LANGUAGE IMMERSION
TWO PATHS TO BILINGUALISM
The world is more connected than ever, and at Forest Hills Public Schools, we’re preparing students to thrive in it. We offer two K-12 Language Immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, supported by educators whose work in language immersion has earned national recognition. FHPS students are building real fluency year after year, learning core subjects like math, science, and reading directly in their target language, so bilingualism isn’t just a skill they study, it’s a part of how they think. In today’s increasingly connected world, the ability to communicate across cultures and languages is a powerful advantage, and at Forest Hills, we’re giving students that advantage early and for life. Explore the path that’s right for your family: Spanish Immersion or Mandarin Chinese Immersion.
DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP
SPANISH IMMERSION
The Forest Hills Spanish Immersion Program is one of the largest and most established K-12 Spanish-language immersion programs in Michigan, with over 1,000 students currently enrolled. Beginning in kindergarten, students learn core subjects through Spanish using an Early-Total Immersion model, then continue into a Dual Language Immersion model at the secondary level, building real fluency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing all the way through high school.
MANDARIN CHINESE IMMERSION
The Forest Hills Mandarin Chinese Immersion Program was the first of its kind in West Michigan, bringing together Eastern and Western cultures since 2008. Beginning in kindergarten, students learn core subjects through Mandarin using a 50/50 immersion model, then shift into an intensive Mandarin language and literacy block in fifth grade to deepen fluency through high school.
