Families at Bridgeport and Metzger elementary schools could see major changes under a Tigard-Tualatin School District proposal to convert both campuses into dedicated Spanish-English immersion schools.
The plan, presented to the school board Monday, Oct. 12, would phase in schoolwide two-way immersion instruction at both schools over six years beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The proposal was first reported by Valley Times.
New kindergarten immersion classes would be added each year. Students in the current neighborhood attendance zones for Bridgeport and Metzger who are not in the immersion program would be reassigned to nearby elementary schools, according to district officials.
The district now runs a "school-within-a-school" model at both campuses, where immersion and traditional classrooms operate side by side.
That limits how many students districtwide can participate.
Superintendent Iton Udosenata said in a statement that the change would let each school "focus on a single, unified way of teaching, eliminating the challenges of running two separate academic programs under one roof."
The immersion program started in fall 2012 with a single kindergarten class at Metzger Elementary. In May 2025, the district held a recognition ceremony at Tigard High School for more than 40 students, many from that first cohort. The majority of students who stay in the program through high school earn an Oregon State Seal of Biliteracy, which certifies a high level of proficiency in two or more languages.
In the current program, kindergarteners spend 90% of their school day learning in Spanish and 10% in English. By fourth grade, instruction is split evenly between the two languages.
The district has not set specific dates, but listening sessions to gather community feedback on the expansion are planned for later in October and in November. The next regular school board meeting is Monday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. at the TTSD Training Center, 9550 SW Murdock St. in Tigard.
