Enrollment

Parents/Guardians interested in enrolling their incoming kindergarten students in Spanish Immersion must first enroll in Palo Alto Unified School District. Visit the PAUSD Registration Services webpage for timelines and step by step instructions for Registration:  (updated each October). Once registered, you must submit an additional secondary application for the Spanish Immersion Choice Program. All program applicants, including siblings of students currently enrolled in Spanish Immersion, must complete a Choice Program application by the deadline to be eligible for participation in the lottery held for PAUSD Choice Programs.  A student will not be considered for the Spanish Immersion program until both of these steps are completed.

All Spanish speaking students must be assessed to determine proficiency. Based on the results of the assessment they are place in one of the categories for the lottery: Fluent Spanish Speaker, Limited Spanish Speaker, Non-Spanish Speaker.

When there are more applications than seats available, a public lottery will be held to select incoming kindergartners for our Spanish Immersion Program. Please pay attention to all deadlines posted on the Choice Program webpage.

Kindergarten siblings of concurrent Escondido Spanish Immersion students will be offered priority placement in the program, as long as they follow all registration and choice program application requirements and meet all deadlines, as outlined by Registration Services. 

Each winter, Escondido hosts virtual and in-person information nights, and school tours, highlighting the Spanish Immersion program. It is highly encouraged that you attend one of the information nights and tours. You can find updated dates and times on the Registration Services webpage.

The application process for students entering Spanish Immersion in first through fifth grades is separate from students seeking entry in Kindergarten.

The Spanish Immersion program occasionally has space open for enrollment in first through fifth grades.  The program waitlist for these grades opens in early March. After enrolling in PAUSD, new student applicants may apply to join the program waitlist by contacting Registration Services.

All students seeking entry into the program after Kindergarten must be assessed both in Spanish reading and Spanish oral language proficiency.  The reading assessment for students seeking entry for third grade, or beyond, also includes a written component.  

Assessment opportunities will be offered to families based on space available in the program.  Students are offered placement based on the assessment results.  Being assessed as a potential incoming student does not guarantee placement in the program.

For more information on Spanish Immersion, and all the district's Elementary Choice Programs, visit the PAUSD Registration Services webpage or call the Escondido front office, 650-856-1337.