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Grade Levels K–8

How our immersion program deepens across nine years of learning.

Learning Journey

From Kindergarten to 8th Grade

EVA's immersion program is designed as a nine-year progression. Language skills, content complexity, and academic expectations all grow together.

K–2
Primary

The Immersion Foundation

These are the foundational years. Research shows young children acquire language most naturally and completely before age 7. EVA leverages this critical window by immersing students fully - Mandarin and English - from the very first day of Kindergarten.

Students develop phonological awareness, character recognition, number sense, and early literacy simultaneously in two languages. By end of Grade 2, most students can read simple texts in both Mandarin and English.

Phonics in 2 languages Character writing begins K Math in Mandarin
Focus Areas
  • Oral language development
  • Phonics (Pinyin + English)
  • Number sense
  • Character recognition
  • Listening comprehension
3–5
Intermediate

Bridging Language to Content

Students transition from learning to read to reading to learn - in both languages. Mandarin instruction becomes increasingly academic: students write research paragraphs in Chinese, solve multi-step math problems in Mandarin, and conduct science experiments using both Mandarin and English lab reports.

NC EOG testing begins in Grade 3. EVA students consistently meet or exceed grade-level expectations, demonstrating that immersion does not impede English academic achievement.

NC EOG Grades 3–5 Writing in both languages STEM integration
Focus Areas
  • Reading comprehension
  • Academic writing
  • Math problem-solving
  • Mandarin essay structure
  • Social studies / science inquiry
6–8
Middle School

Advanced Bilingual Literacy & College Readiness

EVA's middle school years culminate nine years of immersion instruction with students who are genuinely bilingual and academically rigorous. Mandarin instruction focuses on complex literary analysis, formal essay writing, and content-specific vocabulary in science and social studies.

Grade 8 students complete a capstone project, prepare for high school world language placement (many skip Level 1 entirely), and leave EVA ready for Advanced courses in high school.

High School Ready Capstone Project ACTFL Proficiency Assessment
Focus Areas
  • Literary analysis
  • Mandarin debate & presentation
  • Pre-algebra / algebra
  • Research papers (both languages)
  • 8th grade capstone project

Start the Journey in Kindergarten

The earlier students enter our immersion program, the deeper their language proficiency grows. Apply for Kindergarten today.

Apply Now