Catawba County Schools

English Learners

We are dedicated to making education better for all the students we serve - including the more than 3,000 of our students who speak 30+ languages. Our English as a Second Language (ESL) program is offered in grades K-12 and offers personalized learning experiences that honor home language and culture. ESL classes teach language acquisition skills: Reading, writing, listening, and speaking, in appropriately leveled classes.

How are English Learners identified in Catawba County Schools?
When students enroll in the school system, a parent or guardian completes a Home Language Survey. If they select a language other than English, the student takes the WIDA™ Screener, a state-approved, age-appropriate language proficiency assessment that identifies and places English Learners (ELs). Students are then assessed annually with the ACCESS for ELLs® language proficiency test. Students must meet objectives set by the state to exit EL status.

What EL services do we offer?
We make education better for our English Learners by providing individualized attention that may include working with them within the classroom or pulling them from class to work with a specialized ESL teacher. For more information, please contact our ESL Director.

International Newcomer Center
The International Newcomer Center is a vital family resource that assesses students’ English proficiency, facilitates placement, and reviews and collects records for the schools. The Center staff provides bilingual communication with students and parents to facilitate enrollment as well as translation and interpretation for parent conferences, student assistance team meetings, and school and district communications. The Center is based at Sweetwater Early Childhood Education Center and serves all 28 schools in the Catawba County School System.

👉 District Contact

Dr. Dana Greene
Director, English Learners & Dual Language/Immersion
p. 828.855.9387
email

Newcomer Center

The International Newcomer Center serves Catawba County Schools as a resource for reviewing and collecting records for the schools, and assessing English language learners’ proficiency in English. This information is used for recommending student placement in a school and for completing forms required for enrolling students. The Center staff provides bilingual communication with students and parents to facilitate enrollment. The staff also provides translations and interpretations for parent conferences and student assistance team meetings.

The International Newcomer Center is based at Sweetwater Early Childhood Education Center and serves all 28 schools in the Catawba County School System. The Newcomer Center maintains a database of all Language Minority students who enter Catawba County Schools to facilitate filing reports which generate federal and state funding. The statistics are also used to compile data for the Every Student Succeeds Act requirement for accountability, testing, and monitoring of achievement. It is important that all new students who do not speak English as their first language register at the Newcomer Center.

The Newcomer Center provides the following services for English Language Learning Students, their families, and their schools:
- Enrolls New Students
- Tests Students for English Proficiency
- Translates and Interprets
- Assists Parents With Filling Out School Forms
- Enters and Maintains ESL Database
- Makes Parent Contact for Schools
- Offers ESL Staff Development
- Serves as location for the ESL Department Office for Catawba County Schools
- Provides information for families on resources and assistance available in Catawba County