R5 Ossining Union Free School District: Westchester Magazine’s Spanish School With a Waiting List

Ossining Union Free School District
A public school preK-8 dual-language program
There are many benefits to running a dual-language program for both native English and native Spanish speakers, says Mirla Puello, the district’s director of English and English as a Second Language. But in the end, the best reason might be the easiest to figure out: “Bilingual brains are faster,” she says, citing research that shows students who know more than one language perform better on other cognitive tests. 

In Ossining, students enter a lottery to be part of the 700-student preK-8 program, and parents have told Puello that they moved to the town specifically with the hopes of getting their children into the program. In grades 3 through 9, native Spanish speakers join the program whenever they arrive in the district, Puello adds. 

The program splits its instruction evenly between Spanish and English, but the learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings, she says. Because of the student mix, both languages are freely used during lunch and recess, and that type of learning helps students understand how to carry on an extended conversation.  

- Advertisement -

♦ For more from this feature, click here

Our Women in Business Awards event is November 21!

Our Best of Business event is October 30!

Our CEOs & Business Leaders Golf Outing is August 5!

Our Best of Westchester Party is July 24!

Our Westchester Home Design Awards event is June 26!

Our Wine & Food Festival returns June 4-9!

Our Wunderkinds event takes place on May 23!

Our Best of Business Ballot is open through May 15!

Our Healthcare Heroes Awards event takes place on May 9!

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Holiday flash sale ... subscribe and save 50%

Limited time offer. New subscribers only.