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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My child has been in a Spanish dual language program since pre k but now as we prepare for middle school it doesn’t seem like that many options. The only school I really hear given as best choice is DCI however it is so far. Is there any talks of them getting a bus from eastern market like other schools? What is everyone take on the few other dual language middle schools? I would hate to abandon language immersion. [/quote]

[b]DCI is the only charter/public school in the city with serious language programming[/b] and an IB diploma in high school.

But you won’t get in the Spanish track since you are not in a feeder.

The only other serious option is private which is WIS.[/quote]

Oyster is a much better middle school language option. DCI middle is language light in comparison. If you are in 3rd-4th you can probably get a spot at a DCI feeder since most people don’t want to start DL in upper elementary. You can also try for Oyster if your kid can pass the proficiency test. The Jefferson program seems promising and if you live on the hill I would consider it. I don’t think DCI is worth the commute (I have kids there).[/quote]

I have a kid at DCI middle.  No the language model is not light.  I am assuming your kid is in the lower language level tracks then. If so, then yes limited course options.  They are not going to put a kid in many classes in the language if they are not even proficient yet.

My kid is in the highest track and so has lots of classes in the language.  DCI has 6, yes six, levels of language classes and they test the kids every year with STAMP to know where they are and to place them.  Kids in the highest track not only has language classes but also other subject like social studies actually taught in the language.  Electives can also be in the language if you are in the higher track. Also exchange programs late middle are optiins if you are in the higher track.  Lots of kids with native speaking families in this track also.  Also if you are in the highest track, you can take a 2nd language starting as early as 7th and work towards an IB bilingual diploma.

I can’t comment on Oyster since I don’t have a kid there, but since you seem to know, you can let us know how extensive is the offerings in languages.and courses are there.

Also I agree with another poster that doubtful the Jefferson program will be successful when you have so little students coming in with proficiency in the language.  Also majority of kids are not even on grade level in ELA, so I don’t see how they will be able to master a 2nd language.[/quote]

Hey DCI booster. I am PP and we are native Spanish speakers and have been at DCI a lot longer than you. So, we are especially critical of the language classes. Yes. DCI has a lot of options but the kids in those higher classes aren’t really as proficient as I would expect. Most of the DCI feeders don’t have very high percentages of native Spanish speakers except possibly DCB which doesn’t even do full immersion in prek so the English speaking kids aren’t really challenged to learn Spanish. The advanced kids aren’t really that advanced. Adams has a large cohort of native speakers and Spanish is spoken outside of academic settings.  All of the kids at Adams are highly proficient in Spanish. If OP wants a strong Spanish program Adams is the way to go if they can swing it. And I definitely wouldn’t travel from the hill to DCI. I would shoot for Stuart Hobson and supplement with language classes. 
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