How are students selected?

Acceptance into our Spanish Dual Language Immersion program will be through an application process that is strictly first-come, first-served. To be eligible, families must complete an online application form (found on this website) that will be time stamped. If you are in need of online access, please visit Sherrills Ford Elementary, Startown Elementary, or St. Stephens Elementary to complete the form online.  Applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and acceptance/waitlist letters will be mailed the following day.

There are 25 spaces available at Sherrills Ford Elementary, 25 spaces available at Startown Elementary, and 50 spaces available at St. Stephens Elementary.  Students will be accepted into the program in the order the online registration is received. Once all the slots are full, the remaining students will be placed on a waiting list based on the application time stamp.

Acceptance/Waitlist Notifications will be mailed the day following the deadline. Students have one week to accept their position by contacting their school directly.

​Students who apply after the deadline will be placed on a waiting list in order of the date/time of application.

Who can participate?

The CCS Spanish Immersion Program is open to all students of varying backgrounds and abilities enrolling in Kindergarten in 2022-23. Parents who feel that their child may have significant communication delays in their first language should seriously weigh the pros and cons of enrolling their child in an immersion program.

What if I am not assigned to the school to which I am applying?

You may apply to any of our Spanish Immersion programs regardless of your assigned school. However, you must provide your own transportation if you are accepted into a program at a school that is not your assigned school. Find out which Catawba County School your child is assigned by clicking here.

If you are out of the Catawba County Schools district and are accepted to one of our programs, there is an out-of-district tuition. We will provide more information if this applies to you.

Key Dates

  • Monday, February 13, 2023, at 6:00 PM - Parent Information Night at Startown Elementary
  • Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 5:30 PM -  Parent Information Night at Sherrills Ford Elementary 
  • Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 6:00 PM -  Parent Information Night at St. Stephens Elementary (presented in English)
  • Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 7:00 PM -  Parent Information Night for St. Stephens Elementary (presented en Espanol)
  • ​Monday, February 27, 2023, at 8:00 AM - Spanish Immersion Application Period Begins online (click here​ to apply)
  • Monday, March 13, 2023, at 12:00 PM - Spanish Immersion Applications Acceptance Ends​​
  • Thursday, March 16, 2023 - Acceptance/Waitlist Letters are Mailed Out
  • Wednesday, March 23, 2023, at 3:30 PM - Deadline to Accept Position

Can my older student enter in a grade other than kindergarten?

Because of the rigorous nature of the immersion program, we can only consider students who are transferring from a similar Spanish Immersion program. Most of our grade levels are completely full;  however, we occasionally have openings due to students moving out of state. Please contact the school in which you are interested to discuss your situation specifically.

If my child is accepted, can my other children attend the same school?

We want to make being part of the immersion program as simple as possible for our families. If your kindergartner was accepted into the immersion program and you have younger or older students, they may attend the same school as your immersion student, so all of your children are at the same school. Please contact the school for details on how to transfer your students.

Parent Responsibilities

​Parents must agree to the following terms:
  1. Research indicates an immersion program is most effective when students remain in the program for a sustained period of time. I understand that my child will be expected to continue the program until sixth grade unless a team decision is made involving the parent and school staff that it is in the best interest of my child to have different placement.
  2. Children enrolled in the Immersion Program will remain together in Kindergarten through sixth grade. I intend to support my child in the immersion program grades kindergarten - sixth.
  3. I do not anticipate a change of school within the next seven years.
  4. I understand that I will need to read to or with my child at home 20-30 minutes daily in English.
  5. I understand that in a dual language program, my child will receive instruction in core content areas (including reading, math, science, and social studies) in a second language as well as in English through his elementary career.
  6. I understand it is not unusual for children to experience some fatigue and/or tears and frustration during the first months of the program. Knowing this, I will not request to remove my child from the Language Immersion Program because of these reasons.
  7. If my child, once enrolled in the Language Immersion Program, is not making adequate progress, I will agree for the school's instructional team to follow school and program policy to determine the best placement to support my child's learning process. 

Application Process

The application process for Catawba County Schools Dual Language Immersion programs is separate from Kindergarten Registration. Parents must also register their child for kindergarten on the CCS Kindergarten Registration Page.
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Acceptance into our Spanish Dual Language Immersion program will be through an application process that is strictly first come, first served. To be eligible, families must complete an online application form that will be time stamped. If you are in need of online access, please visit Sherrills Ford Elementary, Startown Elementary, or St. Stephens Elementary to complete the form online.  Applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and acceptance/waitlist letters will be mailed the following day.

Enrollment Priorities

Sherrills Ford Elementary
​& Startown Elementary
Both Sherrills Ford and Startown have a full-immersion model (90/10).
  1. or Students with a sibling who is currently enrolled in a Catawba County Schools Spanish Immersion program. NOTE: Siblings must apply by the application deadline or s/he will be placed on the waitlist and will no longer be given priority. 
  2. All other students regardless of school or district to which they are assigned

*Please note: Students who live outside the Sherrills Ford or Startown Elementary School districts will be required to provide their own transportation to and from school. Students who live outside the Catawba County Schools district will be subject to an out-of-district tuition fee.

Once students are admitted to the program, they will have continued placement each year without having to reapply.
St. Stephens Elementary
St. Stephens Elementary has a 50/50 model, ideally where half of the programs students are native Spanish speakers and half are native English speakers.
  1. ​Students with a sibling who is currently enrolled in a Catawba County Schools Spanish Immersion program. NOTE: Siblings must apply by the application deadline or s/he will be placed on the waitlist and will no longer be given priority. ​
  2. Spanish speaking students (approximately 25 students) and English Speaking Students (approximately 25 students)
  3. ​All other students regardless of school or district to which they are assigned

*Please note: Students who live outside the St. Stephens Elementary School district will be required to provide their own transportation to and from school. Students who live outside the Catawba County Schools district will be subject to an out-of-district tuition fee.
​
Once students are admitted to the program, they will have continued placement each year without having to reapply.