Dual Language ProgramsProgramas de doble idioma
Our commitment to bilingual excellence: inclusion, equity, and belonging.
Our commitment
Bilingual excellenceExcelencia bilingüe
At the Bilingual Bicultural Mini School (BBMS), we believe that bilingual education is a cornerstone of student success, and we are fully committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We honor every student’s unique background, language, and identity, fostering a school environment where children feel both safe and seen.
We believe bilingual education is vital because it respects and builds upon a student’s home language as a foundation for all future learning. Our mission is to guide students toward becoming truly bilingual and biliterate, strengthening their ability to read, write, and speak in both English and Spanish.
By maintaining this culture, we empower our students to see their linguistic diversity as a powerful academic asset.
The Dual Language Program
Fifty-fifty, kindergarten through fifth grade
The heart of our school is the Dual Language Bilingual Education (DL) program. Across kindergarten through fifth grade, our Dual Language program follows a rigorous model where 50% of instruction is delivered in English and 50% in Spanish.
We ensure balanced language development over time, helping students build strong academic skills in both languages as they progress through the grades. To support this journey, our classrooms feature bilingual libraries that provide essential resources for vocabulary building and comprehension in both English and Spanish. Our teachers are also trained in research-based practices, including Quality Teaching of English Learners (QTEL), to support learners.
- Fig. 1
50% of instruction in English, 50% in Spanish, K through 5
50% de la enseñanza en inglés y 50% en español, de K a quinto grado
- Fig. 2
Bilingual classroom libraries for vocabulary and comprehension in both languages
Bibliotecas bilingües en cada salón para el vocabulario y la comprensión
- Fig. 3
Teachers trained in Quality Teaching of English Learners (QTEL)
Maestros capacitados en Quality Teaching of English Learners (QTEL)
- Fig. 4
English as a New Language services in addition to regular ELA classes
Servicios de inglés como nuevo idioma, además de las clases regulares de ELA
English as a New Language
ENL servicesInglés como nuevo idioma
The Bilingual Bicultural Mini School also provides English as a New Language (ENL) services. These services are designed to ensure all Multilingual Learners develop the essential skills to read, write, and speak English with confidence. The instruction is delivered by expert bilingual teachers and is provided in addition to regular ELA classes, ensuring students receive the specialized support they need without missing core curriculum.
In the classroom
Stations and project-based learningEstaciones y aprendizaje por proyectos
Our curriculum is designed to encourage meaningful discourse through English Language Arts and Math Stations, where students explore complex concepts in both languages. A key driver of this growth is Project-Based Learning (PBL). Through engaging, real-world projects, students deepen their understanding of how language and content intersect, specifically strengthening their academic vocabulary and communication skills in authentic contexts.
Academic performance
What the 2025 New York State data shows
The effectiveness of our Dual Language model is clearly reflected in our 2025 New York State performance data. While a majority of our student body are Multilingual Learners (MLLs), our students consistently outperform their peers across the city.
- Multilingual Learners at BBMS
- 62%of our student body, compared with the New York City average of 17%.
- MLL Math city rank, 2025
- 79%ileimpressive and steady growth from the 56%ile in 2023.
- MLL ELA city rank, 2025
- 63%ilea resilient performance across the elementary grades.
Our regular education students (non-IEP, non-MLL) have seen meteoric gains as well, with their ELA city rank rising from the 38%ile in 2023 to the 82%ile in 2025, and their Math city rank climbing from the 34%ile in 2023 to the 88%ile in 2025.
The success of Former MLLs
Students who stay bilingual by choice
The ultimate testament to the BBMS foundation is the performance of our Former Multilingual Learners — students who have successfully transitioned out of MLL status but often choose to remain in the Dual Language setting to refine their bilingualism. These students are now among the highest performers in the city.
- ELA proficiency
- 92%of Former MLLs achieved proficiency in 2025 — an 89%ile city rank.
- Math proficiency
- 93%of Former MLLs reached proficiency in 2025 — an 87%ile city rank.
A foundation for the future
Toward the Seal of BiliteracyHacia el Sello de Alfabetización Bilingüe
BBMS serves as the essential foundation for a lifelong bilingual journey. Our students graduate prepared for bilingual pathways in middle school, building the skills necessary to eventually earn the Bilingual Seal in high school. We are proud to provide a setting where students are academically equipped to lead in a global, multilingual society.
To ask about a Dual Language seat for your child, call the main office at (212) 860-6031.