Washington Elementary is a vibrant, welcoming school where English- and Spanish-speaking students learn side by side through our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program, which runs from TK through 6th grade. As the very first school in the WCCUSD to offer a DLI program, Washington has long been committed to helping students become bilingual and biliterate. In 2023–2024, we proudly became a full DLI school, using a 90:10 model that supports language learning through meaningful cultural exchange and community connection. Students start off in TK with 90% of instruction in Spanish, 10% in English and gradually move to a 50:50 model once they reach 4th grade. 

There are so many benefits to being bilingual. More than 20 years of research shows that students who learn in two languages gain cognitive, social, and academic advantages. At Washington, we use students’ primary language to support learning in the second—because learning a new language doesn’t mean losing the first. In fact, we embrace a model called Additive Biliteracy, where both languages are nurtured and valued.

As a Title 1 school in Point Richmond, we’re also deeply committed to serving students of a wide range of backgrounds: language, ethnicity, culture and socio-economic status. We take this into consideration when creating our programs to ensure every student can fully participate and benefit from them.