Worcester Dual Language Magnet School to Expand Through Eighth Grade
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for clarity. Grades 7 and 8 are not new to the district’s dual language program. Students in those grades are currently served at Burncoat Middle School and will be relocated to the Worcester Dual Language Magnet School beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
By Jerry Filmore
Worcester Public Schools announced Monday that the Worcester Dual Language Magnet School will include seventh and eighth grades at its Chandler Street location. The change will take effect starting in the 2026–27 academic year and will bring those grades, which are currently part of the district’s dual language program at Burncoat Middle School, into the magnet school setting.
Located at 525 Chandler Street, the school currently serves students from preschool through sixth grade. According to a statement from Worcester Public Schools, the program utilizes a two-way bilingual education model with instruction in both English and Spanish. Admission to the magnet program is available citywide and managed through a lottery application process.
For Worcester families, this change provides a continued pathway for middle school bilingual education within the public system. Superintendent Brian E. Allen stated that bringing the middle school grades to the Chandler Street location is a step toward scaling successful educational models and ensuring more students graduate with multilingual skills. Principal Suzanna Resendes noted that the shift reaffirms a commitment to cultivating global citizens who possess the cultural skills to thrive in an interconnected world.
The dual language model is structured so that students typically begin in preschool or kindergarten with instruction conducted 90 percent of the time in Spanish and 10 percent in English. The proportion of English instruction increases annually until it reaches an equal 50-50 split by the third grade. The district noted that the program includes both native English and native Spanish speakers, treating a student’s primary language as an asset rather than a barrier.
Students in the dual language program continue through high school at Burncoat High School.
In addition to the magnet school, Worcester Public Schools operates a second dual language program for grades K-6 at Woodland Academy, which serves students through a residential-based admissions process.
Registration for the preschool and kindergarten admissions lottery for the magnet school is currently open. Families must apply by the deadline of Friday, May 1, 2026. The district will notify families of lottery results before May 22, and those accepted must confirm their placement by May 29. Detailed information on the process can be found on the Worcester Public Schools enrollment page.
🔍 The W.U.W. Verification Box
Project / Topic: Worcester Dual Language Program Grade Reconfiguration (Chandler Street Location)
Current Status: Grades 7 and 8 will be relocated to the Worcester Dual Language Magnet School for the 2026–27 school year; lottery registration is open for early grade admissions
Key Dates or Decisions: May 1, 2026 (Lottery deadline); May 22, 2026 (Notification date); May 29, 2026 (Acceptance deadline)
Estimated Cost (if applicable): Not publicly disclosed
Timeline (if known): Grades 7 and 8 to be housed at the Chandler Street school beginning in the 2026–27 academic year
Immediate Next Steps: Families interested in preschool or kindergarten placement must complete the lottery application by May 1, 2026
Primary Sources: Worcester Public Schools official press release
What We Do Not Yet Know: Details on how middle school grade relocation will impact classroom space, staffing, or facility use at the Chandler Street location
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