Foreign Language Magnet Program
Orange County Public Schools has established elementary magnet programs to provide choices for parents and students, to:
- Increase student success.
- Involve parents in students’ education.
- Provide specialized programs and curricula.
Participation is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements. The magnet program is administered by the host school, which is responsible for determining the program structure, eligibility requirements and application procedures. Hillcrest Elementary School is the Foreign Language Academy. Our magnet program offers bilingual education for all students in English/Spanish or English/French. Currently, incoming kindergarten students are eligible to apply for the lottery. All other students must apply, but will be interviewed as openings are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does my child have to take the same language all six years?
Yes, it takes a long time to learn to speak, read and write an additional language proficiently.
2.Will my child still learn the necessary skills to do well on the FCAT?
Yes, our emphasis at Hillcrest is to teach the basic skills and also foster cognitive development and higher order thinking.
3. How will you be able to fit second language instruction without sacrificing the other subjects?
Each student will receive two language arts blocks each day. One will be for native language, the other for second language. Social Studies, and Science will be incorporated into the two blocks.
4. How are you going to grade my child in foreign language?
The teacher determines the progress in the second language taking into consideration individual effort and the language level of the student.
5. Is this similar to a Preparatory School?
Hillcrest is not a Preparatory School. It is an innovative elementary school that focuses on the learning processes through experiential hands-on learning activities that foster higher order thinking.
For additional information, please contact Linda Taconis
or call 407-245-1770 ext. 2245