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Our Language Immersion Programs

Front Entrance at Night at Kennedy Middle School

Students at Kennedy Middle School have the amazing opportunity to continue either Spanish or Mandarin Language Immersion Programs into their middle school years, further preparing them as leaders of tomorrow. 

Many Redwood City School District (RCSD) students look forward to continuing their language development journey that began at Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School or the district’s Mandarin Immersion Program housed at Orion Alternative. 

Mastering two or more languages has enormous benefits for our students, both native speakers of English and native speakers of the target language (Spanish or Mandarin) at a dual language immersion school. Research confirms biliteracy and bilingualism bolsters brain and cognitive functioning, and has many academic, economic, and social advantages. Students also gain cross-cultural competencies that will serve them through all areas of life. 

Students learn how to build relationships across cultures as they speak, listen to others in their native language, and learn better verbal and non-verbal cues all while increasing their cognitive abilities.

Stanford University researchers performing a longitudinal study following several cohorts of Spanish Immersion graduates into middle school and high school found that enrollment in the Dual Language Immersion Program (DLI) propels students faster toward English proficiency, supporting the reputation RCSD has earned for expertise in language acquisition.

Kennedy students can earn Biliteracy Attainment Recognition based on demonstrating specific proficiency criteria in English and one or more languages in addition to English. Program partnership with San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) makes RCSD and Kennedy Middle School a Seal of Biliteracy District and School.

Students who achieve this recognition are on a pathway to meet the requirements to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy, a gold seal on a student’s high school diploma or transcript, confirming a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing one or more languages in addition to English.