Academics at The Magellan International School

Grade Levels

The Magellan International School currently serves Pre-Primary through 2nd Grade. The School will be adding one grade level per year until a full Pre-Primary through High School program is completed. Current age guidelines for entrance into each grade level are as follows:

Pre-Primary: 4 years by Dec 2009 - mature 3 year old children on a case-by-case basis
Kindergarten: 5 years by Dec 2009
First Grade: 6 years by Dec 2009
Second Grade: 7 years by Dec 2009

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme

The Magellan International School uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) established by the International Baccalaureate Organizatio (IBO) as a framework for its curriculum. The framework consists of a process whereby teachers plan activities, engage students in learning, assess the success of their students in reaching the goals established, and then reformulate the plan according to the results.

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an international, transdisciplinary program designed to foster the development of the whole student encompassing social, physical emotional and cultural needs as well as academic welfare.

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. The Mission, Vision, and Values of MIS are aligned directly with those of the IB.

For more information on the IB PYP you can visit our IB PYP FAQ page or the IBO website.

Dual Language Immersion

The MIS academic program is a cohesive academic program, taught and learned in two languages, English and Spanish, with Mandarin as a third language requirement but not part of the academic subject matter delivery. In other words, your children will go to school and engage in academic activities (math, science, social studies, arts, etc.) in both English and Spanish and will take Mandarin as a language class. The ratios of time spent in each language are as follows:

Pre-Primary through 2nd Grade: 80% Spanish and 20% English
3rd Grade and above: 45% English, 45% Spanish, and 10% Mandarin

The language immersion model at MIS is designed to ensure that all children become bi-literate, not just bi-lingual, in both English and Spanish and develop language proficiency in Mandarin. Children at MIS will attain literacy equivalent to children in Spanish speaking countries while also achieving the same in English. They will be able to read a novel and write an essay on it, for example, in either language. They will also be able to speak, read, and communicate effectively in Mandarin.

School Day & Calendar

All school programs are full day (8:30 am - 3 pm) and full week (M-F) due to the pedagogical requirements of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and the nature of the Dual Language immersion instruction at the school. The Magellan International School is committed to being a dual working parent family friendly school and will provide early drop off starting at 7:30 am at no charge and late pickup ending at 6:00 pm for an additional fee.

The 2009/2010 School Calendar aligns closely with that of AISD and other private schools in Austin with the exception of an October break which will be used by teachers to plan IB curriculum.