103 Languages Spoken by our Students

2021-2022 School Year
Total Enrollment 60371
English 41044
Spanish 14830
Arabic 404
Vietnamese 401
Somali 353
Samoan 238
Tongan 159
Swahili 153
Portuguese 144
Nepali 141
Marshallese 120
Karen 99
Bosnian 97
Maay 91

Multilingual Learners

• Multilingual Learners (MLs) are students whose primary home language is a language other than English – the student or adults speak or understand another language at home.
• This can also include students who code switch at home going back and forth between multiple languages including English.
• English Learner (EL) and English Language Learner (ELL) are also commonly used terms. We recognize that students may be bilingual or multilingual already, and are working on mastering their language skills in English.

Placement Testing

Anytime a student is registered in Granite School District, the registration card or form includes the Home Language Survey.  If a language other than English is identified on the Home Language Survey, the student will take an initial language test called the WIDA Screener. The WIDA Screener helps us know the student’s language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  

There are 6 levels: 1 (entering), 2 (beginning), 3 (developing), 4 (expanding), 5 (bridging), and 6 (native-like proficiency).  We inform the student’s teacher of his or her English level. This information helps the teacher identify the best ways to support the student. 

What is the WIDA ACCESS Assessment?

WIDA ACCESS (Annual Assessment)
Alternate ACCESS (Annual assessment for students who also qualify for the DLM)

ACCESS Handout – Arabic-عربي (PDF)
ACCESS Handout – English (PDF)
ACCESS Handout – Somali-Somaliyeed (PDF)
ACCESS Handout – Spanish-Español (PDF)
ACCESS Handout – Vietnamese-Tiếng Việt (PDF)

Proficiency Based Learning and Multilingual Learners