Think back to elementary school and imagine being taught for the first time how to multiply fractions, use the metric system and why seasons change, but in Chinese.

If it’s hard to envision, then just ask a small group of first-and second-grade students at Gavilan Peak Elementary School, whose math and science classes are taught completely in Mandarin Chinese.

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 Mandarin Project at Deer Valley district

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The students spend only half of their school day speaking English and are the driving force behind Arizona’s first-ever partial immersion program for Mandarin in a public school.
The program launched three years ago at Gavilan Peak, an Anthem-based school in the Deer Valley Unified School District. The specialty program is open to any student through the district’s open enrollment.