Students in the elementary Spanish dual language immersion program spend 90% of their day learning in Spanish and 10% learning in English starting in transitional kindergarten (available at Muir Elementary only) and kindergarten. The percentage of English increases annually until 50% of the day is taught in Spanish and 50% in English by 5th grade. Students learn to speak, read, and write in Spanish through content, not as a separate course of study. 

• Spanish dual immersion preschool is offered at Pacific Avenue Education Center. For more information about our preschool programs, contact GUSD Child Development and Child Care at 818-247-0775.
• Elementary Spanish dual immersion is offered at Muir Elementary beginning in transitional kindergarten, and at Edison and Franklin Elementary beginning in kindergarten.
• Middle school Spanish dual immersion is offered as an elective at Roosevelt and Toll Middle Schools.
• High school Spanish world language is offered as an elective at every GUSD high school.

For more information, contact Dr. Nancy Hong, Director, Foreign Language Academies of Glendale and Magnet Programs.

Spanish Dual Language Immersion Pathways

Elementary Dual Language Immersion Programs 

90:10 Program Model – French, German, Italian, Spanish

Students participate in a 90:10 program model when the target language of instruction uses a Latin-based alphabet (French, German, Italian, and Spanish). Students initially receive instruction in the target language for 90% of the day and in English for 10% of the day, starting in kindergarten. The percentage of English increases annually until 50% of the day is taught in the target language and 50% in English by 5th grade.

50:50 Program Model – Armenian, Japanese, Korean

Students participate in a 50:50 program model when the target language of instruction uses an alphabet distinct from the Latin-based English alphabet (Armenian, Japanese, and Korean). Students receive instruction in the target language for 50% of the day and in English for 50% of the day throughout elementary school.

Middle School Dual Language Immersion Programs

Students wishing to continue in the dual language immersion program for middle school take a language arts class in their target language as an elective. Some middle school programs offer a second core-content subject, such as history/social studies or science, in the target language. Visit the page for each language to learn more about the specific pathways available.

High School World Language Programs 

All languages are available as world language course offerings at the high school level. Students may continue taking advanced language courses as their elective and most languages offer a capstone exam for potential college credit. Students are also eligible to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy in their target language.