Spanish Schools for Kids in Encinitas, California
California is one of the states with the most Hispanic people. This means that it’s very important for California kids to learn Spanish, because they’re going to be around many Spanish speaking people, from neighbors to classmates. Not only that, Spanish will give your kids great life opportunities, like being admitted in great colleges, getting a better job, and making international friends.
But where is the best Spanish school for your kids? With so many options out there, you might be confused. To help you out, TruFluency kids has made this guide for Spanish schools in Encinitas, California. Which is a great city to live in, with 15.9% of Hispanic people. Take a look!
About This Resource
Before going deep into each school, we want to tell you what you’ll find in this guide for schools that offer Spanish classes.
First, we will show you schools from Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) (see map), because they’ve received different awards that backs them up as a great institution to study at. Four of their schools have received the National Blue Ribbon recognition. Other awards the EUSD has received are the California Distinguished Schools Award, Gold Ribbon Schools Award, the Green Schools Award, the CSBA Golden Bell Award, and more! Plus, they offer a dual language immersion program for Spanish learning.
Then, we will show you some great private Spanish preschools and after schools in Encinitas. Because we are aware that every family lives in different locations, and has different needs and budgets.
Throughout the article, you will notice that we focus on showing you Spanish immersion programs. That is because we believe that the best way to truly acquire a language is through immersion, which means that the class environment will be centered on the target language. Like in our TruFluency Kids’ Spanish lessons, where the teachers always speak Spanish, so students get truly fluent.
We love to hear from you! The information here is correct at the time of publication. If you see anything that’s been outdated, please contact us. So we can update the guide and give all parents accurate information for them to make the best decision for their kids. And if you have any school recommendations, don’t hesitate in telling us.
Encinitas USD Dual Language Immersion Program
Encinitas USD dual language immersion (DLI) program teaches kids all the core subjects in both Spanish and English. They aim for the students to become bilingual, biliterate and multicultural through what they describe as a “challenging and rigorous academic program”.
Half of the students are native English speakers, and the other half are native Spanish speakers. They have a 90/10 model, which means that Spanish is the main language of instruction. Kids will be taught 90% of the time in Spanish, and 10% of the time in English. Gradually, the English teaching time will increase. Until the classes are instructed 50% of the time in English, and 50% of the time in Spanish, from 4th to 6th grade.
Your kids have to turn five on or before September 1st to be able to enter the program, since they start in kindergarten. You all have to live in the boundaries of Encinitas USD.
To enroll your kids, you have to watch the orientation webinar on their website. Then, fill an application form. And if your kids are native Spanish speakers, they’ll have to take a Spanish language proficiency test. You can check more about the enrollment process on the DLI page. The acceptance process will be through a lottery.
Encinitas USD Schools for Spanish Learning
Capri Elementary School
Apart from the dual language program, Capri ES also has an enrichment program. The classes in this program are yoga and physical education; TRAC, which stands for teambuilding, regulation, acceptance, and community; science; art, where they create their own pieces, and garden, where they learn about STEM and NGSS in the outdoor labs.
There’s also a PTA for you to know everything that happens in the school, and maybe even volunteer.
It is Niche’s 818th best public elementary school in California. According to U.S. News & World Report, 67% of Capri’s student population is proficient in math, and 70% is proficient in reading. And they have a minority enrollment of 43%, of which 35.7% is Hispanic/Latino.
The school is rated 4.3/5 on GreatSchools and 4.9/5 on Google.
Paul Ecke Central
As mentioned above, their dual language immersion program offers a 90/10 immersion model. And they gradually increase the instruction time in English until it reaches a 50% instruction in Spanish and 50% instruction in English.
Just like every Encinitas USD school, Paul Ecke Central Elementary School also has an enrichment program. In it they teach Yoga classes, TRAC (teambuilding, regulation, acceptance, and community), physical education, science, art, and garden lessons.
They also have a parent-teacher association (PTA), so you can join or just learn the latest school news.
Niche ranks it as the 849th best 2022 public elementary school in California. According to U.S. News & World Report, 63% of Paul Ecke Central’s student population is proficient in math, and 69% is proficient in reading. They have a minority enrollment of 40.9%, of which 29% is Hispanic/Latino.
It’s rated 4.3/5 on Facebook, 4/5 on GreatSchools, and 5/5 on Google.
More Encinitas USD Schools
Ocean Knoll Elementary School
Ocean Knoll ES serves kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. It’s an International Baccalaureate World School that offers the Primary Years Programme. They want to give kids a rigorous education and make them respectful citizens that aim for a peaceful world.
Apart from the classic subjects, they also have weekly specialty classes, which are PE, nutrition and garden, music, yoga, and… Spanish! So even though they don’t have the dual language immersion program, your children will still be able to learn some Spanish.
They also have a Sage Garden Project pilot program, where kids will be able to plant seeds, grow them and cook the food that grows. They will also get a Junior Master Gardener certificate. There’s also a SOAR program, a Kinder Care club, Green Team, and basketball teams.
They also offer a Team Time, which they define as “an enrichment and intervention block” that helps students that want to achieve proficiency in reading. Team Time also has advanced offerings for students above the grade level.
In their enrichment program they have yoga, TRAC, physical education, Spanish, Garden, and Nutrition. Their TRAC program is a social-emotional learning program. Kids will learn how to improve their self-awareness, self-esteem, self-regulation, their relationships building skills, and more.
Ocean Knoll is the third best elementary school in Encinitas Union Elementary District, according to U.S. News & World Report. And it is the 692nd best California elementary school. 67% of their students are proficient in math and 71% are proficient in reading. They have a minority enrollment of 48.4%, of which 40.3% is Hispanic/Latino people.
It’s rated 4.4/5 on GreatSchools, 4.6/5 on Facebook, and 3.9/5 on Google.
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School
This is a S.T.R.E.A.M. school, which means that they have a rigorous curriculum focused on science, technology, research, engineering, art and mathematics. They want the students to develop creative and critical thinking skills, and become responsible citizens.
As part of their enrichment program, they teach yoga and P.E., TRAC (teambuilding, regulation, acceptance, and community), and science (STREAM). They also offer a Film Guild program for students of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. In it, students work in different cinematic areas, like scriptwriting and production, in order to create films. And there’s a SWPPP Internship Program. There, students try to implement ways of reducing pollution in their school and community in order to improve the quality of the water.
You can check their PTA to be up to date with everything about the school. And maybe become a member to support the Olivenhain Pioneer’s community.
Olivenhain Pioneer ES is the fifth best elementary school in Encinitas Union Elementary District, as stated by U.S. News & World Report. Out of their student population, 73% is proficient in math, and 70% is proficient in reading. Niche ranked it at number 655 on its 2022 Best public elementary schools in California list.
It’s rated 4/5 on GreatSchools and 3.4/5 on Google.
La Costa Heights Elementary School
La Costa Heights ES serves kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. It is a Leader In Me school, which means that they give their students skills to be good leaders. They are based on the seven habits of highly effective people: be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek first to understand then to be understood, and synergize. They believe this will help them build a supportive environment.
They have an enrichment program, where they offer science, music, art and PE. Every week, students from all levels rotate through all the enrichment classes, each lasts up to 35 minutes.
They also have a PTA, so you can read all that is happening with the school’s community.
La Costa Heights has many recognitions, like the 2020 California Civics Award of Excellence and the 2019 Leader in Me Lighthouse School. They were also named a California Gold Ribbon School in 2016, among other big recognitions and awards. It is the best elementary school in Encinitas Union Elementary District, as stated by U.S. News & World Report. And the 536th best California Elementary School. Niche named it the 549th best 2022 public elementary school in California. 78% of their student population is proficient in math, while 80% is proficient in reading. They have a minority enrollment of 30.2%, of which 15% is Hispanic/Latino, as also stated by U.S. News & World Report.
It’s rated 4.1/5 on GreatSchools, 5/5 on Facebook, and 3/5 on Google.
Private Schools, Preschool, and After-School Programs for Spanish Learning
Nuestra Escuelita Spanish Academy
Mi Casita has classes for both children and adults, and they have different programs: group classes, private classes/tutoring, Spanish summer camps, and mommy and me. As well as live-online classes.
Their adult classes last one hour, and are small sized, with a maximum of six students. They have different beginner, intermediate and advanced schedules. And they offer three different packages, depending on the number of sessions and other characteristics. They also have private group classes, for you to learn alongside your family and friends.
Their child group classes last 50 minutes, and have a maximum of seven students. have different schedules depending on the kids’ age. They have two different packages for you to choose your favorite one. They also have private group classes, so your kids can study with friends and family.
The private classes or tutoring are for all levels and ages. The classes are customized to the student’s needs. They can prepare you or your kids for a test if that’s what you wish.
Their Spanish summer camps’ goal is for kids to have fun while learning the language. They offer a Spanish immersive experience, where children will speak, play games, do things outdoors, go on field trips, and do more activities. They accept kids from 4 to 13 years old, and separate them in different groups. The camp groups are small, with a maximum of seven kids per instructor.
The Mommy and Me program is for toddlers and preschoolers to start getting immersed in the Spanish language. They do various activities, like singing or arts and crafts. The kids have to be accompanied by an adult.
They’re rated 4.3/5 on Facebook and 5/5 on Google.
Kiddie Academy of Chino Hills
Lingua Natal has many different programs: mommy and me, first steps, preschool & k, after school, tutoring, at school, and even adult classes.
Their mommy and me program, also called Hummingbirds, is a parent participation program. It has two levels: hummingbirds 1 for kids 14 to 18 months, and hummingbirds 2 for kids 18 to 24 months. They admit a maximum of six adults and six babies. They teach through interactive and stimulating activities, such as music, movement, and storytelling. The classes are completely in the target language.
The first steps program, also called doves, is a multilingual pre-primary program for kids ages 2 to 3. It is based on the Montessori model. They want kids to develop pitch, rhythm and melody, and do some self-discovery.
The preschool & k program is an immersive primary language program for kids from 3 to 6 years old. Within this program there are three different levels: swans (kids 3 to 4), nightingales (kids 4 to 5), and eagles. They teach a wide variety of subjects, such as practical life, sensory, language, math, culture, geography, and more.
The after school program is composed of eight levels, so students achieve proficiency in the language that they want to. Professors go from teaching new tones and sounds to teaching reading and writing and common subjects like science and history. It is a full immersion program, with small sized classes so every kid has more attention. It’s for children from kindergarten to 6th grade.
In the adult and teens program they learn through role play, games, reading and more. The tutoring program belongs here since they help high school students improve their Spanish, French or Mandarin.
They also have spring and summer camps for language learning. Kids learn through art, music, food, and culture.
They’re rated 5/5 on Facebook and on Google.
The Rhoades School
The Rhoades School is a preschool, lower school and middle school. Lower school is composed of transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades from 1st to 6th. Kids start learning Spanish in kindergarten, where they acquire vocabulary. In first grade, kids appreciate the Spanish culture and keep learning the language. In second grade, they start using their Spanish vocabulary with their classmates and friends. In third grade, they learn about the verb conjugations. In fourth grade they learn to describe. And in fifth grade, students take a multi-sensory Spanish curriculum.
In middle school, students have to take an elective and participate in a club. There are many club options, including one named Spanish Games.
It’s rated 3.8/5 on GreatSchools, 4.3/5 on Facebook, 4.6/5 on Niche, and 4.8/5 on Google.
TruFluency Kids Spanish Immersion Program
Finally, there is TruFluency Kids Spanish Immersion Program, where kids will have tons of fun while actually learning the language. From all of our years of experience, we know that kids have a lot of energy and learn better through interesting classes. That’s why we have interactive activities like reading stories and asking questions, word games, singing Spanish songs, and even cooking a recipe in Spanish.
And our tutors know how to keep the children engaged. In fact, they all had to pass an energy test in order to teach with us.
Our lessons are based on our very own Bellieu Method, created to achieve language fluency. So our native teachers will always speak in Spanish to allow kids to acquire the language and encourage them to speak it.
Oh, and don’t worry about the time zone. All of our classes are completely online, and we have sessions seven days a week, from 9am to 9 pm (CST). So even if you live abroad, or are traveling, your kids can take classes with us! And if you missed a class, let us know, and you can jump into another one. We know that life is unpredictable, so we wanted to make it as easy as possible for you.
Sign up for the next 4-week session, and soon you’ll hear your kids speaking Spanish. Maybe they’ll be the ones to teach you the language.