ACPS Dual Language Program & John Adams Elementary

[Anonymous]

Hello, looking for any feedback families may have on ACPS’s dual language program (Spanish/English) and, specifically, John Adams Elementary. We have a rising 1st grader that has gone to a bilingual school for pre-K and K and we would like to keep Spanish education as a second language going. We are zoned for Tucker, but would apply for a transfer request.

Pre-covid, what are people’s experiences? How is the quality of the school overall? Is the dual language program worth the hassle of a longer commute? Any other drawbacks? Are children that come from single-language households able to retain a 2nd language?

[Anonymous]

These dual language ACPS schools tend to be more ESL facilities than anything else. You’ll find most of the curriculum targeted at teaching Spanish speaking kids English rather than English speaking kids Spanish. Depending upon what you are looking for, this may or may not work for you.

[Anonymous]

To the PP, is this your actual experience? Or are you making assumptions. I do not have first hand experience, but I am zoned for John Adams I know many kids (nonESL) that have thrived in the program. It is well regarded in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These dual language ACPS schools tend to be more ESL facilities than anything else. You’ll find most of the curriculum targeted at teaching Spanish speaking kids English rather than English speaking kids Spanish. Depending upon what you are looking for, this may or may not work for you.

Do you go to the school? If not, please GTOH.

Op, we go to MVCS and have been happy there. My child is special needs and doesn’t speak Spanish in the 3rd grade but he understands it pretty well by this point (he also had exposure beforehand). Half of the curriculum is in Spanish and preCOVID the teachers didn’t break Spanish for any reason except emergency. Many/most of the Spanish teachers at our school speak Spanish as a first language. We’ve had some of the John Adams teachers at Summer Language Academy and they are wonderful teachers. Not JA is not a full dual language school like MVCS so you may consider that. Lots of events with PTA at MVCS center around the dual language experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, is this your actual experience? Or are you making assumptions. I do not have first hand experience, but I am zoned for John Adams I know many kids (nonESL) that have thrived in the program. It is well regarded in my neighborhood.

Not the PP, but I wouldn't say kids thrive or it is well regarded. It is basically for the white parents who are zoned for that school so they don't transfer their kids out of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, is this your actual experience? Or are you making assumptions. I do not have first hand experience, but I am zoned for John Adams I know many kids (nonESL) that have thrived in the program. It is well regarded in my neighborhood.

Not the PP, but I wouldn't say kids thrive or it is well regarded. It is basically for the white parents who are zoned for that school so they don't transfer their kids out of the school.

Agree. The primary focus at the school is to educate Spanish speakers, but non-native speakers can succeed if their parents are supportive. ACPS has done a poor job educating a large portion of the LatinX community, these school redesignations are intended to address those shortcomings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the PP, is this your actual experience? Or are you making assumptions. I do not have first hand experience, but I am zoned for John Adams I know many kids (nonESL) that have thrived in the program. It is well regarded in my neighborhood.

Not the PP, but I wouldn't say kids thrive or it is well regarded. It is basically for the white parents who are zoned for that school so they don't transfer their kids out of the school.

In which programs do kids thrive? Which do you think are well regarded? The dual language schools with rich Spanish speakers and rich white students? Oyster Adams (pretty much all high SES kids)? Key (same)?

OP, I know 2 families at JA in the dual language program and (preCovid) comment on the caring teachers and the growth of their children in English and in Spanish.

[Anonymous]

NP. How much supplementation is necessary for families at JA and MCVS?

[Anonymous]

To the OP, JA tends to be very full. You may want to talk to them and see if you opt in if you would be able to go to JA or to MVCS. The City would bus, but obviously way less convenient.