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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
[[File:MandarinChineseMagnetSchoolHouston.JPG|thumb|The former Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School (the school vacated this campus before fall 2016)]]
{{Infobox school
The '''Mandarin Immersion Magnet School''' ('''MIMS'''), formerly the '''Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School''' ('''MCLIMS''') is a magnet primary school located in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]. It is a part of the [[Houston Independent School District]]. The school's current campus in the [[St. George Place]] area of Houston opened in August 2016; it was previously located in the former Maud Gordon Elementary School in [[Bellaire, Texas]].<ref>"[http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/6964 Home]." Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. Retrieved on February 23, 2013. "6300 Avenue B Bellaire, Texas 77401"</ref>
| name = Mandarin Immersion Magnet School
| logo = Mandarin Immersion Magnet School Logo.png
| image = MandarinChineseSchoolHouston.jpg
| alt =
| caption = School campus
| motto = <!-- or | mottoes = -->
| motto_translation =
| address = 5445 West Alabama
| city = [[Houston]]
| state = [[Texas]]
| zipcode = 77056
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|29.737377|-95.472242|region:US-TX_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| other_name = MIMS
| former_name = Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School
| type = [[Magnet school]]
| religious_affiliation =
| established = {{Start date|2012}}
| founder = <!-- or | founders = -->
| closed = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| district = [[Houston Independent School District]]
| us_nces_school_id = {{NCES School ID|482364012659|school_name=MANDARIN IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL|access_date=January 20, 2020|ref_name=NCES}}
| principal = Cindy Tiet
| teaching_staff = 37.10 {{FTE}}<ref name="NCES" />
| grades = PK–8
| enrollment = 638 (2017–2018)<ref name="NCES" />
| ratio = 17.20<ref name="NCES" />
| language = [[English-medium education|English]] and [[Mandarin Chinese]]
| campus_size =
| campus_type =
| colors =
| athletics_conference =
| mascot =
| nickname =
| accreditation = <!-- or | accreditations = -->
| publication =
| newspaper =
| yearbook =
| affiliation = <!-- or | affiliations = -->
| website = {{URL|www.houstonisd.org/MIMS}}
| footnotes =
| module = {{Infobox Chinese
| child = yes
| order = st
| s = 中文沉浸学校
| t = 中文沉浸學校
| p = Zhōngwén Chénjìn Xuéxiào}}
}}


'''Mandarin Immersion Magnet School''' ('''MIMS'''), formerly '''Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School''' ('''MCLIMS'''), is a [[magnet school]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]], United States. It was established in 2012 and is part of the [[Houston Independent School District]] (HISD). The school's current campus in the [[St. George Place]] area of Houston opened in August 2016; it was previously located in the former Maud Gordon Elementary School in [[Bellaire, Texas]].<ref>"[http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/6964 Home]." Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. Retrieved on February 23, 2013. "6300 Avenue B Bellaire, Texas 77401"</ref>
Most of the students who were enrolled had no prior experience learning Mandarin. Some students had not yet mastered English, and/or were learning Mandarin as a third language.<ref>Gradney, Mia. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20121030194446/http://www.khou.com/community/Students-immersed-in-language-at-HISDs-first-Mandarin-Chinese-school-175499701.html Students immersed in language at HISD's first Mandarin Chinese school]" ([http://www.webcitation.org/6YY5Sif0L Archive]). ''[[KHOU]]''. Tuesday October 23, 2012. Retrieved on February 24, 2013.</ref>


==History==
== History ==
[[File:MandarinChineseMagnetSchoolHouston.JPG|thumb|left|Former campus (vacated before fall 2016).]]
The school opened in the former Maud W. Gordon Elementary School. Before 2012 Gordon had no zoning boundary of its own and it drew excess students from apartments west of Bellaire, in Houston, to relieve other schools in Houston west of Bellaire such as Benavidez, Cunningham, Elrod, and Milne. From its opening to 1953 to 1983 Gordon served as a neighborhood school. After its closure Gordon temporarily housed the [[Post Oak School]] and later served as administrative offices. It re-opened as a relief school in 1988 for Elrod and Cunningham schools.<ref name="SchoolHistoriesHISD">[http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD School Histories]. ''[[Houston Independent School District]]''. Retrieved October 4, 2008.</ref> It was scheduled to re-open in September 1988.<ref>Staff. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120617065630/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1988_559288 Principal of alternative school named]" ([http://www.webcitation.org/6YY5j0qgY Archive]). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Wednesday July 27, 1988. Section 1, Page 16. Retrieved on December 8, 2011.</ref>
The school opened in the former Maud W. Gordon Elementary School. Before 2012, Gordon had no zoning boundary of its own and it drew excess students from apartments west of Bellaire, in Houston, to relieve other schools in Houston west of Bellaire such as Benavidez, Cunningham, Elrod, and Milne. From its opening to 1953 to 1983, Gordon served as a neighborhood school. After its closure, Gordon temporarily housed the [[Post Oak School]] and later served as administrative offices. It re-opened as a relief school in 1988 for Elrod and Cunningham schools.<ref name="SchoolHistoriesHISD">{{cite web |title=School Histories |url=http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=October 4, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710153727/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0afe09c28afc3110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=2e2b2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD |archivedate=July 10, 2011}}</ref> It was scheduled to re-open in September 1988.<ref>{{cite news |title=Principal of alternative school named |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1988_559288 |accessdate=December 8, 2011 |work=Chron.com |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=July 27, 1988 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617065630/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1988_559288 |archivedate=June 17, 2012 |page=16 (section 1)}}</ref>


Harvin C. Moore, a HISD board member, took two education-related trips to China and visited a Chinese immersion program in [[San Diego, California]]. Since then he advocated for the creation of a Mandarin speaking magnet program.<ref name=Mellontospeak>"[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/HISD-school-to-speak-Mandarin-Chinese-3564191.php HISD school to speak Mandarin Chinese]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. May 16, 2012. Retrieved on February 24, 2013.</ref>
Harvin C. Moore, a HISD board member, took two education-related trips to China and visited a Chinese immersion program in [[San Diego, California]]. Since then, he advocated for the creation of a Mandarin speaking magnet program.<ref name="Mellontospeak">{{cite news |last1=Mellon |first1=Ericka |title=HISD school to speak Mandarin Chinese |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/HISD-school-to-speak-Mandarin-Chinese-3564191.php |accessdate=February 24, 2013 |work=Chron.com |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=May 16, 2012}}</ref>


In 2011 the HISD board approved the creation of a Mandarin Chinese-language immersion magnet school in the former Holden Elementary in the [[Houston Heights]].<ref>"[http://houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5dc6e8e64ae14310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=1e236a23fcc4d210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD Board Creates Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School]." [[Houston Independent School District]]. December 9, 2011. Retrieved on December 9, 2011.</ref> As of January 2012, the plans changed, and now the school was to open in Bellaire.<ref>"[http://houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=71a4d95967615310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=051bdfb83de94310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD HISD Accepting Applications for Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School]." ([http://www.webcitation.org/65IyT3nfu Archive], [http://media.houstonisd.org/communications/Longtail/images/BOEM_ChineseSch_PR.pdf PDF], [http://www.webcitation.org/65IyQdogc Archive of PDF]) [[Houston Independent School District]]. January 25, 2012. Retrieved on February 8, 2012.</ref>
In 2011, the HISD board approved the creation of a Mandarin Chinese-language immersion magnet school in the former Holden Elementary in the [[Houston Heights]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Board Creates Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School |url=http://houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5dc6e8e64ae14310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=1e236a23fcc4d210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=December 9, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161121/http://houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5dc6e8e64ae14310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=1e236a23fcc4d210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |archivedate=April 25, 2012 |date=December 9, 2011}}</ref> As of January 2012, the plans changed, and now the school was to open in Bellaire.<ref>{{cite web |title=HISD Accepting Applications for Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School |url=http://houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=71a4d95967615310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=051bdfb83de94310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=February 8, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207034656/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=71a4d95967615310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=051bdfb83de94310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |archivedate=February 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |date=January 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HISD Board of Education Creates Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School |url=http://media.houstonisd.org/communications/Longtail/images/BOEM_ChineseSch_PR.pdf |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=February 8, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316182607/http://media.houstonisd.org/communications/Longtail/images/BOEM_ChineseSch_PR.pdf |archivedate=March 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |date=December 8, 2011}}</ref>


In May 2012 the HISD board voted to spend $440,000 to renovate the Gordon campus. The school was scheduled to open in August 2012 with grades Kindergarten through 2.<ref name=Mellontospeak/> The first principal was Bryan Bordelon, previously a teacher at [[Scarborough High School (Texas)|Scarborough High School]].<ref name=EvansExaminer>Evans, Caroline. "[http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/river_oaks/news/mandarin-immersion-school-gears-up-for-first-year/article_ee30b641-226d-5d09-8de0-4aaafddb32d9.html Mandarin immersion school gears up for first year]." ''[[River Oaks Examiner]]''. Friday August 3, 2012. Retrieved on June 24, 2016.</ref>
In May 2012, the HISD board voted to spend $440,000 to renovate the Gordon campus. The school was scheduled to open in August 2012 with grades Kindergarten through 2.<ref name="Mellontospeak" /> The first principal was Bryan Bordelon, previously a teacher at [[Scarborough High School (Texas)|Scarborough High School]].<ref name="EvansExaminer">{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Caroline |title=Mandarin immersion school gears up for first year |url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/river_oaks/news/mandarin-immersion-school-gears-up-for-first-year/article_ee30b641-226d-5d09-8de0-4aaafddb32d9.html |accessdate=June 24, 2016 |work=River Oaks Examiner |date=August 3, 2012}}</ref>


The previous Gordon Elementary program was being phased out year by year.<ref>"[http://www.houstonisd.org/domain/10487 School Information]." ([http://www.webcitation.org/6EgCdKQeP Archive]) Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. Retrieved on February 24, 2013. "For the 2013-2014 school year, grades PK-3 will be included in the immersion program. Fourth and fifth grades are part of a traditional elementary school program which is being gradually phased out; we cannot accept any applications for those grade levels."</ref>
The previous Gordon Elementary program was being phased out year by year.<ref>{{cite web |title=School Information |url=http://www.houstonisd.org/domain/10487 |website=Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School |accessdate=February 24, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125080359/http://www.houstonisd.org/domain/10487 |archivedate=January 25, 2013 |url-status=live |quote=For the 2013–2014 school year, grades PK-3 will be included in the immersion program. Fourth and fifth grades are part of a traditional elementary school program which is being gradually phased out; we cannot accept any applications for those grade levels.}}</ref>


The new campus for the Mandarin School is scheduled to open in August 2016.<ref name=Bairdopening>Baird, Annette. "[http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/memorial/news/article/August-2016-opening-planned-for-Mandarin-Chinese-5973649.php August 2016 opening planned for Mandarin Chinese Language school]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Monday December 29, 2014. Retrieved on June 24, 2016.</ref>
In 2017, HISD announced plans to demolish the former MIMS campus so [[Bellaire High School (Texas)|Bellaire High School]]'s baseball practice field could be relocated there, allowing HISD to easily rebuild the high school main campus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plan to rebuild Bellaire HS moving forward |url=http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2017/06/12/plan-to-rebuild-bellaire-hs-moving-forward/ |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=June 27, 2017 |date=June 12, 2017}}</ref> The new campus for the Mandarin School was scheduled to open in August 2016.<ref name="Bairdopening">{{cite news |last1=Baird |first1=Annette |title=August 2016 opening planned for Mandarin Chinese Language school |url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/memorial/news/article/August-2016-opening-planned-for-Mandarin-Chinese-5973649.php |accessdate=June 24, 2016 |work=Chron.com |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=December 29, 2014}}</ref>


In 2019, principal Chaolin Chang resigned; he stated it was for personal reasons. A group of parents believing HISD forced Chang to resign protested, demanding that HISD reveal the reasons why he resigned and to either re-instate Chang or make another speaker of Mandarin Chinese a principal.<ref name="DowningMIMS">{{cite news |last1=Downing |first1=Margaret |title=Get Ready HISD Trustees, Parents at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School Are Headed Your Way |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/news/parents-at-mandarin-immersion-magnet-school-protest-principal-resignation-11276009 |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |work=Houston Press |date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>
==Campus==
{{expand section|date=December 2014}}
The new campus is located adjacent to St. George Place Elementary School in [[St. George Place]], [[Houston]]. The {{convert|118000|sqft|sqm}} facility has a price tag of $32 million. The 2012 HISD Bond financed the construction.<ref name=HISDBreaksGroundMandChin>"[http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2014/12/08/mandarin-chinese-language-immersion-magnet-school-breaks-ground-for-new-facility/ Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School breaks ground for new facility]." [[Houston Independent School District]]. December 8, 2014. Retrieved on December 15, 2014. [http://hisdtv.org/ground-breaking-ceremony-of-the-mandarin-chinese-language-immersion-magnet-school/ See HISDTV video]</ref> PBK Architects designed the building.<ref name=Bairdopening/> Groundbreaking occurred on December 8, 2014.<ref>"[http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2014/12/18/hisd-breaks-ground-on-four-new-campuses-celebrates-first-project-to-go-vertical/ HISD breaks ground on four new campuses, celebrates first project to ‘go vertical’]." [[Houston Independent School District]]. December 18, 2014. Retrieved on December 21, 2014.</ref>


== Curriculum ==
The campus includes an auditorium with a stage, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and a technology and design laboratory.<ref name=Bairdopening/> The campus uses a sun and moon theme,<ref name=HISDBreaksGroundMandChin/> based on the Chinese character "Míng" (明), which incorporates the sun and the moon. A three-story area known as a "sun wing" houses academic areas while community functions are held in the "moon wing"; the school uses the former to represent energy while the later is meant to represent reflection and subtlety. The school's 3D printing and robotics facilities are located in the laboratory.<ref name=Bairdopening/>
For elementary, the school uses a 50–50 immersion model. Half of the instruction is in Mandarin Chinese, provided by teachers who are native Mandarin speakers. The other half are from other teachers who reinforce the concepts that had been taught in Chinese in the English language.<ref name="Mellontospeak" /> The core subjects, mathematics, language arts, science, and social science, are taught mostly in Mandarin. However, the middle school curriculum provides only a Chinese class and math class in Mandarin. The school dedicates some of its instructional time to the development of English language skills.<ref name="Meeks">{{cite news |last1=Meeks |first1=Flori |title=School to offer core classes in Chinese |url=https://www.chron.com/bellaire/news/article/School-to-offer-core-classes-in-Chinese-3804791.php |accessdate=February 24, 2013 |work=Chron.com |publisher=Houston Chronicle |date=August 21, 2012}}</ref> Each class has two teachers, with one speaking English and the other speaking Mandarin.<ref name="EvansExaminer" />


{{As of|2012}}, the school provides [[Rosetta Stone (software)|Rosetta Stone]] software for parents who wish to learn Chinese with their children.<ref name="EvansExaminer" />
In order to facilitate the sounds of Mandarin, including its tones, the school installed a special sound system.<ref name=Bairdopening/>


=== Academic performance ===
The school will share athletic fields and green areas with St. George Place Elementary.<ref name=Bairdopening/>
{{As of|2019}}, the [[Texas Education Agency]] (TEA) issued an accountability rating of 97, among the highest of any HISD school.<ref name="DowningMIMS" />


==Curriculum==
== Student body ==
In the 2017–2018 school year, 38% of the students were Asian, 19% were non-Hispanic white, 18% were Hispanic, 17% were African-American, and 9% were Multiracial. Margaret Downing of the ''[[Houston Press]]'' characterizes this as "a diverse student body."<ref name="DowningMIMS" />
The school uses a 50-50 immersion model. Half of the instruction is in Mandarin Chinese, provided by teachers who are native Mandarin speakers. The other half are from other teachers who reinforce the concepts that had been taught in Chinese in the English language.<ref name=Mellontospeak/> The core subjects, Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Science, are taught mostly in Mandarin. The school dedicates some of its instructional time to the development of English language skills.<ref name=Meeks>Meeks, Flori. "[http://www.chron.com/bellaire/news/article/School-to-offer-core-classes-in-Chinese-3804791.php School to offer core classes in Chinese]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. August 21, 2012. Retrieved on February 24, 2013.</ref> Each class has two teachers, with one speaking English and the other speaking Mandarin.<ref name=EvansExaminer/>


{{As of|2012}}, most of the students who were enrolled had no prior experience learning Mandarin. Some students had not yet mastered English, and/or were learning Mandarin as a third language.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gradney |first1=Mia |title=Students immersed in language at HISD's first Mandarin Chinese school |url=http://www.khou.com/community/Students-immersed-in-language-at-HISDs-first-Mandarin-Chinese-school-175499701.html |accessdate=February 24, 2013 |work=KHOU 11 News |date=October 23, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030194446/http://www.khou.com/community/Students-immersed-in-language-at-HISDs-first-Mandarin-Chinese-school-175499701.html |archivedate=October 30, 2012}}</ref>
As of 2012 the school provides [[Rosetta Stone (software)|Rosetta Stone]] software for parents who wish to learn Chinese with their children.<ref name=EvansExaminer/>


==Sister schools==
== Campus ==
{{Expand section|date=December 2014}}
MIMS has two sister schools:<ref>"[http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/107722 Sister schools]." Mandarin Immersion Magnet School. Retrieved on August 2, 2016.</ref>
The new campus is located adjacent to St. George Place Elementary School in [[St. George Place]], [[Houston]]. The {{convert|118000|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} facility has a price tag of $32 million. The 2012 HISD Bond financed the construction.<ref name="HISDBreaksGroundMandChin">{{cite web |title=Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School breaks ground for new facility |url=http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2014/12/08/mandarin-chinese-language-immersion-magnet-school-breaks-ground-for-new-facility/ |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=December 15, 2014 |date=December 8, 2014}}</ref>

PBK Architects designed the building.<ref name="Bairdopening" /> Groundbreaking occurred on December 8, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=HISD breaks ground on four new campuses, celebrates first project to 'go vertical' |url=http://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/2014/12/18/hisd-breaks-ground-on-four-new-campuses-celebrates-first-project-to-go-vertical/ |website=Houston Independent School District |accessdate=December 21, 2014 |date=December 18, 2014}}</ref>

The campus includes an auditorium with a stage, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and a technology and design laboratory.<ref name="Bairdopening" /> The campus uses a sun and moon theme,<ref name="HISDBreaksGroundMandChin" /> based on the Chinese character "Míng" (明), which incorporates the sun and the moon. A three-story area known as a "sun wing" houses academic areas while community functions are held in the "moon wing"; the school uses the former to represent energy while the later is meant to represent reflection and subtlety. The school's 3D printing and robotics facilities are located in the laboratory.<ref name="Bairdopening" />

In order to facilitate the sounds of Mandarin, including its tones, the school installed a special sound system. The school shares athletic fields and green areas with St. George Place Elementary.<ref name="Bairdopening" />

== Sister schools ==
The school has two [[sister school]]s:<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister schools |url=https://www.houstonisd.org/Page/107722 |website=Mandarin Immersion Magnet School |accessdate=August 2, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Beijing]]: Elementary School Affiliated to [[Renmin University of China]] ({{zh|first=s|s=中国人民大学附属小学|p=Zhōngguó Rénmín Dàxué Fùshǔ Xiǎoxué}} or {{zh|first=s|s=人大附小|p=Réndà Fùxiǎo|labels=no}})
* [[Beijing]]: Elementary School Affiliated to [[Renmin University of China]] ({{zh|first=s|s=中国人民大学附属小学|p=Zhōngguó Rénmín Dàxué Fùshǔ Xiǎoxué}} or {{zh|first=s|s=人大附小|p=Réndà Fùxiǎo|labels=no}})
* [[Shanghai]]: The First Primary School of GaoAn Road ({{zh|first=s|s=高安路第一小学|p=Gāo'ān Lù Dìyī Xiǎoxué|labels=no}} or {{zh|first=s|s=高一小学|p=Gāoyī Xiǎoxué|labels=no}})
* [[Shanghai]]: The First Primary School of GaoAn Road ({{zh|first=s|s=高安路第一小学|p=Gāo'ān Lù Dìyī Xiǎoxué|labels=no}} or {{zh|first=s|s=高一小学|p=Gāoyī Xiǎoxué|labels=no}})


==References==
==See also==
* [[Shuang Wen School]] – English–Chinese K–8 school in New York City
{{reflist}}
* [[Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School]] – K–12 English–Chinese charter school in Hadley, Massachusetts
* [[Cupertino Language Immersion Program]] – In Cupertino, California

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mandarin Immersion Magnet School}}
* {{Official website|https://www.houstonisd.org/MIMS}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://es.houstonisd.org/gordones|title=Maud Gordon Elementary School}}


==External links==
{{Portal|Houston|Schools}}
* [http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/6964 Mandarin Immersion Magnet School]<!--Alternate URLs: http://dept.houstonisd.org/mandarin-chinese-school/index.html and http://www.houstonisd.org/mandarinchinese-->
* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://es.houstonisd.org/gordones Gordon Elementary School] (Archive)
{{Houston ISD}}
{{Houston ISD}}
{{Bellaire, Texas}}
{{Bellaire, Texas}}
{{coord|29.712957|-95.456058|type:edu|display=title}}


[[Category:Bellaire, Texas]]<!--Former location-->
[[Category:Bellaire, Texas]]<!-- Former location -->
[[Category:Chinese-American culture in Texas]]
[[Category:Chinese-American culture in Texas]]
[[Category:Chinese-language education]]
[[Category:Chinese-language education]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 2012]]<!--Date MIMS was founded-->
[[Category:Public K–8 schools in Houston]]
[[Category:Houston Independent School District]]
[[Category:Language schools in the United States]]
[[Category:Mandarin Chinese]]
[[Category:Public elementary schools in Houston]]
[[Category:Public middle schools in Houston]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in Houston]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in Houston]]
[[Category:Bilingual schools in Houston]]
[[Category:Houston Independent School District elementary schools]]
[[Category:Houston Independent School District elementary schools]]
[[Category:Houston Independent School District middle schools]]
[[Category:Houston Independent School District middle schools]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 2012]]<!--Date MIMS was founded-->
[[Category:2012 establishments in Texas]]

Latest revision as of 15:53, 15 April 2024

Mandarin Immersion Magnet School
School campus
Address
Map
5445 West Alabama

Houston
,
Texas
77056

United States
Coordinates29°44′15″N 95°28′20″W / 29.737377°N 95.472242°W / 29.737377; -95.472242
Information
Other nameMIMS
Former nameMandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School
TypeMagnet school
Established2012 (2012)
School districtHouston Independent School District
NCES School ID482364012659[1]
PrincipalCindy Tiet
Teaching staff37.10 (on an FTE basis)[1]
GradesPK–8
Enrollment638 (2017–2018)[1]
Student to teacher ratio17.20[1]
LanguageEnglish and Mandarin Chinese
Websitewww.houstonisd.org/MIMS
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese中文沉浸学校
Traditional Chinese中文沉浸學校
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhōngwén Chénjìn Xuéxiào

Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (MIMS), formerly Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School (MCLIMS), is a magnet school in Houston, Texas, United States. It was established in 2012 and is part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). The school's current campus in the St. George Place area of Houston opened in August 2016; it was previously located in the former Maud Gordon Elementary School in Bellaire, Texas.[2]

History

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Former campus (vacated before fall 2016).

The school opened in the former Maud W. Gordon Elementary School. Before 2012, Gordon had no zoning boundary of its own and it drew excess students from apartments west of Bellaire, in Houston, to relieve other schools in Houston west of Bellaire such as Benavidez, Cunningham, Elrod, and Milne. From its opening to 1953 to 1983, Gordon served as a neighborhood school. After its closure, Gordon temporarily housed the Post Oak School and later served as administrative offices. It re-opened as a relief school in 1988 for Elrod and Cunningham schools.[3] It was scheduled to re-open in September 1988.[4]

Harvin C. Moore, a HISD board member, took two education-related trips to China and visited a Chinese immersion program in San Diego, California. Since then, he advocated for the creation of a Mandarin speaking magnet program.[5]

In 2011, the HISD board approved the creation of a Mandarin Chinese-language immersion magnet school in the former Holden Elementary in the Houston Heights.[6] As of January 2012, the plans changed, and now the school was to open in Bellaire.[7][8]

In May 2012, the HISD board voted to spend $440,000 to renovate the Gordon campus. The school was scheduled to open in August 2012 with grades Kindergarten through 2.[5] The first principal was Bryan Bordelon, previously a teacher at Scarborough High School.[9]

The previous Gordon Elementary program was being phased out year by year.[10]

In 2017, HISD announced plans to demolish the former MIMS campus so Bellaire High School's baseball practice field could be relocated there, allowing HISD to easily rebuild the high school main campus.[11] The new campus for the Mandarin School was scheduled to open in August 2016.[12]

In 2019, principal Chaolin Chang resigned; he stated it was for personal reasons. A group of parents believing HISD forced Chang to resign protested, demanding that HISD reveal the reasons why he resigned and to either re-instate Chang or make another speaker of Mandarin Chinese a principal.[13]

Curriculum

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For elementary, the school uses a 50–50 immersion model. Half of the instruction is in Mandarin Chinese, provided by teachers who are native Mandarin speakers. The other half are from other teachers who reinforce the concepts that had been taught in Chinese in the English language.[5] The core subjects, mathematics, language arts, science, and social science, are taught mostly in Mandarin. However, the middle school curriculum provides only a Chinese class and math class in Mandarin. The school dedicates some of its instructional time to the development of English language skills.[14] Each class has two teachers, with one speaking English and the other speaking Mandarin.[9]

As of 2012, the school provides Rosetta Stone software for parents who wish to learn Chinese with their children.[9]

Academic performance

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As of 2019, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued an accountability rating of 97, among the highest of any HISD school.[13]

Student body

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In the 2017–2018 school year, 38% of the students were Asian, 19% were non-Hispanic white, 18% were Hispanic, 17% were African-American, and 9% were Multiracial. Margaret Downing of the Houston Press characterizes this as "a diverse student body."[13]

As of 2012, most of the students who were enrolled had no prior experience learning Mandarin. Some students had not yet mastered English, and/or were learning Mandarin as a third language.[15]

Campus

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The new campus is located adjacent to St. George Place Elementary School in St. George Place, Houston. The 118,000-square-foot (11,000 m2) facility has a price tag of $32 million. The 2012 HISD Bond financed the construction.[16]

PBK Architects designed the building.[12] Groundbreaking occurred on December 8, 2014.[17]

The campus includes an auditorium with a stage, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and a technology and design laboratory.[12] The campus uses a sun and moon theme,[16] based on the Chinese character "Míng" (明), which incorporates the sun and the moon. A three-story area known as a "sun wing" houses academic areas while community functions are held in the "moon wing"; the school uses the former to represent energy while the later is meant to represent reflection and subtlety. The school's 3D printing and robotics facilities are located in the laboratory.[12]

In order to facilitate the sounds of Mandarin, including its tones, the school installed a special sound system. The school shares athletic fields and green areas with St. George Place Elementary.[12]

Sister schools

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The school has two sister schools:[18]

  • Beijing: Elementary School Affiliated to Renmin University of China (Chinese: 中国人民大学附属小学; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Dàxué Fùshǔ Xiǎoxué or 人大附小; Réndà Fùxiǎo)
  • Shanghai: The First Primary School of GaoAn Road (高安路第一小学; Gāo'ān Lù Dìyī Xiǎoxué or 高一小学; Gāoyī Xiǎoxué)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Search for Public Schools - MANDARIN IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL (482364012659)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Home." Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. Retrieved on February 23, 2013. "6300 Avenue B Bellaire, Texas 77401"
  3. ^ "School Histories". Houston Independent School District. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
  4. ^ "Principal of alternative school named". Chron.com. Houston Chronicle. July 27, 1988. p. 16 (section 1). Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Mellon, Ericka (May 16, 2012). "HISD school to speak Mandarin Chinese". Chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  6. ^ "Board Creates Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School". Houston Independent School District. December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  7. ^ "HISD Accepting Applications for Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School". Houston Independent School District. January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  8. ^ "HISD Board of Education Creates Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School" (PDF). Houston Independent School District. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 16, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c Evans, Caroline (August 3, 2012). "Mandarin immersion school gears up for first year". River Oaks Examiner. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  10. ^ "School Information". Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013. For the 2013–2014 school year, grades PK-3 will be included in the immersion program. Fourth and fifth grades are part of a traditional elementary school program which is being gradually phased out; we cannot accept any applications for those grade levels.
  11. ^ "Plan to rebuild Bellaire HS moving forward". Houston Independent School District. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e Baird, Annette (December 29, 2014). "August 2016 opening planned for Mandarin Chinese Language school". Chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c Downing, Margaret (April 11, 2019). "Get Ready HISD Trustees, Parents at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School Are Headed Your Way". Houston Press. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  14. ^ Meeks, Flori (August 21, 2012). "School to offer core classes in Chinese". Chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  15. ^ Gradney, Mia (October 23, 2012). "Students immersed in language at HISD's first Mandarin Chinese school". KHOU 11 News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School breaks ground for new facility". Houston Independent School District. December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  17. ^ "HISD breaks ground on four new campuses, celebrates first project to 'go vertical'". Houston Independent School District. December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  18. ^ "Sister schools". Mandarin Immersion Magnet School. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
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