Seacoast schools aim to meet the needs of diverse populations

Hands on a globe --- Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

The Portsmouth Herald reported on how schools are responding to “what Superintendent Stephen Zadravec describes as a ‘dramatic’ increase in students speaking little or no English and they are not alone across the Seacoast.”  The report goes on to say,

The number of ESOL or English for speakers of other languages students in the district has jumped from 60 in the 2010-2011 school year to 101 this year, Zadravec said…..Dover Schools Superintendent Elaine Arbour reported there are 142 ESOL students in Garrison City schools and “that number is increasing as the school year progresses.”

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ESOL students speak 22 different languages in Portsmouth schools, according to an annual report filed with the state.

According to NHDOE data, the total number of New Hampshire students requiring ESOL support has increased by 25% since 2012, from about 3,000 to over 3,800.  Half of that 800 students increase is in Manchester, with another 250 student increase in Nashua and Concord.