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Spanish Immersion

Families may choose to enroll their students into the Princeton Spanish Immersion Program in kindergarten or first grade, and the program continues through Middle School. We welcome students from other school districts to open enroll in our Spanish Immersion program. Students are immersed in Spanish while they learn mathematics, science, reading, writing and other curriculum. Immersion means that teachers communicate only in Spanish while teaching students.

Benefits of Learning Two Languages

  • Enhances learning capacity for life
  • Better academic and linguistic performance in both languages
  • Cognitive advantages - physically engages brain development
  • Increases career and social opportunities
  • Expands world view
  • Optimizes attendance at colleges and universities
  • Improves English language skills

Spanish Immersion: Is this a good fit for my Child?

  • Early Childhood Screening completed.
    • School reviews screenings and determines if additional assessments are needed.
  • Need to be enrolled as a full time student.
  • Students learn Spanish by hearing it directly from a fluent Spanish speaker. To help support this, students need to be in class.
    • No more than 25% of the student's day is outside the SI classroom.
Spanish Immersion Kindergarten students

Key Components

  • Spanish Immersion programming is full day for students in grades K-5. Middle school programming is 2 periods per day.
  • All classroom instruction in grades K-2 is in Spanish. Specialists (Art, Music, Science, Technology, Physical Education) are taught in English.
  • The Princeton Immersion Program is considered a “90/10” Model. 90/10: An immersion program model in which students are instructed approximately 90% of the time in the partner language and 10% in English in early grades, with the amount of English instruction gradually increasing each year until English and the partner language are each used for 50% of instruction (generally 4th/5th grade).
  • Direct instruction in English will begin in Third Grade.
  • Students can only enter the program in Kindergarten or First Grade if they are English-only speakers, or unless they are transferring from another Spanish Immersion program as an open-enrolled student.
  • The curriculum parallels the district curriculum in all subjects
  • Families are requested to make a long term commitment to the program in order for students to develop a high level of Spanish proficiency.

Spanish Immersion Program Admission Procedures


  • Princeton Public Schools offers a Spanish Immersion program where students learn Spanish as a second language through immersion.
    • Because of the program’s structure, students must begin the Spanish Immersion program in Kindergarten or 1st grade.
    • All classroom instruction is conducted in Spanish. Students learn to read, write and speak in Spanish, as well as learn math, social studies and science, and begin to develop an understanding of Hispanic cultures.
  • For more information about grades K-2 call Princeton Primary 763-389-6901 and for grades 3-5 call Princeton Intermediate 763-389-6801.
  • General Assumptions
    • Princeton Public Schools will provide a fair and open process for enrolling students in the Spanish Immersion Program.
    • The number of students admitted each year is determined by District Administration.
    • We accept students from any Minnesota school district. If you reside out of Princeton Public Schools please start by filling out our Open Enroll form and returning it to Princeton Primary School.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The ACIE Newsletter, May 2007, Vol. 10, No. 3

Learn More About Immersion Programs