Barbour Two-Way Lang Immersion

Barbour Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour is a public Kindergarten through 8th-grade magnet school in Rockford, IL, offering students a dual-language education in English and Spanish as part of Rockford Public Schools District 205. Located at 1506 Clover Avenue, it enrolls approximately 629 learners with a student–teacher ratio near 19:1. Despite low state proficiency levels—around 3% in math and 10% in reading—it fosters cultural inclusivity and bilingual fluency among a predominantly Hispanic student body (88%).Under a nurturing, first-class public education mission, the school emphasizes respect, belonging, and communication through structured restorative practices, including full-day retreats that bolster teamwork, community, and social-emotional learning.

Restorative Retreats (Feb 2025): In February, students in grades 3–8 participated in whole-day restorative retreats featuring vision-board creation, restorative circles, team chants, collaborative games, and relay races—all aimed at strengthening respect, inclusion, communication, and team-building. School Calendar Update (May 2025): The last school day for K–11 students is Friday, June 6, 2025, which will follow a shortened schedule (exact hours not specified).

Q1: What grades does Barbour Two-Way Language Immersion serve? A1: The school serves students from Kindergarten through 8th grade within the Rockford Public Schools District 205. Q2: How many students attend, and what is the student–teacher ratio? A2: Approximately 629 students are enrolled, with a student–teacher ratio of 19:1. Q3: What is the student demographic and academic performance like? A3: Around 88% of students are Hispanic, with small percentages being White (7%), Black (4%), and multiracial (1%).Academic proficiency is modest: 3% in math and 10% in reading, lower than statewide averages. Q4: What makes the school culturally distinctive? A4: The school’s Two-Way Immersion model supports bilingualism (English and Spanish) and cultural understanding. It also fosters an inclusive social-emotional community through restorative practices like day-long retreats focused on team-building, communication, and belonging. Q5: What are the school’s daily hours? A5: The school day is typically 7:35 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.