Picture by Hibaq and Hudo

King serves the most diverse population of middle school students in Maine. There are more than 28 languages spoken and 17 countries represented. The program for English Language Learners has two tiers, the Beginner Program and Mainstream Academic Support, each designed to meet the varying needs of all ELLs. It is our belief that English language students learn faster and better when they are immersed into classes with their English speaking peers so our goal is to move them out of the beginner Program and into the mainstream as quickly as possible.

The beginner program serves those students newly arrived in the United States with no English Proficiency, as well as those who have been here for a while, but are still acquiring English. Intensive literacy and math instruction is provided in a multiage, self-contained classroom. Once students have a certain level of language proficiency, as determined by testing and classroom performance, they are moved into mainstream classes.

The ELL Academic Support Program provides academic support for non-native speakers who are already in mainstream education. Certified ESL teachers work in the classrooms and with teaching teams to insure that all of our ELLs are successful. Academic support classes meet every other day and after school help is available.