general education classroom, where English is the language of instruction, the native Spanish speakers might struggle initially when using English. However, in a Spanish Immersion program, these students gain self-confidence, because they understand the language of instruction. These students are also challenged to become language models by assisting the English speakers by translating and leading some group activities. Meanwhile, the native Spanish speakers are learning English by interacting with their peers. Spanish speakers get the chance to advance academically and socially while becoming bilingual. Native Spanish speakers can maintain their first language, Spanish, while learning a second language, English, at a time when their brains are most receptive to language learning. Spanish speakers also gain socially by making friendships across cultural, ethnic and linguistic boundaries.

Dual Immersion programs allow bilingual children to continue to develop their speaking skills and to learn to read and write in both languages.

In short, yes. There are more than 300 elementary language Dual Immersion Programs throughout the United States, according to the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, D.C. There are Dual Immersion programs in many languages, but the most common by far is Spanish. The model was developed in the 1970s in Quebec, Canada, where it is still used extensively to develop bilingualism in French and English-speaking students.

Our program began in the 2011-2012 school year, based on The Guiding Principles of Dual Immersion.

All of our teachers are dedicated, creative, and trained in dual-immersion techniques.  Those teachers who are teaching Spanish are completely fluent in English and Spanish.