What do I need to know about High School Immersion?
What will immersion look like at high school for my child?
As the our immersion learners progress through our program, we are looking forward to new opportunities for these learners in their language learning!
We know that you may have questions about what immersion will look like for your child at high school. As this program grows and evolves at high school, our teachers are working to adapt to learners' needs and create new learning experiences for them that are authentic in language, culture and in tasks.
New Information on Immersion Completer Guidelines Now Available.
The following information will help to answer some questions and help you and your child be prepared for immersion at the high school level.
As the our immersion learners progress through our program, we are looking forward to new opportunities for these learners in their language learning!
We know that you may have questions about what immersion will look like for your child at high school. As this program grows and evolves at high school, our teachers are working to adapt to learners' needs and create new learning experiences for them that are authentic in language, culture and in tasks.
New Information on Immersion Completer Guidelines Now Available.
The following information will help to answer some questions and help you and your child be prepared for immersion at the high school level.
1. What courses will my child take in the language next year?
Immersion students will be grouped together for their immersion language courses at high school. They will have specialized (written for their needs), project-based curriculum that focuses on use of the language for real-world opportunities. They will also learn a lot more about literature and have a more intensive focus on language literacy in the higher level courses.
2. What opportunities will my child have in Lexington One to participate in one of Lexington’s Centers of Study, using his/her language skills?
Immersion students will be among our first groups of students who will be able to take advanced coursework and participate in virtual exchanges.
3. What new opportunities will my child have to use his/her language skills in new ways at high school?
In addition to projects that involve native speakers at a local and/or community level, we are in conversations with educational partners to create new study abroad experiences where students may be able to go on an exchange for a few weeks up to a year. We are also exploring the possibility of our students hosting students from other countries.
4. What level class will my child be assigned to next year?
When you went to your IGP meeting, your child was likely put into a general "bucket" (or holding area) for an appropriate language course. This will reserve a slot in his/her schedule until the end of the year.
At that time, the teachers will make recommendations for placement for all World Language students at high school. This will determine which course will appear in their schedule (based on their proficiency level). Immersion learners will be assigned to the same class, as their needs are very different. If we have some students who are outliers, meaning they have specific needs, we will be able to discuss options for them.
5. Will my child receive credits for work done at middle grades?
Middle school language learners in 6th - 8th grade are eligible to receive high school credits for Levels 1, 2 and 3.
6. Will my child receive “honors” credits at high school?
Students are eligible to receive honors credits at high school ONLY if they are at a level 3 or higher according to state requirements. The immersion program is not exempt from state requirements. Immersion students who are recommended for level 3 will receive honors credit for their specialized immersion language course.
On a side note: Some parents have asked about honors credits for levels 1 and 2. The only high school language courses that are eligible for honors credits at level 1 or level 2 are Portuguese and Russian, offered at Lexington High School as part of the former Center for World Languages and International Business. This is a special exception, granted by the SC State Department of Education, at LHS for levels 1 and 2 Russian and Portuguese only. The students in these courses have already earned 2 Carnegie Credits in their second language prior to taking Russian or Portuguese. Russian or Portuguese is their 3rd or 4th language learned. Please refer to our online course catalog for further information, especially if your child would like to add a third or fourth language like Portuguese or Russian.
7. Will my child be eligible to be part of the International Baccalaureate program?
Yes! Immersion students are IDEAL candidates for the IB program! Just as with the Center for World Languages and International Business, this district-wide program is housed at Lexington High School. For more information please contact Dr. Sherry Walters, Assistant Principal at Lexington High ([email protected]).
8. Will my child be eligible to receive AP language credit?
Lexington One currently offers AP in Chinese, French, and Spanish.
9. Will my child be able to get college credit for language coursework in high school?
We are exploring options for our rising language learners as they move forward, including International Baccalaureate and dual credit. Most dual credit courses/programs are not available for students before their junior or senior year.
Immersion students will be grouped together for their immersion language courses at high school. They will have specialized (written for their needs), project-based curriculum that focuses on use of the language for real-world opportunities. They will also learn a lot more about literature and have a more intensive focus on language literacy in the higher level courses.
2. What opportunities will my child have in Lexington One to participate in one of Lexington’s Centers of Study, using his/her language skills?
Immersion students will be among our first groups of students who will be able to take advanced coursework and participate in virtual exchanges.
3. What new opportunities will my child have to use his/her language skills in new ways at high school?
In addition to projects that involve native speakers at a local and/or community level, we are in conversations with educational partners to create new study abroad experiences where students may be able to go on an exchange for a few weeks up to a year. We are also exploring the possibility of our students hosting students from other countries.
4. What level class will my child be assigned to next year?
When you went to your IGP meeting, your child was likely put into a general "bucket" (or holding area) for an appropriate language course. This will reserve a slot in his/her schedule until the end of the year.
At that time, the teachers will make recommendations for placement for all World Language students at high school. This will determine which course will appear in their schedule (based on their proficiency level). Immersion learners will be assigned to the same class, as their needs are very different. If we have some students who are outliers, meaning they have specific needs, we will be able to discuss options for them.
5. Will my child receive credits for work done at middle grades?
Middle school language learners in 6th - 8th grade are eligible to receive high school credits for Levels 1, 2 and 3.
6. Will my child receive “honors” credits at high school?
Students are eligible to receive honors credits at high school ONLY if they are at a level 3 or higher according to state requirements. The immersion program is not exempt from state requirements. Immersion students who are recommended for level 3 will receive honors credit for their specialized immersion language course.
On a side note: Some parents have asked about honors credits for levels 1 and 2. The only high school language courses that are eligible for honors credits at level 1 or level 2 are Portuguese and Russian, offered at Lexington High School as part of the former Center for World Languages and International Business. This is a special exception, granted by the SC State Department of Education, at LHS for levels 1 and 2 Russian and Portuguese only. The students in these courses have already earned 2 Carnegie Credits in their second language prior to taking Russian or Portuguese. Russian or Portuguese is their 3rd or 4th language learned. Please refer to our online course catalog for further information, especially if your child would like to add a third or fourth language like Portuguese or Russian.
7. Will my child be eligible to be part of the International Baccalaureate program?
Yes! Immersion students are IDEAL candidates for the IB program! Just as with the Center for World Languages and International Business, this district-wide program is housed at Lexington High School. For more information please contact Dr. Sherry Walters, Assistant Principal at Lexington High ([email protected]).
8. Will my child be eligible to receive AP language credit?
Lexington One currently offers AP in Chinese, French, and Spanish.
9. Will my child be able to get college credit for language coursework in high school?
We are exploring options for our rising language learners as they move forward, including International Baccalaureate and dual credit. Most dual credit courses/programs are not available for students before their junior or senior year.
Carolina Springs Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend White Knoll High School.
Meadow Glen Middle School French immersion students will attend River Bluff High School.
Pleasant Hill Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend Lexington High School.
Gilbert Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend Gilbert High School.
Meadow Glen Middle School French immersion students will attend River Bluff High School.
Pleasant Hill Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend Lexington High School.
Gilbert Middle School Spanish immersion students will attend Gilbert High School.