DLI Program Participation
2026 - 2027 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program Application Process
DLI Program Admission is outlined in APS Board Policy JBC-R (4). Registering adults should complete the DLI application below and return it, along with the completed APS Student Enrollment form, to their child's school by the deadline. The APS Student Enrollment and DLI program applications are available online. The application does not guarantee your child a spot.
Learn more about the APS student enrollment and access the online registration form.
Participation: The APS DLI program serves only students who reside within the school's attendance zone, unless the school is designated as a Choice School. If interest in the DLI program exceeds available slots, DLI placement will be determined through a district-conducted lottery. Parents will be notified of lottery results via an email from the lottery portal. Priority is given to siblings of students currently in the APS DLI program. Twins will be treated as a single applicant in the lottery process.
Native English speakers may begin the DLI program only in Kindergarten or 1st grade, unless the student has prior participation in a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program or sufficient Spanish proficiency to meet the grade-level targets for that grade. Native Spanish speakers who are new to the country may begin the DLI program at any grade level. Native/Heritage Spanish speakers who begin in grade 2 or higher and have been schooled only in English will need to complete a Spanish language assessment to demonstrate sufficient proficiency to meet the grade-level targets.
Students who enroll in a DLI program through the school choice process are not eligible to participate in the DLI Lottery in early June. A separate lottery process is held in late June, after the lottery for students residing within the attendance zone is completed.
After the first week of school, admission to fill any remaining seats will be based on the lottery's waitlist results. Priority admission is given to students zoned for the school and in the following order:
- The student is a native speaker of the DLI program partner language.
- The student is transferring from another DLI program of the same partner language. (A DLI program school is one in which 50% or more of daily instruction is provided in the target language by the primary classroom teacher)
Locations
The DLI program is currently offered at the North Atlanta and Maynard Jackson Clusters. Each school offers a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program for students in their school zone at the listed grade levels. Students begin in Kindergarten and continue each year within the feeder pattern. Visit the DLI Articulation page to learn more about schools offering the DLI program.
Kindergarten
The APS DLI Kindergarten Program application is available only online and can be accessed via a link in the APS Online Registration Form. If you submitted the APS Student Enrollment Form before accessing the link, go to https://apsgatransfer.scriborder.com/ to access the APS DLI Application. Kindergarten DLI enrollment is completed through a centralized Lottery process. The APS Student Enrollment Form and the online DLI application must be completed and submitted by the deadline to be included in the lottery.
Application Window: March 9 - June 1, 2026. All DLI Applications for students zoned to a DLI school must be submitted by Monday, June 1, 2026, for inclusion in the DLI June Lottery.
Note: Benteen Elementary and Garden Hills Elementary Early Decision Applications March 9th - 12th; Early Decision Lottery for in-zone students at these two schools ONLY will be March 16, 2026.
Access information on the APS Kindergarten student registration and enrollment process.
First Grade
This application is part of the DLI program admission process and does not guarantee selection into the program. This application allows APS DLI program schools to collect information from families interested in a 1st-grade DLI program slot, should one become available at the APS DLI program school where the student is already enrolled. Per APS Board Regulation, priority admission is given to students who are native Spanish speakers, are currently enrolled in a Spanish DLI program, or are siblings of students already enrolled in the DLI program. The APS DLI program serves only students who reside within the school’s attendance zone, unless the school is designated a Choice School. This application is considered complete only once the student is enrolled in the DLI program.
Access to the online APS First Grade DLI application will be available in 2026.
Second Grade and Up
This application is part of the DLI program admission process and does not guarantee selection into the program. This application allows APS DLI program schools to collect information from families interested in the DLI program for students in grades 2 or higher at the school where the student is already enrolled. Students must have demonstrated language proficiency in the partner language. For example,
- The student is a native speaker of the DLI program partner language.
- The student is transferring from another DLI program of the same partner language.
The district may administer a Spanish-language screener to confirm language proficiency, support entry into the DLI program, and ensure student success in the program. The APS DLI program serves only students who reside within the school’s attendance zone, unless the school is designated a Choice School. This application is considered complete only after the student is enrolled in the DLI program, and it should be submitted to the school with the APS Student Enrollment Application.
Access to the online APS DLI application for 2nd grade and up will be available in 2026.