December 4 is lottery application deadline for Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary School

Photo source: Glendale on Facebook

"The teachers are amazing"

One of the highest TCAP scores in the city

All incoming MNPS K students are eligible for the lottery

The lottery deadline for 2010-2011 enrollment in Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary School is December 4, 2009. The school encourages families to get their paperwork in now.

According to its web site, Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary offers an exclusive Spanish immersion school curriculum and all incoming MNPS K students are eligible for the lottery, regardless of where you live. There is no longer entrance into a traditional elementary program.

Spanish materials are provided by parents, and no less than 51% of the teaching is in English, according to the Nashville Public Radio piece "Getting into Glendale" produced by Anne Marshall in February 2009. Marshall also reported that the high demand for Glendale was the driving force behind moving to the magnet model, and the change opened up 40 additional seats.

On greatschools.net, the reviews of Glendale are all five-star:

Glendale has a small population, an enthusiastic PTO and a newly renovated facility. The Spanish Immersion curriculum is highly desired with 200+ incoming students per year wait-listed.
...
Fabulous school that is only going to get better, especially now that is has become a 100% lottery school specializing in Spanish immersion. In addition, the teachers are amazing and parent envolvement is wonderful.
...
Glendale is one of the best schools I have looked into.

Glendale Kindergarten teacher Christina Amezquita was named WKRN's "Educator of the Week" for the week of October 22, 2009.

The September 2007 edition of Nashville Parent also raved about the benefits of Spanish immersion and Glendale:

Statistically, the addition or study of a second language helps all areas of the curriculum. “Research has shown that critical thinking skills, listening and even creativity improve in association with foreign language study,” says Janice Rodriguez, executive director of the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute. Beckie Gibson, the coordinator of foreign languages for Metro Nashville Public Schools, agrees, pointing out that when learning a language, you use the whole brain: the left brain — the logical and factual side — as well as the creative parts of the right brain. “It helps students learn their other subjects faster,” Gibson says. “Last year, Glendale Spanish Immersion Elementary School (Nashville’s only Spanish immersion school) had one of the highest TCAP scores in the city, so it’s proven it works.”

Application instructions

Applications are available via download at www.mnps.org or in person at the Magnet Office (2601 Bransford Avenue Nashville, TN 37206) and must be returned to the office no later than 5:30pm on December 4, 2009. Families interested in touring Glendale Elementary can contact the school directly at 615-279-7970.