Manchester Elementary

Our instructional model

Dual Language Immersion

Manchester Elementary is the only K–8 school on the coast offering a dual language immersion program in Spanish and English, providing students with the opportunity to build on their native language while becoming proficient in more than one language. This powerful model is grounded in decades of research—not opinion—which consistently shows that students in dual language programs develop stronger literacy skills in both English and Spanish and often outperform their peers in English-only settings over time. It also addresses a common misconception: students do not need to be in an English-only program to learn English. In fact, research demonstrates that students develop English more effectively when their primary language is strengthened alongside it. Through this approach, students build academic confidence, critical thinking skills, and graduate bilingual, biliterate, and well-prepared for college, career, and a global society.

Multi-grade Classrooms

Multi-grade classrooms are where students from more than one grade level learn together—offer a range of academic, social, and developmental benefits when implemented with intentional pedagogy. The model encourages peer-tutoring and collaborative learning, promotes social/emotional development, and allows for differentiated instruction. Research indicates that multigrade settings can improve performance in areas like math and language for younger students and at least match single-grade achievement overall. This is partly because students can engage with content at their own pace and receive individualized attention rather than being strictly bound by grade-level pacing guides.

Personalized Learning

Our classes are small and our staff are dedicated. Throughout the day, students rotate through small-group learning stations, engaged in high-quality, personalized learning. Students are able to be accelerated and supported because each learner is known for their individual learning profile and instruction is differentiated. Students move at their own pace,

Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional approach in which students gain knowledge and skills by working over an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex, authentic question, problem, or challenge. Rather than learning content first and applying it later, students learn by actively doing—through inquiry, collaboration, and iterative refinement of a final product or presentation.