Worcester Dual Language Magnet School to Expand Through Eighth Grade
By Jerry Filmore
Worcester Public Schools announced Monday that the Worcester Dual Language Magnet School will expand to include seventh and eighth grades. The new grade levels will be added starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
Located at 525 Chandler Street, the school currently serves students from preschool through sixth grade. According to a statement from the district, the program utilizes a two-way bilingual education model with instruction in both English and Spanish. Admission for the magnet program is available citywide and managed through a lottery application process.
For Worcester families, this expansion provides a continued pathway for middle school bilingual education within the public system. Superintendent Brian E. Allen stated that adding the middle school grades is a step toward scaling successful educational models and ensuring more students graduate with multilingual skills. Principal Suzanna Resendes noted that the expansion reaffirms a commitment to cultivating global citizens who possess the cultural skills to thrive in an interconnected world.
The dual language model is structured so that students typically begin in preschool or kindergarten with instruction conducted 90 percent of the time in Spanish and 10 percent in English. The proportion of English instruction increases annually until it reaches an equal 50-50 split by the third grade. The district noted that the program includes both native English and native Spanish speakers, treating a student’s primary language as an asset rather than a barrier.
In addition to the magnet school, Worcester Public Schools operates a second dual language program for grades K-6 at Woodland Academy, which serves students through a residential-based admissions process.
Registration for the preschool and kindergarten admissions lottery for the magnet school is currently open. Families must apply by the deadline of Friday, May 1. The district will notify families of lottery results before May 22, and those accepted must confirm their placement by May 29. Detailed information on the process can be found on the Worcester Public Schools enrollment page.
🔍 The W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: Expansion of the Worcester Dual Language Magnet School
- Current Status: Expansion approved for 2026-27 school year; lottery registration open
- Key Dates or Decisions: May 1, 2026 (Lottery deadline); May 22, 2026 (Notification date); May 29, 2026 (Acceptance deadline)
- Estimated Cost (if applicable): Not yet determined
- Timeline (if known): Grades 7 and 8 to be added for the upcoming 2026-27 school year
- Immediate Next Steps: Interested families must complete the lottery application by May 1
- Primary Sources: Worcester Public Schools Official Press Release
- What We Do Not Yet Know: Pending official confirmation on specific classroom assignments or potential facility adjustments for the older students
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