Education
Bilingual population nearly doubles in LHISD The number of emergent bilingual students in Liberty Hill ISD grew from 461 in the 2021-22 school year to 683 at the end of the 2022-23 school year, Jessica Solis, bilingual English as a second language coordinator, said at an Oct. 16 board meeting. Additional data provided by Solis showed the number of emergent bilingual students has grown over the past several months with 712 recorded in August. As of Oct. 19, that number had increased to 862 students, making up almost 10% of the district’s enrollment. Zooming in Emergent bilingual students in LHISD receive ESL or dual-language instruction in both English and Spanish. Over 45 languages were represented within the district and almost 70% of all students were at elementary campuses last school year, Solis said. The majority of these students receive
Students surveyed for new school mascot
Growing population group
0 200 400 600 800
The Liberty Hill ISD community may welcome another cat mascot into Panther Nation as the district opens its second high
school in 2024. The big picture
August 2022 August 2023
SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent Steven Snell presented the results from a survey of Santa Rita Middle School students on their preferences for the mascot for Legacy Ranch High School at an Oct. 16 board of trustees meeting. The percentage of students who found each category very or somewhat appealing is as follows: • 81% for cat nation
content-based ESL instruction in which all of their core classes teachers are ESL certied. About a third of students receive ESL instruction only by their English and language arts teacher, while some students receive bilingual instruction. Moving forward, the district is aiming for all elementary teachers as well as English and language arts teachers at the middle and high school level to be ESL certied, Solis said. She said the district submitted 32 waivers and exceptions allowing uncertied sta to teach ESL and bilingual educa- tion last school year.
• 74% for ranch theme • 69% for alliteration
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