Draper parents considering Spanish immersion for their children can hear directly from Canyons School District leaders at Altara Elementary on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The school is hosting a Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) informational meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. in the gym, according to Altara's Oct. 27 newsletter. District personnel will explain enrollment targets for the 2027-2028 school year and the process for deciding whether Altara can support one or two first-grade DLI classes.

The stakes are straightforward. At least 50 students must commit to DLI by Jan. 15, 2027, for a school to run two immersion classes, according to the district's DLI page. The school must also have at least 19 students for a neighborhood, non-immersion classroom.

If fewer than 50 students commit, the school may drop to a single DLI class of up to 30 students. That larger single class is meant to absorb normal attrition as students advance through the grades.

Canyons Superintendent Dr. McKay Robinson said the district is trying to balance access with reality. "We remain absolutely committed to Dual-Language Immersion and want families to continue applying," Robinson said in a district announcement. "At the same time, demographic changes require us to be thoughtful about how we structure these programs so they remain strong and sustainable for years to come."

Declining birth rates, rising housing costs and other demographic shifts are producing fewer school-age children across Salt Lake County, according to a separate Canyons District news release. Some Canyons schools did not have enough incoming first-graders to sustain a two-class DLI model this past year and had to shift to one class.

The Canyons Board of Education reviewed the enrollment-based framework at its Aug. 18 meeting. Robinson told the board that a two-class cohort traditionally starts with about 56 immersion students, or 28 per class, according to a board meeting summary. No long-term decisions have been made, Robinson said, and the district wants families to help shape future planning.

Altara is one of five Canyons elementary schools offering Spanish DLI. The others are Alta View, Midvalley, Silver Mesa and Midvale. The district also runs French programs at Butler and Oak Hollow and Mandarin Chinese programs at Draper, Lone Peak and Ridgecrest.

Applications for first-grade DLI enrollment in the 2027-2028 school year opened Sept. 30 and close Dec. 15. Any kindergarten-aged student entering first grade in fall 2027 may apply. A lottery determines placement if applicants exceed available seats.

The district updates application counts on its website each Friday so families can track enrollment progress at their school. Final cohort decisions will be based on the number of students committed by Jan. 15, 2027.

Altara Elementary also holds a PTA meeting on Nov. 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. A literacy night is scheduled for Nov. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m.