Spanish Schools for Kids in Richardson, Texas
If you want your kids to learn the Spanish language, Richardson is a great place to live in. It’s been estimated that 17.3% of their population is Hispanic/Latino and Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in Richardson. A bilingual education will bring many opportunities both in and outside of Texas for your children.
We know that it’s difficult to choose one Spanish school among the many options that there are in the area. Especially considering that every family has different needs and budgets. That’s why we are here, to help you! This is TruFluency’s guide to the best schools in Richardson, Texas for a Spanish education.
About This Resource
Before we completely dive in, we want to tell you what you’ll find in this guide for Spanish classes.
First, we will show you some of the best Spanish schools from the Richardson Independent Schools District (RISD) (see map). The district is the 5th most diverse school district in Texas, and the 132nd best school district in Texas, according to Niche. And, most importantly, it has a dual language pathway.
Then, we will show you some private schools, preschools, and after-schools with Spanish classes. We know that every family has different needs, routines, and goals. So no matter if you want a Spanish private daycare or just a summer camp, we’ll show those options.
You’ll notice that some of the schools offer Spanish immersion classes. That is because we believe that immersion is the best way to achieve Spanish fluency. This method consists in learning in a full Spanish environment; it’s not just about taking a couple of language classes.
We want to hear your comments! If you see anything that’s been outdated, contact us. So we can update the guide, and give the best information possible to all parents out there. And if you have any Spanish academy recommendations, let us know. Every opinion counts in making the best bilingual school guide for parents that want to raise bilingual and bicultural children.
Richardson ISD Dual Language Program
Richardson ISD’s goal with its dual language program is to teach students to be bilingual and biliterate.
They offer a one-way dual language program, which was just implemented in 2020. The students enrolled in this program speak Spanish at home. The goal of this program is to make them bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural in English and Spanish. With this goal in mind, the classes are instructed in both languages.
In order to be considered for this program, children must be in elementary school grade level Pre-K, K, 1st, or 2nd grade, and their primary language is Spanish. Or they need to be considered ESL learners by a language proficiency test that they took when they were enrolled in the school.
There are more than 10 Richardson ISD campuses that offer this program.
They will be offering a two-way dual language immersion program in the 2023-2024 school year. This program will be composed of both native Spanish speakers and native English speakers with class instruction in Spanish and English.
This is why it is considered an immersion program: because all classes are taken in both languages, it’s not about one language class. Also, students will be able to interact with classmates that have another language as their first language.
Students that have English as their first language will take literacy classes in Spanish in the early grade levels.
When considering entering your child into the dual language program, take into consideration that this program requires commitment for a minimum of two years.
In order to be considered for this program, your kids must begin as kindergartners. Students whose first language is Spanish, students considered English Learners, and students whose first language is English are also eligible. Students that live nearer to the two-way dual language campuses will be given priority in the acceptance process.
The one-way program just started in 2020, and the two-way program will start in 2023. They are gradually implementing rollout of the program into additional grades as the program progresses.
Visit the frequently asked questions page if you have any doubts.
Richardson ISD Dual Language Schools
O'Henry Elementary School
According to U.S. News & World Report, O’Henry Elementary is the 16th best Richardson ISD elementary school. 56% of their student population is proficient in Math, and 40% is proficient in reading. It is a very diverse school with a minority enrollment of 92.4%, of which 52.7% is Hispanic/Latino. That means that your kids can learn Spanish by playing with their international friends; that is a form of language immersion.
It is ranked number 352 on Niche’s Standout Elementary Schools in Texas. It has 4.8 stars on GreatSchools, and 4.1 stars on Google.
Mark Twain Elementary School
According to U.S. News & World Report, Mark Twain Elementary is the 18th best Richardson ISD elementary school, with 48% of its students proficient in math and 40% proficient in reading. It has a minority enrollment of 92.0%, of which 76.1% are Hispanic/Latino students. This is a great opportunity for your kids to practice their Spanish while talking to their international friends and classmates.
It’s the 568th best public elementary school in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area, according to Niche. It has 5 stars on Facebook, 3.9 stars on GreatSchools, and 4.4 stars on Google.
Northlake Elementary School
Northlake Elementary school teaches kids from Pre-K to sixth grade. This school is the 21st best Richardson ISD elementary school, according to U.S. News & World Report. 50% of their student population is proficient in math, and 37% is proficient in reading. They have a minority enrollment of 87.2%, of which 31.0% is Hispanic/Latino population, as also stated by U.S. News & World Report.
It is the 824th most diverse public elementary school in Texas, according to Niche. Also according to Niche, Northlake Elementary is the 596th best public elementary school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
It has 4.3 stars on GreatSchools and 4.6 stars on Google. Here’s a review from a Google user: “My child has been attending this school since kindergarten and we love it. It’s the reason I won’t leave the neighborhood. The teachers and staff are awesome.”
Richardson Heights Elementary School
Richardson Heights Elementary school teaches kids from Pre-K to sixth grade. It is the 26th best Richardson ISD elementary school. At Richardson Heights Elementary 45% of their students are proficient in math and 40% are proficient in reading. They have a minority enrollment of 66.8%, of which 50.6% are Hispanic/Latino students. All of this according to U.S News & World Report.
Niche ranked it at number 677 in their 2022 Most Diverse Public Elementary Schools in Texas list. It’s also the 544th best public elementary school in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.
It has 4.3 stars on GreatSchools, 5 stars on Niche, and 3.9 stars on Google.
More Outstanding Richardson ISD Schools
Richardson ISD has so many academic options that it’s hard to choose one. Even though only some of the Richardson ISD schools offer a dual language program, they have other great schools where your kids will still receive an excellent education.
Spring Creek Elementary School
Spring Creek Elementary school teaches kids from prekindergarten to sixth grade. It is the second-best Richardson ISD elementary school. This is no surprise due to the fact that 82% of their student population is proficient in math, and 77% is proficient in reading. It also reached the 105th position in the Best Texas Elementary Schools list. All of this is reported by the U.S. News & World Report.
Also according to U.S. News & World Report, the minority enrollment of Spring Creek ES is 40.3%. And 25.3% are Hispanic/Latino students. So, even though they don’t have a dual language program and the Hispanic/Latino diversity is not incredibly high, 25.3% is still a good number of students that speak Spanish. That means, your kid could still learn Spanish by making some foreign friends.
The school is the 303 best public elementary school in Texas, according to Niche. And it ranked at number 408 in Niche’s 2022 Elementary Schools with the Best Teachers in Texas list.
It has 4.3 stars on GreatSchools, 5 stars on Niche, and 5 stars on Google.
MST Elementary School
Math / Science / Technology Magnet Elementary School is, as the name says, a magnet school. This means that they have special programs with very high academic level expectations. Magnet schools also attract and accept students from outside their school zone boundaries. After all, they have specialized programs that other schools don’t have.
The Richardson magnet schools have specific goals, some of which are to raise the performance of the schools and to provide stronger academic programs and curricula.
The MST Magnet Elementary School is the seventh best Richardson ISD elementary school. It’s also the 196th best Texas elementary school. And 80% of their students are proficient in math, and 66% are proficient in reading. All of this according to U.S. News & World Report.
Also stated by U.S. News & World Report, MST Magnet has a minority enrollment of 80.1%, of which 22.7% are Hispanic/Latino students. Maybe this is why it’s the 41st most diverse public elementary school in Texas, according to Niche. It also ranked number 41 in the 2022 Niche Standout Elementary Schools in Texas.
It has 4.8 stars on GreatSchools, 4.5 stars on Niche, and 5 stars on Google.
Private Schools, Preschool, and After-School Programs for Spanish Learning
There are many other Spanish school options beyond Richardson ISD. And since every family and kid has different needs and goals, we put together a list of some great private Spanish schools. All you have to do is choose the one that fits you and your children best.
Bilingual Whiz Kidz Language Immersion Preschool
Bilingual Whiz Kidz is a Spanish and Chinese preschool. They offer infant, toddler, pre-k, afterschool, mommy and me, and summer camp programs. They want to create a caring and friendly environment with a child-led approach to learning.
Their Spanish-Chinese Immersion Program aims to give kids a “strong academic foundation, cultural appreciation, and bilingual skillsets, all by age five”. They want their students to be bilingual, biliterate, and culturally empathetic.
In the Spanish-Chinese program, kids will learn through their second language. They’ll make sure that students are constantly hearing Spanish and/or Chinese, so they’ll gradually acquire those languages. Kids will study math, literacy, science, and social studies.
They chose to teach Spanish because it is widely spoken throughout the United States. This way the kids will be able to practice in their daily life, with Spanish speaking people. And they chose to teach Mandarin Chinese because it is the most spoken language around the world. This will open many doors for the kids. Bilingual Whiz Kidz want their students to be able to communicate in the three most spoken languages in the world.
The language instruction starts from the infant program. There, they teach kids the same way they are learning their native language: by interacting with the tutors and their classmates. In their toddler program, they start with fun activities, like music, story reading, and games. So, kids will acquire the language while having fun. As children grow up, they start learning classic academic subjects without leaving behind the fun.
Their afterschool, mommy and me, and summer camp programs also offer Spanish immersion classes.
The school has 5 stars on Facebook and 5 stars on Google.
Flamingo Island Preschool
Flamingo Island Preschool believes that a successful learning experience involves structure, academics, and playing. They look for high academic achievement within a nurturing environment. They have infants, toddlers, and pre-k programs.
At this preschool, kids start learning Spanish from the infants & toddlers’ program. They have “global languages” lessons, where they learn Spanish and English. This is until the young pre-k grade level when the global languages change to Spanish and French.
Beyond the language classes, they have other academic subjects, such as math, science, and reading and writing. And they also take some enrichment classes like yoga and piano.
The school has 4.9 stars on Google.
Campbell Rd KinderCare
Campbell Rd KinderCare creates a safe environment where kids develop socially and academically. They have infant, toddler, preschool, prekindergarten, before and after school, and school break programs. At the pre-K level, kids will learn Spanish.
There’s also a Learning Adventures Enrichment Program, that consists of other programs to learn different things. These programs include Music Explorers, Phonics Adventures, STEM Innovators program, and of course, a Spanish Adventures program.
The Spanish Adventures program teaches Spanish vocabulary and conversation skills through fun activities, like music, literature, and games. The lessons are about colors, numbers, animals, and other basic and important topics. Kids also learn how to speak in everyday situations.
It has 4.3 stars on Google.
TruFluency Kids Spanish Immersion Program
Kids are full of energy and curiosity, so the best way for them to learn a new language is while having fun. That’s what TruFluency Kids’ Spanish Immersion Program aims to do.
The environment is kind and the classes are very dynamic. We have the kids singing Spanish songs, making food, playing word games, and speaking Spanish phrases to achieve fluency.
We don’t teach the regular way because we don’t want your kids to memorize a couple of rules, and then forget them. We want them to become truly fluent in Spanish; understand it, and be able to communicate in Spanish. The process is the same as when they first learn their native language: by being immersed in it.
We also think about our parents. Since we know that every family has different schedules and needs, all of our classes are online and with flexible schedules. So, if you missed a class, you can take another one to make it up. Plus, our classes are seven days a week from 9 am-9 pm (CST). So kids all around the world can study with us!
Oh, and our students will receive two subscriptions to online Spanish learning videos for one year! That way they can keep practicing their Spanish.
You can check our testimonials and our blog to read more about how we work. If you have any questions, send us a message. You’ll see that TruFluency Kids is as fun as it sounds!
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!