Benjamin Franklin Elementary is a magnet school focused on dual language immersion. Our school is open to all students living in- and outside Glendale Unified School District boundaries. Every student at Franklin Magnet School is learning a second language. Students learn their target language through content, not as a separate course of study.

Benefits of Dual Language Immersion:

• Bilingualism and biliteracy
• Academic achievement
• Cultural competency

Students in the elementary French dual language immersion program spend 90% of their day learning in French and 10% learning in English starting in kindergarten. The percentage of English increases annually until 50% of the day is taught in French and 50% in English by 5th grade. Students learn to speak, read, and write in French through content, not as a separate course of study. 

The elementary French program is offered at Franklin Elementary School.

For more information, contact Dr. Nancy Hong, Director, Glendale Unified Dual Language Immersion and Magnet Programs.

Students in the elementary German dual language immersion program spend 90% of their day learning in German and 10% learning in English starting in kindergarten. The percentage of English increases annually until 50% of the day is taught in German and 50% in English by 5th grade. Students learn to speak, read, and write in German through content, not as a separate course of study.

The elementary German program is offered at Franklin Elementary School.

For more information, contact Dr. Nancy Hong, Director, Glendale Unified Dual Language Immersion and Magnet Programs.

Students in the elementary Italian dual language immersion program spend 90% of their day learning in Italian and 10% learning in English starting in kindergarten. The percentage of English increases annually until 50% of the day is taught in Italian and 50% in English by 5th grade. Students learn to speak, read, and write in Italian through content, not as a separate course of study. 

The elementary Italian program is offered at Franklin Elementary School.

For more information, contact Dr. Nancy Hong, Director, Glendale Unified Dual Language Immersion and Magnet Programs.

Students in the elementary Spanish dual language immersion program spend 90% of their day learning in Spanish and 10% learning in English starting in transitional kindergarten (available at Muir Elementary only) and kindergarten. The percentage of English increases annually until 50% of the day is taught in Spanish and 50% in English by 5th grade. Students learn to speak, read, and write in Spanish through content, not as a separate course of study. 

The elementary Spanish program is offered at: Muir Elementary School beginning in transitional kindergarten, and at Edison and Franklin Elementary Schools beginning in kindergarten.

For more information, contact Dr. Nancy Hong, Director, Foreign Language Academies of Glendale and Magnet Programs.

Glendale Unified also offers Spanish dual language immersion preschool at Pacific Avenue Education Center. For more information about our preschool programs, contact GUSD Child Development and Child Care office at 818-247-0775.