The majority of the students at Jackson County High School speak English as the first language. With the exception of our modern language courses in Spanish and French, English is the language of instruction. However, other languages spoken by students are primarily Spanish and Hmong.

At this time our Language B offerings are French and Spanish; however, the community is growing in diversity as it transitions to a more metropolitan population. As such, there is a growing need to accommodate speakers of other languages.  With that transition, our school aims to grow the current French program and will consider additional Language B offerings as the need arises.  

Students will be allowed to self-study Language A courses in their mother tongue with the assistance of a community-based tutor.

• EL teachers

• 1:1 technology

Currently, the school offers three IB language courses:

• IB Spanish B SL: Students who begin taking Spanish courses in middle school or who take multiple Spanish courses in an academic year will be on track to take this course after completing Spanish III.

• IB Spanish ab initio SL and IB French ab initio SL: Students who begin taking Spanish or French courses during ninth or tenth grade will be on track to take this course, after completing Spanish/French I or Spanish/French II.

• IB English B SL: Students who are non-native English speakers can take this course as a sheltered EL course in 11th and 12th grade.

Students will be allowed to self-study Language A courses in their mother tongue with the assistance of a community-based tutor.

Enrichment opportunities are available to all Jackson County High School students to enhance their experience in languages and global cultures. By participating within these opportunities our student body is able to increase their cultural and international mindedness.  In addition, participation in these opportunities recognizes and encourages the use of a  students’ first language to maintain cultural identity and build a supportive environment.  Currently, our school offers the following extracurricular opportunities:

• International Club

• Spanish Honor Society 

• French Honor Society

• Key Club

• International Skills Diploma Seal

At Jackson County High School, our English Language Learners (ELL) population is enrolled in general education classes with the rest of the student body as a means to introduce them to the language but also immerse them into the culture. Our ELL students are identified based on their central enrollment paperwork upon entering our district. ELL students make up approximately 1% of the student population and have access to specialized services. The school also has two dedicated ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) teachers who assist these students and provide specialized supports to bridge the students’ knowledge of the English language in the content areas. 

Please see the inclusion policy for more information about ELL services in the IB program.

Students can earn the AAPPL Seal of Biliteracy upon successful completion of a series of assessments across language skills. The Seal recognizes students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages before graduating from high school. For students in IB Spanish B SL, the Seal of Biliteracy is currently available in English and Spanish based on exam scores; other students may earn the Seal of Biliteracy based on state requirements.