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View District Performance Levels* Due to new ELA assessments, the release of the 2024-2025 report card from USBE will be significantly delayed
View District Performance Levels* Due to new ELA assessments, the release of the 2024-2025 report card from USBE will be significantly delayed
Higher academic achievement. A culturally-enriched life. Global career opportunities, and a competitive edge in college and beyond. Give your child the lifelong advantage of learning in two languages from an early age. More than 70 years of research consistently documents the power of immersion programs to help students attain high levels of second language proficiency. No other type of instruction, short of living in a second-language environment, is as successful.
Canyons School District has some of the most extensive Dual-Language Immersion offerings in Utah. Ten elementary schools offer programs in Spanish, French, or Mandarin Chinese. Students enter the program in first grade and spend half of their day learning in English and the other half learning in their target language. The program continues through high school where students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement (AP) and college-level language courses. All Utah students are welcome to apply. Applications may be submitted after the lottery window. Late applicants will be added to the waitlists of their top three choices. Should a program have open seats, late applicants may be added to the program.
Alta View, Altara, Midvalley, Silver Mesa, Midvale
Butler, Oak Hollow
Draper, Lone Peak, Ridgecrest
Canyons District has established predictable and consistent enrollment targets and timelines for determining whether schools have enough students to support two first-grade DLI classes or whether a one-class cohort may be necessary.
Interested in giving your child the opportunity to become multilingual? Or already part of a Canyons District Dual Language Immersion program and have questions about enrollment and planning for the year ahead? Canyons School District is hosting a series of information nights designed to help families learn more, ask questions, and plan for the future.
Families considering Dual Language Immersion are invited to a Districtwide information night to learn how DLI works, explore the benefits of bilingual learning, understand the application process, and hear what families can expect as their students progress through the program.
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6:30-8 p.m. – PEAKS room at the Canyons District Offices, 9361 S. 300 East, Sandy.
All families at our DLI schools are invited to upcoming information nights focused on enrollment and cohort planning. District and school leaders will explain enrollment targets, how applications factor into planning for one- or two-class cohorts, and important timelines. See schedule below.
Oct. 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Midvale Elementary
Oct. 13, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Ridgecrest Elementary
Oct. 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Silver Mesa Elementary
Oct. 21, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Midvalley Elementary
Oct. 21, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Lone Peak Elementary
Oct. 22, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Oak Hollow Elementary
Oct. 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m.- Butler Elementary
Nov. 3, 5-6 p.m. – Altara Elementary
Nov. 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m.– Alta View Elementary
Nov. 10, 6-7 p.m. – Draper Elementary
Wondering how enrollment is shaping up for next year’s incoming Dual Language Immersion classes? Following are two dashboards. The first dashboard shows the number of students currently on waiting-lists for enrollment for the current year’s 1st or 2nd grade cohorts. Keep in mind that these numbers may show duplicate students who are on the waiting list for more than one school. The second dashboard will show how many applications we receive for first-grade enrollment at each school in 2027-2028. The numbers are based on each applicant’s first school of choice. We’ll update the application numbers each Friday so families can follow enrollment progress at their school. These numbers show the number of applications received to date. Application counts will change throughout the enrollment period and should be considered a snapshot in time. Final cohort decisions will be based on the number of students who have committed to the program by Jan. 15, 2027.
Scroll the table sideways to see all grades.
| Language program | School | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students on waitlist | Available openings | Students on waitlist | Available openings | ||
| Chinese | Draper Elementary | 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Lone Peak Elementary | 2 | 12 | 2 | 8 | |
| Ridgecrest Elementary | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | |
| French | Butler Elementary | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Oak Hollow Elementary | 12 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
| Spanish | Alta View Elementary | 14 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Altara Elementary | 2 | 3 | 18 | 5 | |
| Midvale Elementary | 5 | 17 | No data | 15 | |
| Midvalley Elementary | 7 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Silver Mesa Elementary | 23 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
Waitlist Preferences are given to:
To ensure students can successfully keep up with the curriculum, the waitlist remains active only until the following dates:
After these dates, the waitlist is deactivated and openings may be available to students who demonstrate a comparable level of language proficiency through a district assessment, as well as to students transferring from a comparable Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. All placements are based on proficiency and space availability.
| Language program | School | Submitted applications (first choice) |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | Draper Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 |
| Lone Peak Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 | |
| Ridgecrest Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 | |
| French | Butler Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 |
| Oak Hollow Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 | |
| Spanish | Alta View Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 |
| Altara Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 | |
| Midvale Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 | |
| Midvalley Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 | |
| Silver Mesa Elementary | Opening 9/30/2026 |
Enrollment Targets
For a two-class DLI cohort: At least 50 students would need to commit by Jan. 15 to enrolling in DLI, with sufficient enrollment to support a neighborhood classroom of at least 19 students.
For a one-class DLI cohort: If DLI enrollment falls short of 50, a school may move to a single DLI class of up to 30 students. The larger starting class is intended to account for normal attrition and help ensure there are enough students to sustain the program as the cohort advances through the grades.
The dual immersion program seeks to enroll students of all backgrounds and abilities. Initial enrollment is open to all students entering 1st grade.
An annual lottery is held to determine initial entrance to each program for entering first graders. Applications for the lottery are submitted during a child’s kindergarten year. Applicants will only be entered into the lottery for the school identified as their first-choice. Applicants not selected for their first-choice will be considered for their identified second and third choices, if there is space available.
All DLI classrooms are capped at 28 students. In order to accommodate building capacity and additional school programming, each school determines how many out-of-boundary students it can accept through the lottery process.
Preference will be given to:
If a student exits a dual language immersion program in the first or second grade, students on the waitlist will be invited to enroll in the program. The waitlist remains active as follows:
Once the waitlist is deactivated, only students who can demonstrate a comparable level of language proficiency will be added to dual immersion programs.
Yes. If a student can demonstrate a comparable level of language proficiency for their current grade level and there is space available, a student will be considered for late enrollment to a program. Language proficiency must be verified with a language assessment. To arrange language assessment for late enrollment, contact the Instructional Supports Department, 801-826-5026.
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Canyons Center at the Canyons District Office
9361 S. 300 E. in Sandy.
Students can continue with the Dual Language Immersion program through high school where they can work to pass an Advanced Placement exam and take college-level courses for early college credit.
Prior to 5th and 8th grade DLI students advancing to middle and high school, they must complete an Intent-to-Continue form to choose one of three options:
9th grade students take DLI 5 in the target language. Students have the opportunity to take the AP exam at the end of DLI 5 in 9th grade. If a student passes the AP exam with a 3 or above, they are eligible for Bridge Courses in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade.
If you do not pass the AP exam with a 3 or above in 9th grade, you can enroll in a standard AP class in 10th grade.
DLI 5 is designed especially for 9th grade DLI students. The essential questions and projects of the course are unique to 9th grade DLI. This course, while separate from AP, is still aligned with AP themes and tasks and works to prepare students for success on the AP exam.
Credits awarded for passing the AP exam varies by university and college. Some universities and colleges award lower level elective credits for passing the AP exam. The number of credits also varies by AP score. These credits generally do not count towards a major or minor in the language.
3000 level University courses co-taught with a High School teacher and University Professor on the high school campus. The Bridge Program offers advanced language university courses for high school students who have passed the Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Culture Exam, “bridging” the gap between completion of the exam and higher education. Students begin upper division university language course work in the high school setting, where each 3-credit college course extends over a full academic year of high school. This rigorous and supportive environment establishes a university and career pathway in two languages, and seeks to promote access to bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural citizenship in Utah.
Students who pass the AP exam in 9th grade with 3 or above are eligible for Bridge courses in 10th, 11th, and 12th, grade. If students take 3 Bridge courses, they could graduate with 9- 3000 level University credits that count towards a major or minor in the language. Most universities require 15-18 credits to earn a minor
Episode 38: What is Dual Language Immersion? Canyons Embarked on this Educational Experiment in 2009, and Here’s How it’s Going
It really is about learning about the language and culture that isn’t yours. It allowed us to get a better understanding of that (culture) and expand our perspective and it makes you more open-minded. I think that’s a very big benefit that I’ve experienced from doing the program — and to gain proficiency in another language.”
Ethan Christensen
What a magical gift it is to give a student the ability to learn another language and be multilingual. The students in the program have an opportunity to problem solve every day and I think that really develops their neural pathways in a way that's quite unique. It helps kids learn how to think rather than what to think, which is really our goal.
Tracy Stacy
Questions?
If a movie about super teachers were ever made, Lucie Chamberlain would be a prime candidate for a leading role. Fortunately for her kindergarten students at Alta View Elementary, she already thrives in a supporting role for them. Parents thank her for being a “super teacher.” She is also described as an “amazing colleague.” Whether students need help in the classroom or from home while sick, Lucie goes above and beyond to help them learn, overcome fears, and feel important and cared for. Lucie is the reason a number of kids went from hating school to loving it, according to parents. The way she exudes patience, sweetness, positive energy, and love for her students with special needs melts is appreciated and admired. One parent noted: “Both my kids wish she could be their teacher forever.” Another added: “She treats every student like their learning and their feelings are her priority.” Super teacher, indeed!
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