Catawba County Schools is proud to offer a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program at two schools: St. Stephens Elementary and Sherrills Ford Elementary beginning in Kindergarten.

Language immersion programs are an exciting option for parents who want their children to have the advantages of a rigorous academic program while also learning two languages – English and a target language. In a Spanish immersion program, Spanish is not taught as a subject; Spanish is the language in which instruction is delivered.  

In 2019-20, St. Stephens Elementary will have a kindergarten and first-grade program and Sherrills Ford Elementary will have a kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade program. An additional grade level will be added each school year at both schools.

At this time, we are only accepting students into our kindergarten programs unless your student is transferring from another similar Spanish Immersion Program and will be considered on an individual basis. Please contact the school directly if you are interested in the first- or second-grade programs.

AVAILABILITY for 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR

We are proud to offer two Spanish Immersion Programs: 

At St. Stephens Elementary, students will begin kindergarten with a 50/50 model of 50% English and 50% Spanish. The 50/50 model is ideal when there is an equal mix of native English speakers and native Spanish speakers.
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At Sherrills Ford Elementary, kindergarten students will receive approximately 90% of instruction in Spanish and 10% will be in English to facilitate early Spanish language acquisition and literacy development. As students transition to higher grades, more of the instruction shifts to English. 
Beginning March 18th, 2019, you may submit your child's application online for the 2019-20 Spanish Immersion Program at Sherrills Ford Elementary and/or St. Stephens Elementary . Applications will be considered first-come, first served basis based on the priorities listed on this page. ​​

Key Dates

  • Thursday, March 14, 2019, 6PM-7PM - Information Night for both Sherrills Ford Elementary and St. Stephens Elementary
  • Monday, March 18, 2019 at 8AM - Spanish Immersion Application Period Begins online (click here to apply)
  • Thursday, March 21, 2019 - Kindergarten Orientation for Sherrills Ford Elementary and St. Stephens Elementary 
  • Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 6PM-7PM - Information Night for both Sherrills Ford Elementary and St. Stephens Elementary
  • Monday, May 13, 2019 at 5pm - Spanish Immersion Applications Acceptance Ends​​
  • Monday, May 20, 2019 - Acceptance/Waitlist Letters are Mailed Out

LEARN THE BENEFITS OF BOTH PROGRAMS

The Science
 Science shows that children who learn in more than one language actually improve their brain function. In fact, nearly 40 years of research has shown that immersion students score higher on standardized tests than non-immersion students.​ 

FAQs

Top Questions Parents Ask

Will my child fall behind?
The short answer is no. Research shows that immersion students actually surpass their non-immersion peers in standardized tested despite not having formal English instruction.
I don't speak Spanish. How do I help with homework?
Your child's homework should support what he has learned in class, so students should be able to tackle the assignment on their own with little help from parents. 
Will End of Grade (EOG) testing be in English or Spanish?
All state-mandated assessments, like the EOGs, will be taken in English. 

Applying is Easy!

HOW TO ENROLL
Beginning March 18th, you may request enrollment for your child online or at either school.  Admittance is first-come first-served based on 5 priorities. The application period ends on May 13th and acceptance letters/waitlist letters will be mailed out on May 20th. 
Catawba County Schools  | 2285 N Anderson Ave | Newton, NC 28658 |  Phone: (828) 464-8333 | www.catawbaschools.net
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