Immersion Programs in Saint Paul Public Schools

The goal of the Dual Language/Immersion Programs is for students to become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural. The first language immersion program at SPPS began in:

• 1986 – Adams Spanish Immersion, followed by
• 1996 – French Immersion;
• 2002 – Hmong Dual Language;
• 2011 – Chinese Mandarin Immersion
• 2016 – German Immersion- secondary level

These programs take advantage of the natural talent of young children to learn languages, benefitting the student in ways beyond the gift of acquiring a second or third language. Any student may enroll in these programs. However, in one-way programs, students must have grade-level language proficiency to enter after second grade.

One-way immersion sites - elementary

One-way immersion programs were established for students proficient in English whose families wanted them to learn another language.

• Adams Spanish Immersion (Spanish)
• Jié Míng Mandarin Academy (杰明) (Mandarin)
• L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion (French)

Two-way or dual language sites - elementary:

Two-way dual language programs serve students of both English learner & partner language groups in the same classroom. Both languages are used for academic instruction. 

• Phalen Lake Hmong Studies (Hmong)
• Riverview West Side School of Excellence (Spanish)
• Wellstone Elementary (Spanish)