Glendale Unified tallies language census

The primary language of about 58% of Glendale Unified students is one other than English, according to data released by the school district this week.

Of the roughly 60 primary languages that Glendale students speak besides English, the top three were Armenian, Spanish and Korean.

According to data collected this past spring, 23% or 5,921 of Glendale’s 26,089 students, are English-language learners, or students who are not proficient in English according to test scores and assessments.

Although the number of English learners decreased by 700 compared to spring 2012, “Our [English learners] continue to be a focus for us,” said Deb Rinder, senior director of categorical programs for Glendale Unified.

At the elementary level, English-language learners make up 37% of students across the 20 elementary schools.

Among the district’s nine secondary schools, 16.72% of middle school and high school students were classified as English learners.

During this past school year, the number of students who primarily spoke English increased by 568 to make up 41.55% or 10,841 students of Glendale Unified’s total enrollment.

In addition, 240 more students were reclassified from English-language learners to “fluent English proficient” by March 2013 compared March 2012, bringing the total number of students proficient in English to 1,267.

Their reclassification meant they had mastered writing, listening, speaking and reading skills and performed in the “high-basic” range on the California Standards Test in English.

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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.

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