The Newcomers Academy has been established for students who have limited English proficiency and are new to the U.S. school system. A one-year placement in Newcomers Academy will allow students to learn academic content crucial for academic success, while also learning English from expert teachers in a structured, sheltered setting.
In this small, specialized academy students will continue to progress in Spanish in most core academic courses. Expert instruction in language development speeds the growth of English skills and academic learning simultaneously. The size of the academy will fluctuate based on the number of students who qualify. Last year, forty students (thirty-six from Holyoke High School and four from William J. Dean Technical High School) would have benefited from belonging to a Newcomers Academy.
