Spanish Immersion Programs for Kids in Houston, Texas
Houston is a really diverse city, with people from all over the world. It is the 4th largest city in the USA by population and has more than 145 spoken languages. Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in Houston. That’s why investing in bilingual education for your kids is a great idea. It will help them grow personally and professionally.
But, since Houston offers a wide variety of schools, it might be hard for you to choose the best one. No worries! Here at Trufluency Kids, we know that every family and kid has different needs, so we gathered the best Spanish schools in Houston for you to choose from. Take a look!
About This Resource
In this guide, we will mostly present you with schools that offer Spanish Immersion programs. That’s the best way of learning a new language. Immersion classes are about speaking and learning in the target language, that’s why they are so effective. With these schools, your kids will not only learn the academic subjects but also become truly fluent in Spanish.
We will show you schools from Houston Independent School District (HISD) (see map) because it’s the largest public school system in Texas; so, it offers a great education. HISD has a Multilingual Programs Department with a lot of language courses, including a Dual Language program. Houston ISD has won the Broad Prize for Urban Education twice (in 2002 and 2013), an award for the best performance of an American urban school district. We will also show you some great private schools, preschools, and after-school programs.
The information in this guide is accurate at the time of publication. Please let us know if you see anything outdated, so we can provide the best information possible to all parents out there. And if you wish to share your experience with any Spanish school, do it. Your opinion always counts!
Houston ISD Dual-Language Program
Houston ISD Dual Language program promotes additive bilingualism. This means that in their classes they don’t want the student to forget their first language. They want them to learn another one, while still improving in their mother tongue. They describe their program as “an additive bilingual program for Spanish-speaking students and a foreign language immersion program for English-speaking students.”
They have Two-Way classrooms, which means that both native Spanish speakers and native English speakers take classes together. This way they all will become fluent in both languages. Once they arrive at the secondary level, the students start taking from two to three classes in Spanish.
On some campuses, the teaching time in Spanish for the Dual Language program is up to 80%. Some others have a 50-50 model, in which they teach English and Spanish for an equal amount of time. You can check the language models on each campus.
The Dual Language program goes from kindergarten to fifth grade. Depending on the school, they might offer the program for Pre-K students.
They also offer Immersion Dual Language programs for Mandarin, Chinese, French and Arabic languages.
If you want to enroll your children in Houston ISD, you can choose to enroll them in your zoned school or apply to a certain campus that has the program of your preference. You can look for Houston ISD’s schools with this school search tool. And you can check more information and apply.
Highlighted Houston ISD Schools for Spanish Learning
All Houston ISD schools are great, but here are the ones that have a dual language program, and that we are particularly happy about.
Condit Elementary School
Condit Elementary Dual Language program’s main goal is to make all students bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish. From Kindergarten to second grade, they teach language arts and content subjects in Spanish, and a daily English as a Second Language class. Little by little, they add more English instruction into the classes. So that by third grade students are taught in a 50-50 model. They also have after-school programs with many different activities, including Spanish classes.
Condit Elementary is the 11th best elementary school in Houston ISD, according to U.S. News & World Report. Also, students from Condit ES are 71% proficient in reading, and 72% proficient in math.
DeAnda Elementary School
DeAnda Elementary’s Dual Language program goes from PK to 4th grade. Their goal is to educate students to be bilingual and biliterate in both English and Spanish. That’s why they have 50-50 model and two-way classrooms. They also want the students to gain cognitive abilities and develop their cross-cultural awareness.
DeAnda Elementary school is Houston ISD’s 13th best elementary school and Texas’ 342 best elementary school, according to U.S. News & World Report. It ranks 10th in Niche’s list of Standout Elementary Schools in the Houston Area and 62 in Niche’s Standout Elementary Schools in Texas list. It’s rated 3.7/5 on Google and 4.6/5 on Facebook.
Mata Montessori School
Mark Twain Elementary School is an International Spanish Academy (ISA). A program by the Spanish Ministry of Education that promotes Spanish and English Dual Language curriculum, in order to make students experts in both languages and cultures.
The Mark Twain ES Dual Language program has two groups, one for English dominant students and for Spanish dominant students. After you apply for the program, the student might go through an oral language exam to assign him a group. The acceptance process is by lottery. To apply you’ll have to submit an application on their website and certain documentation. If Mark Twain ES isn’t your zoned school, you can still apply for it; in addition to the application, you’ll have to submit the Dual Language School Choice application.
It is Houston ISD’s 15th best school, and Texas’ 415 best elementary school, as claimed by U.S. News & World Report. Their students are 72% proficient in math, and 70% proficient in reading. According to Niche, it’s Texas’ 556 most diverse public elementary school. Here’s a review from Niche: “A very good school. We like the IB program & the teachers. We are an expat family so it was very important to attend a school that has a nice mix of nationalities and cultures, Twain is very cosmopolitan …”.
It’s rated 3.9/5 on Google and 4.5/5 on Niche.
More Excellent Houston ISD Schools
River Oaks Elementary School
River Oaks Elementary School is a Vanguard Magnet School, meaning that they have a program for talented and gifted children. According to their website, around 80% of their students are gifted and talented. They teach through an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for children ages 3 to 12. This program has a transdisciplinary philosophy. They want the students to develop academic and real-world skills and knowledge. The program aims for any kid to grow into an “internationally-minded student”.
Even though they don’t have a dual language program, they do offer Spanish as a second language instruction. The kids take Spanish classes twice a week. And students from fourth and fifth grade can take “Spanish around the world” as an elective class. Plus, their library has many Spanish books. There’s no exception for children to have a great Spanish experience.
River Oaks Elementary is Houston ISD’s second-best elementary school and Texas’ 47 best elementary school, according to U.S. News & World Report. It is rated 4.1/5 on Great Schools and 5/5 on Google.
Carnegie Vanguard High School
Carnegie Vanguard High School is the only Houston ISD high school for gifted and talented students. They have a very high academic level. They offer HISD Advanced and Advanced Placement courses for different subjects, such as English and math. They also have Honors elective classes for core subjects.
Carnegie Vanguard HS has Spanish and French classes, and a Latin Dance Club. Plus, it’s a diverse school, with 31.5% Latinos or Hispanic students. This means that even though they don’t have an immersion program, your kids still will be able to have a multicultural experience.
It’s Houston ISD’s best high school and Texas’ 5th best high school, as claimed by U.S. News & World Report. According to Niche, 99% of their students are proficient in reading, and 90% are proficient in math.
Barbara Bush Elementary
Barbara Bush Elementary School uses the linked learning educational approach, which consists of combining normal studying with real-world experience. This can include field trips to universities, courses about the careers they’re interested in, or internships and apprenticeships. This prepares students for college and their future careers. The students can choose to study a certain pathway (a career they’re interested in).
It is a diverse school because many of its students speak other languages at home, including Spanish. That’s why they have English Language Learning teachers, so they help their foreign students.
It’s rated 4.3/5 on Niche and 4.5/5 on Google. Here’s a review from a Niche user: “I actually attended this school in 4th and 5th grade having just moved here from France and it was just great. Very easy to make friends, a lot of sports and great teachers. I would highly recommend that your child attends Barbara Bush Elementary school.”
Private, Preschool, & After-School Programs for Spanish Learning
Beyond Dallas ISD’s dual language program, there are also many other schools and programs in the city that can help your kids learn Spanish. For example, if you have very young children, you may be interested in a bilingual preschool or nursery school. Or perhaps you want your kids to be in a Spanish after-school or summer program where they can build on the Spanish they are learning in school. Or you may simply prefer a private school environment that offers Spanish-language immersion. You can find all of these options in Dallas, sometimes even at the same location. Let’s take a look at some of Dallas’ private schools and programs that have an excellent reputation for Spanish-language instruction.
Spanish School 4Kids
Spanish School 4Kids is a Spanish Immersion Preschool. They believe that by learning Spanish, kids will have a higher rate of success in an ever-growing multicultural nation.
They have different rooms where the kids will explore new ways of learning. For example: in the Reading Room kids will learn phonemes, storytelling and reading out loud in Spanish; or the Stars’ Room, where they’ll learn socializing through dancing, singing, and other activities.
They also have a Bilingual Daycare, Spanish Immersion Pre-Kinder, and a Spanish Immersion Summer Camp.
De Colores! Spanish Immersion Preschool
They have a wide education offer with Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten Spanish Immersion Programs. De Colores! Spanish Immersion Preschool not only immerses the kids in the Spanish language but also helps them appreciate other cultures. They teach through creative activities, like music and games.
Their curriculum targets six different learning areas that go from conversation to Latin American culture and sciences. Although it’d be good if the kids started from the toddler program it’s not necessary. Students can join later and still have a successful Spanish experience.
They also have a Summer Camp Spanish Immersion Program.
It’s rated 5/5 on Facebook and 5/5 on Google. Here’s a review from a Google user: “Love love them. They are family oriented and my daughters Spanish has improved significantly since being in this school. She loves her Maestra Patty. Amazing !!”
Alianza Eco International School
Alianza Eco International School is a Spanish Immersion Preschool. They educate through two methods: the Total Physical Responds (TPR) method, which uses songs, games and physical activity to teach; and the Natural Approach, which teaches the new language the same way the kids learn their first one.
They also have a Spanish after-school program with different tasks and projects, like improving the students’ conversation abilities, developing writing skills, and a book club. They also offer Spanish private classes.
If you look for some extra fun, you’ll like to hear that they have Spanish immersion summer camps for 2 to 12 years old. And, because it’s never too late to learn something new, they also have adult Spanish classes.
They’re rated 5/5 on Facebook.
TruFluency Kids Online Spanish Immersion Program
If you’re looking for a fun environment that will teach your kids through creative activities, TruFluency Kids Spanish Immersion Program is for you. Our goal is to make your children fluent in Spanish.
We know that kids need different ways to stay engaged, so we have music sessions, storytelling, and crafts activities. Also, all of our teachers had to pass an energy test to make sure their classes would be cheerful. Plus, they’re native Spanish speakers. Your kids will learn from the very best.
All of our classes are online with flexible schedules (7 days a week / 9am-9pm CST). So even if you don’t live in Houston, you can take classes with us. We know you are a busy parent, so if your kid misses a class, you can reschedule. Yes, it’s that easy!
Check out our testimonials and Google reviews, and bring your kids to their new favorite Spanish classes!
Try a Class!
Ready for the next step in helping your child learn Spanish in a natural and conversation-based atmosphere? Join a small online LIVE session at TruFluency Kids Spanish today!