¡Hola! Welcome to Spanish Dual Language
Discover the possibilities of learning in two languages!
Our Spanish Dual Language cohort gives students the opportunity to build Spanish language skills while learning, connecting with others, and experiencing new cultures.
Apply for First-Grade Enrollment in 2027–2028
September 30 – December 15, 2026
All Utah students are welcome to apply. Late applicants are added to the waitlists of their top three choices.
Build Language Skills
Aprender
Connect with Others
Conectar
Experience New Cultures
Descubrir
Watch the video below to get a glimpse of Spanish Dual Language in action.
How the Program Works
Students enter the program in first grade and spend half of their day learning in English and the other half learning in Spanish. The program continues through high school, where students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement (AP) and college-level language courses.
Canyons School District Spanish Dual Language Immersion schools:
- Alta View
- Altara
- Midvale
- Midvalley
- Silver Mesa
Why Immersion?
Higher academic achievement. A culturally-enriched life. Global career opportunities, and a competitive edge in college and beyond. Give your child the lifelong advantage of learning in two languages from an early age.
More than 70 years of research consistently documents the power of immersion programs to help students attain high levels of second language proficiency. No other type of instruction, short of living in a second-language environment, is as successful.
Proven Benefits
Academic
- Perform at or above their non-immersion peers on standardized tests administered in English
- Achieve high levels of functional proficiency in the immersion language, displaying fluency, confidence, and native-like levels of comprehension
Cognitive
- Achieve metalinguistic awareness
- Attain greater cognitive flexibility and better nonverbal problem-solving abilities
- Outperform monolinguals in divergent thinking, pattern recognition, and problem solving
Sociocultural
- Opens students to a rich world of media, history, literature, and art
- Helps students understand, navigate, and appreciate cultural differences
- Helps students better understand their own culture
Economic
- World language abilities are increasingly important to national security, delivery of health care, economic competitiveness, and law enforcement in the United States
- Future high-level, high-paying jobs will require competence in more than one language
Parent Information Nights
New to Dual Language Immersion?
Learn how DLI works, explore the benefits of bilingual learning, understand the application process, and hear what to expect as students progress through the program.
Wednesday, October 7
6:30–8 p.m.
PEAKS room, Canyons District Offices
9361 S. 300 East, Sandy
Already at a Spanish DLI school?
School nights focused on enrollment targets, cohort planning, and important timelines:
- Midvale Elementary Oct. 13, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Silver Mesa Elementary Oct. 20, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Midvalley Elementary Oct. 21, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Altara Elementary Nov. 3, 5–6 p.m.
- Alta View Elementary Nov. 10, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
The dual immersion program seeks to enroll students of all backgrounds and abilities. Initial enrollment is open to all students entering 1st grade.
How do I apply?
Applications for first-grade enrollment in 2027–2028 are open September 30 – December 15, 2026, and are submitted during a child's kindergarten year. Applications may still be submitted after the lottery window; late applicants are added to the waitlists of their top three choices, and may be added to a program if seats are open.
How are students selected for the program?
An annual lottery determines initial entrance to each program for entering first graders. Applicants are only entered into the lottery for their first-choice school. Applicants not selected for their first choice will be considered for their second and third choices if there is space available.
All DLI classrooms are capped at 28-30 students. To accommodate building capacity and other school programming, each school determines how many out-of-boundary students it can accept through the lottery.
Preference is given to:
- Students with siblings currently enrolled in a dual immersion program
- Students who proficiently speak the target language
- Students whose parents are full-time employees of Canyons District
How does the waitlist work?
If a student exits a dual language immersion program in first or second grade, students on the waitlist are invited to enroll. For Spanish, the waitlist stays active through March of 2nd grade. After that, only students who can demonstrate a comparable level of language proficiency will be added to the program.
Can my child enroll after the waitlist is deactivated?
Yes. If a student can demonstrate a comparable level of language proficiency for their current grade level and there is space available, they will be considered for late enrollment. Proficiency must be verified with a language assessment. To arrange one, contact the Instructional Supports Department at 801-826-5026.
Parent Responsibilities
- Commit to long-term participation in the dual immersion program.
- Develop an understanding of dual immersion education.
- Read with your child (in your home language) 20–30 minutes daily.
- Encourage the use of the target language outside of school.
- Provide community support and, when possible, volunteer.
- Enjoy the challenges; celebrate the results!
Ready to Join Us?
Apply by December 15, 2026
What does the DLI program look like from 1st to 5th grade? – Click here for information
Click HERE to access application website.
Why Immersion?
More than 60 years of research consistently documents the power of immersion programs to help students attain high levels of second language proficiency. No other type of instruction, short of living in a second-language environment, is as successful.
Young children especially thrive in this type of instructional environment. Interestingly, language immersion is also the least expensive way to deliver second-language instruction.
Proven Benefits
- Academic/Educational
- Perform at or above their non-immersion peers on standardized tests administered in English
- Achieve high levels of functional proficiency in the immersion language, i.e. display fluency, confidence, and native-like levels of comprehension in immersion language
- Cognitive
- Achieve meta linguistic awareness
- Achieve higher levels of proficiency when compared with students in non-immersion language programs
- Attain greater cognitive flexibility and better nonverbal problem-solving abilities
- Outperform monolinguals in the areas of divergent thinking, pattern recognition, and problem solving
- Sociocultural
- allows access to foreign media, literature and art
- helps student understand, navigate, and enjoy intercultural differences
- leads to respect, positive attitudes and an appreciation of linguistic and cultural diversity
- helps students better understand their own culture
- Economic
- World language abilities are increasingly important to national security, delivery of health care, economic competitiveness and law enforcement in the United States.
- Future high-level, high-paying jobs will require competence in more than one language.
Who can participate?
The dual immersion program seeks to enroll students of varying backgrounds and all abilities. However, it may not be a wise choice for children experiencing significant communication delays in their primary language.
Applications are open to all students entering 1st grade. Kindergarten is only available at Midvale Elementary for students living in the boundaries designated for Midvale Elementary. Applications for Midvale’s Dual Language Immersion program will be handled through the school. Please contact the school for further information.
How do I apply for a dual immersion program?
The online application process for 2023-24 is open from October 3, 2022 until November 21, 2022. After November 21, 2022, Canyons School District will continue to accept late applications which will be placed on a waitlist.
How are students selected for the program?
All programs except for Midvale Elementary (50 students) are allocated 56 placements. Each school will determine the number of in-boundary and out-of-boundary students that their building capacity can accommodate. A random lottery is used to determine placement in each category.
In the lottery process, students with siblings already enrolled in a dual immersion program or students who proficiently speak the target language receive placement priority.
Parent Responsibilities
- Commit to long-term participation in the dual immersion program.
- Develop an understanding of dual immersion education.
- Read with your child (in your home language) 20-30 minutes daily.
- Encourage the use of the target language outside of school.
- Provide community support and, when possible, volunteer.
- Enjoy the challenges; celebrate the results.
