This spring, Berwyn North School District 98 celebrated a milestone years in the making as the first group of students to complete the district’s Dual Language Program graduated from eighth grade at Lincoln Middle School.

For these students, the achievement represents more than the completion of middle school. They are the pioneers of a program that began in the 2017-18 school year, when District 98 launched its Dual Language initiative with preschool and kindergarten students. Over the past nine years, those students have grown alongside the program, advancing one grade level at a time until becoming the first class to complete the full PreK-8 Dual Language experience.

District leaders envisioned the program as a way to develop bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural learners prepared to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. Today, that vision has become a reality.

Throughout their educational journey, students learned academic content in both English and Spanish, developing literacy, communication skills, and cultural awareness in two languages. The program brings together students from diverse linguistic backgrounds in classrooms where English and Spanish are valued equally, fostering collaboration, respect, and cross-cultural understanding.

“This graduating class has made history,” district officials said. “They took a path that had never been traveled before in District 98 and helped demonstrate what is possible through dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to bilingualism.”

The graduates’ accomplishment is particularly significant because they entered the program during its inaugural year. As the district expanded the model annually, these students became ambassadors for dual language education, adapting to new opportunities and helping shape the program’s growth.

Research has consistently shown that dual language students benefit academically while gaining valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, and cultural competency. District 98’s program was designed to help students become fluent in both English and Spanish while maintaining high academic achievement across all subject areas.

As the inaugural cohort prepares to enter high school, many students are expected to continue building on their bilingual skills and work toward earning the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy in the future.

For families, teachers, and administrators, the moment is a source of pride. What began as an ambitious educational initiative nearly a decade ago has now produced its first graduates — students who leave District 98 not only as middle school graduates, but as bilingual learners prepared to thrive in a diverse and global society.

While this class may be the first to complete the entire Dual Language journey, district leaders say it is only the beginning. Future cohorts will follow the trail these students have blazed, carrying forward a legacy of bilingualism, biliteracy, and cultural understanding that will continue to shape the future of Berwyn North School District 98.