A dual-language immersion program provides students a way to learn academic content while acquiring another language at the same time. Students in Olathe’s dual-language immersion program spend half of the day learning in English and half of the day learning in Spanish. Under the instruction of two teachers, students learn science, social studies, language arts, and math in both Spanish and English.

Students start in kindergarten and learn to read and write in two languages as they progress through elementary school. Research shows that students who take part in an immersion classroom consistently develop native-like levels of comprehension, such as listening and reading skills, in their second language. Students remain with other students in the immersion program during all years of elementary school, building on their progress together.

The Olathe Public Schools offers the dual language immersion program at two elementary schools: Black Bob Elementary and Manchester Park Elementary.

Read the Dual-Language Immersion Program pamphlet (PDF)

Lea el panfleto acerca del programa de inmersión de doble lenguaje (PDF)

Information Nights

The district will hold parent nights for those wanting to learn more about the Spanish dual-language immersion program.

Thursday, March 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Join the Zoom event (Note change in date)  

Monday, March 27, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Education Center, 14160 Black Bob Road, Olathe (Note change in date)

Enrollment for 2023-24

Incoming kindergarten students for the fall of 2023 interested in being a part of the immersion program will enter an application into a lottery system in the spring prior to their kindergarten year. Some seats will be saved for students living in the elementary attendance area of Black Bob and Manchester Park and other seats will be open to families wanting to transfer into the program from other attendance areas of the Olathe School District.

The lottery enrollment period for the 2023-24 school year will open Feb. 20 and close April 14. Starting on Feb. 20, parents will be able to submit an application on this website on the Program Application button on the left side of this page. Applications submitted after the April 14 deadline will be added to the bottom of the wait list.

It is important to understand that the program is based on a lottery system.

Questions? See additional information on the webpage tabs to the left or contact District Coordinator for ELL & World Languages Michael Flenthrope via email at mgflenthrope@olatheschools.org.