Robert E. Lake Elementary in central Las Vegas has expanded its Spanish-English immersion program, aiming to help students become biliterate by middle school and improve academic outcomes in a diverse community
Robert E. Lake Elementary School in central Las Vegas has expanded its Spanish-English dual-language immersion program, offering more students the opportunity to become bilingual and biliterate by the time they reach middle school. The initiative is designed to boost academic achievement and prepare students for a competitive, multicultural world.
Located northwest of Eastern Avenue and Desert Inn Road, Robert E. Lake Elementary serves a student body that is approximately 70% Hispanic. The school’s opt-in immersion program alternates instruction days between Spanish and English, allowing students to learn language arts, math, and other subjects in both languages. The approach aims to build not only language skills but also cultural understanding and community connections.
How the Immersion Program Works
Students in the program spend one full day learning all subjects in Spanish, followed by a day in English. This alternating schedule is intended to reinforce both languages equally, helping students develop the ability to speak, read, write, and understand both Spanish and English with confidence. According to Clark County School District officials, this model goes beyond traditional high school language classes by immersing students in real academic content in both languages from an early age.
Erick Casallas, assistant superintendent of the English Language Learner division, said district data shows that students in the dual-language program outperform their peers in standardized tests. The program’s structure encourages native and heritage Spanish speakers to support classmates who are new to the language, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Family and Community Impact
For many families, the program has become a shared goal. Bianca Contreras, a counselor at Lake and parent of a first-grader in the program, said it has motivated her family to learn and grow together. Contreras, who grew up speaking only English despite her Mexican and Chilean heritage, now sees her daughter communicating with her Spanish-speaking grandmother, bridging generational and linguistic gaps.
Principal Paola Zepher was inspired to bring the program to Lake after attending an education conference focused on bilingualism. She noted that the initiative has helped both students and staff feel recognized and valued for their cultural backgrounds. Zepher emphasized the importance of validating students’ home languages and giving them a sense of belonging within the school community.
District Expansion and Results
The Clark County School District first introduced Spanish-English immersion at C.C. Ronnow Elementary about four years ago, expanding to Robert E. Lake Elementary three years ago. With several years of data, district leaders report that the dual-language approach is delivering measurable academic benefits and helping students become fluent in both languages by the end of elementary school.
Casallas explained that students who begin the program in kindergarten can become conversational in their second language by second grade and reach fluency by fifth grade. The district sees the program as a way to prepare students for future academic and career opportunities in a global economy, while also strengthening ties within Las Vegas’s diverse communities.
