Anaheim– Just in time for back to school on August 10, 2023, Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD), the largest elementary school district in the state of California, grows its Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) program this school year with the introduction of Mandarin.
“We cannot wait to welcome our amazing 14,000 students back at our 24 campuses,” said Dr. Christopher Downing, superintendent of AESD. “We’re especially excited to welcome our new schoolchildren who will be learning Mandarin starting this year.”
AESD, recently voted by readers of Parenting Orange County as Best North Orange County School District, will start Mandarin with transitional kindergarten and will grow the program annually. Even though more than 85 percent of students in the District are Latinos, 63 percent of families voted for Mandarin to be added to the Dual-Language Immersion program that already teaches Spanish and Korean.
“We’re proud of our Dual-Language Immersion curriculum,” said Dr. Anna Bae Kim, principal at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, who will be overseeing the Mandarin program. “AESD schools have been honored by the California Association of Bilingual Education with its Seal of Excellence School Award. Studies have shown that learning multiple languages creates a strong foundation for academic success and career opportunities later in life.”
AESD is also pleased to announce that it will continue its Expanded Learning Opportunities Program with “Anaheim Elementary Succeeds.” It extends the academic school day to nine hours with a combination of before and after-school activities. It assists families and students free of charge with tutoring and counseling as well as showcasing lifestyle, music and sports programs with enrichment assemblies. They include activities like cooking, “Conga Kids,” Mariachi, and the new inter-school soccer program.
Today, more than 75 percent of Anaheim’s 14,000 elementary students take advantage of the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. It holistically supports transitional kindergarten to sixth grade students to reduce the academic, social, emotional, and physical stress caused by the pandemic through hands-on experiences.
To learn more about the programs offered at Anaheim Elementary School District and to enroll your child at one of its campuses, visit www.anaheimelementary.org or call 714-517-7500. While the majority of students are from Anaheim, AESD also serves students from other Orange County cities as well as families from Los Angeles County.
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