About

At Foreign Language Academy, our goal is to deliver a world-class educational experience in KC. FLA currently offers the only Spanish and Mandarin Chinese immersion program in the metro. As a family-based school, FLA offers a variety of programs, sports and activities to our students. With an internationally- diverse staff, students excel beyond traditional urban limits to experience exceptional learning and academic success. Immersion education is a method of instruction in which the regular school curriculum is taught in the target language. Bilingual students have multiple advantages, no matter the language. Research indicates early age proficiency in a second language enhances a child’s cognitive ability, improves overall school performance and gives a student an advantage in high school, college and the workforce. The goal of FLA’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program along with the “Leader In Me” program is to go beyond just teaching to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to become tomorrow’s leaders. We aim to develop students who think critically and are prepared for tomorrow’s global economy. By providing programs that offer students essential life skills and leadership characteristic, students can help build a better world through inter-cultural understanding and accountability.

Spanish is an important language within our country. A language spoken from the streets of Madrid to the foothills of the Andes, Spanish is one of the most popular languages for children in the US to learn today. Plus, a rising number of employers prefer individuals who can speak Spanish fluently. At FLA, Spanish is the language of instruction for all classroom instruction (except for specials). The curriculum is aligned with that of KCPS and FLA students often exceed these standards. Each year, eighth grade Spanish students fundraise throughout the year to help support a trip to Puerto Rico. This provides students an extraordinary experience outside the country as well as an opportunity to utilize their language skills in everyday life.

While English and Spanish are the two most popularly spoken languages in the USA, Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Of the Chinese dialects, Mandarin is spoken as a first language in a vast area of northern and southwestern mainland China. Here at FLA, Mandarin Chinese is the language of instruction for all classroom instruction (except for specials). The curriculum is aligned with that of KCPS and FLA students often exceed these standards.

Admission Requirements: After the first grade, students must demonstrate language proficiency to enter this program.