Students gain the language and academic skills to succeed in an American high school.
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program gives students the ability to write and speak clearly, work independently, think critically, act cooperatively, and join discussions effectively. It prepares students broadly, including language training, content education, study skills, and cross-cultural orientation. Typically, new students take three full-credit ESOL courses for one year, with second-year mainstreaming into non-ESOL courses. Ninth graders, however, take the ESOL Structure and Use class, and join the integrated Humans in the Natural World.
Students must have some knowledge of English in order to enter the program: the first courses are suitable for students at the low intermediate level. Typically, there are six full-credit courses at two levels, with gradual mainstreaming into non- ESOL courses. Students entering at the lower level usually take three ESOL courses their first year and two or three their second year. Included are two sheltered classes for international students, one in English Composition and one in US History.
