Education
BY HANNAH JOHNSON
BY SAMANTHA DOUTY
CISD sees bilingual student growth
Prosper ISD starts discussion on new attendance boundaries
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There are 54 total languages spoken by CISD families. Some of these languages are Telugu, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu. In the 2024-25 school year, the district had 121 newcomer students, which are students who have recently immigrated to the United States. CISD had 78 newcomers at the elementary level, 24 in middle school and 19 in high school, according to the meeting presentation. Students came from varying countries, including but not limited to: • China • Colombia • Ecuador • France • India • Korea • Malaysia • Mexico • Nigeria • Pakistan • Ukraine • Vietnam
The number of students who are not yet proficient in English is continuing to grow in Celina ISD. Emergent Bilingual Coordinator Vanessa Hurtado-Jaramillo presented a bilingual program update to the board of trustees Oct. 20. Emergent bilingual refers to students who are acquiring the English language. In CISD’s dual language one-way program, students are classified as non-English- proficient and are learning Spanish and English at the same time, she said. Prekindergarten through first grade students have reading and language, science, and social studies taught in Spanish, while math is taught in English. CISD’s English as a second language program provides intensive English language instruction by certified teachers.
Prosper ISD started the process of determining new attendance boundaries as new campuses are constructed during an Oct. 20 board meeting. “While opening schools is [exciting] … this time also marks a time of hard change,” Deputy Super- intendent Bill McLaughlin said. “This process is difficult for many families.” The details The proposals come as new middle schools are built. These include Bridges Middle School and Watkins Middle School, which will both be completed for the 2026-27 school year. Students in Johnson Elementary will all attend Bridges Middle while students from Lilyana and Reeves Elementary will be split between Reynolds Middle and the new Bridges middle school. Students from Lilyana will go to Reynolds Middle if they live west of Coit Road or Bridges Middle if they live east of Coit Road. Students from Reeves Elementary will attend Bridges Middle if
Number of bilingual CISD students The number of students gaining English proficiency in school has grown exponentially by 398% over the past six school years.
Middle school proposed boundaries 1 Moseley 2 Rushing 3 Hays 4 Reynolds 5 Rogers 6 Jones 7 Bridges
1
4
7
6
DNT TOLL
1,500 1,200
2
5
380
6
900 600 300 0
3
SOURCE: PROSPER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
N
the 2025-26 school year, McLaughlin said. The district can absorb the current growth without cutting programs or staff with the middle school delay, McLaughlin said. Community feedback is wanted and oppor- tunities will be announced for the next month, Superintendent Holly Ferguson said. The board is expected to review the proposal in November.
they live: south of Frontier/Laud Howell Parkway, north of US 380, east of Custer Road and west of Ridge Road. Another part of the proposal includes not open- ing Watkins Middle School for the 2026-27 school year because of financial constraints. Instead, the district would open it for the 2027-28 school year. PISD had a budget shortfall of $29.43 million for
School year
*EMERGENT BILINGUAL POPULATION NUMBERS ARE NOT FINALIZED UNTIL THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SOURCE: CELINA ISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
PROSPER 950 S Preston Rd (469) 535-5539 LITTLE ELM 27100 Hwy 380 (972) 347-9630
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