Immersion versus Non-Immersion elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Can those who have kids are in immersion schools in Fairfax County please advise which school they chose and if they're happy with their choice? Are your kids making strides on the academics side at a similar rate to non-immersion schools or is there a price to pay in the beginning as the focus would be on language learning? I'm really interested in sending my kids to an immersion school because I believe it will be such a gift for them to be bilingual. However, I'm a bit hesitant because I don't know if that decision could affect their academics performance too. I'd really like to hear from parents whose kids are already in immersion programs, because my worry could be completely unfounded. Please advise!

[Anonymous]

not in fairfax, but a family member has her children in an immersion program in TX. she sent me some information a while back - immersion students test the same or above their grade level peers on achievement tests by the first round of state level testing in 3rd grade. she did say that her kids had some frustration with english spelling, but that was only at the beginning. 2 of her 3 children are in the program and doing quite well - the 3rd will likely start soon.

[Anonymous]

I'd look at it this way: There are always ways to supplement various academic subjects if necessary, but you cannot just go out and supplement later to help your child become bilingual. Immersion education teaches kids language in a very different way than most people are accustomed to learning foreign languages -- the kids learn by doing and by content education, rather than taking a specific class to "teach" them the language. We're in Arlington and DS is in the immersion program there -- it's been a great experience and we know it would be very difficult to acquire that same ability in a second language later (unless he turns out to have a gift for learning languages). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I don't know the answer but I know several kids in the French and Japanese immersion programs in Fairfax and the parents all seem to love the programs.

[Anonymous]

We are in an immersion program in FCPS and the kids have to be at or above grade level in order to participate in the immersion program at our school. This means that the class moves at a slightly faster pace than the general ed classes, but as you likely know, a lot of it depends on the teacher. I have 3 AAP eligible kids, and we chose to keep all 3 at their immersion school instead of sending them to the center because their academic needs are being met at the immersion school. You can stick your head in and talk to the staff and administrators before school gets out, and I'd really suggest doing so and asking them directly these questions.

[Anonymous]

10:52, may I ask which school your three kids attend in FCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd look at it this way: There are always ways to supplement various academic subjects if necessary, but you cannot just go out and supplement later to help your child become bilingual. Immersion education teaches kids language in a very different way than most people are accustomed to learning foreign languages -- the kids learn by doing and by content education, rather than taking a specific class to "teach" them the language. We're in Arlington and DS is in the immersion program there -- it's been a great experience and we know it would be very difficult to acquire that same ability in a second language later (unless he turns out to have a gift for learning languages). Good luck!

We're in a FCPS immersion program and feel the same way. Two of my three kids also tested into the G&T program and we chose to keep them in the immersion program for the reasons the PP stated. While the G&T program may have advanced them in some areas, they are in no way behind and if they do need assistance later, we'll either speak to the school or get a tutor. But, we're also of the opinion that no matter what school they go to, they would have abundant educational opportunities and going to an 'average' high school isn't going to ruin their lives.