How difficult is it to get into the program starting in First Grade? What are the qualifications? Do kids that already go to Bear Branch have an advantage over kids that attend other schools? Thanks! 

Yes Bear Branch kids have the first option then it is opened up to other school. Those kids names are drawn in a lottery for the remain spots.

Unless they have changed the policy in the last few years this is how it works. 

The kids in Spanish speaking classes start in 1st grade, I am not sure if it is done via a lottery system or what, but I do know that any kid in there will be fluent by 5th grade, however there will be two sets of homework, in Spanish and in English...

Not sure who you should talk to though, Mrs. Warren would be my first bet because she will steer you in the right direction..good luck. 

Pine Forest also has a Spanish Immersion program if that helps. 

Pine Forest also has a Spanish Immersion program if that helps.


It is full as far as the 1st grade and has a waiting list. 

Thanks for the comments and information. It's much appreciated! 

I think you have to go to Bear Branch but also you have to qualify as well. My son went to BBE up until this year and did not qualify for Spanish emersion. Now that being said, we are now at Kings Manor Elementary (New Caney ISD) and they start Spanish Emersion kindergarten. My daughter is in the program and had to test for it. 

Yes your child does have to qualify for the program. Spanish Immersion is basically a gifted program. 

New Caney ISD has the Dual language program. Is that the same thing, because I know the students in it are not in the gifted program. (Maybe a few are but not the majority) 

KU Live!Spanish Immersion at Bear Branch
Thought water boarding was torture. 

Is Spanish Immersion the same as Dual Language at Humble Elementary?

So if you are in the PFE or BBE zones you are selected above other students from other zones?

Are there plans to expand the program to other schools? 

Spanish immersion is for English speaking students and they are instructed, every day, in Spanish. It is one class of 16 kids. Dual Language has students who speak English or Spanish and they are instructed in English one day and Spanish the next, by 2 different teachers. The teachers who teach dual language at Humble El are some of the finest teachers I have ever met.

Don't know about plans for expansion. 

SI at BBE this year has 24 kids. First priority to kids who live in BB or Hunter's Ridge. Next priority to kids who attend BBE for kindergarten, i.e. transferred in from another village. Next priority to everyone else. You need to go there for kindergarten if you don't live there, to have a good shot. Also, the child needs to be reading well. 

All Spanish Immersion classes start with 24 kids as the years go by people move or drop out of the program and new students cannot be added the numbers change, First priority is all kids zoned to Bear Branch which includes BB, Hunter Ridge and Kings Forest. People actually move to be in the zone to give their children the best chance to get in the program.

If you do not live in the zone transferring your child for kindergarten has also helped in the past not sure that still works.

Spanish Immersion is a 5 year commitment 1st-5th grade. In first grade they try to have 90% of the day taught in Spanish, 2nd- 80% , 3-70%, 4-60 and 5 50%. Kids that take Spanish Immersion usually score higher in English than the kids that didn't take Spanish Immersion.

It is a very good program though at times very frustrating.

Reading skills are a large part of what they are looking at but your child's kindergarten teach will also be a good resource to find out if they think your child will qualify and even to help prepare them for the program.

I would definitely tell the kindergarten teach what your goal is so that they can help you and your child as much as possible. 

Are there plans to expand the program to other schools? 

No. I'm surprised with all the cuts it wasn't eliminated due to shrinking class size as the class moves from first through fifth grade. At one point some parents at BBE were not happy about the difference in the size of the fifth grade immersion class compared to the other fifth grade classes. 

Valley Ranch in New Caney has the dual language from Kindergarten to fifth grade. my oldest DS has been in the program since K & is now in 3rd. Awesome program, a little frustrating sometimes, but they offer good resources to help on their website. 

Has anyone had a child go through this? Is it worth it? 

Yes. Yes. 

So how many kids were left at the end of 5th grade? Did anyone just plain drop out (not move, but just quit)?

Were the kids closer because they had been in class together for all 5 years? 

If this thread is about BB only, then I cannot comment further. 

I appreciate the feedback. I am curious also how many kids that start the program actually finish it. 

My favorite babysitters went through the program and loved it. If I recall they ended up with about 18 kids by fifth grade. I have no idea if they moved or dropped out. Probably a few of both. 

At one point some parents at BBE were not happy about the difference in the size of the fifth grade immersion class compared to the other fifth grade classes. 

If the parents were unhappy about class size it was NOT the spanish immersion parents. lol


I appreciate the feedback. I am curious also how many kids that start the program actually finish it. 


I think the first year they had less but I believe all other classes have started with 25 kids and end up with 13-17 kids. At least the ones I know about. Yes kids drop out of the program for reasons other than moving. Some don't do well and end up switching to english only classes after the first year, some switch the 2nd, 3rd and even 4th year. Some who are not zoned to the area decide to switch to english classes so they can go to their home school to meet kids that they will be in middle school with.

Of the classes that I am aware of only about half the kids that finish the elementary portion of the program go on to the middle school program at Creekwood.