123 students start at Aurora's new dual-language school

Aurora Public Schools opened its first dual-language magnet school last month with an initial cohort of 123 students. The school, officially named Escuela Bilingüe Betty Benavidez, serves a district where roughly half of all enrolled students speak Spanish as their first language. Principal Anabel Rafoul stated that the district has over 20,000 students in this demographic out of a total enrollment of approximately 40,000.

The school is named after Betty Benavidez, the first Latina elected to the Colorado Legislature in 1971. Benavidez sponsored the Bilingual Bicultural Act, which served as the structural foundation for bilingual education in Colorado. She died in 2013. The school’s name is pronounced es-SKWAY-luh buh-LEEN-gway Betty Benavidez, according to district spokesperson Corey Christiansen.

Rafoul described the school as a historic and accessible public option for the region. Hispanic and Latino residents make up 31% of Aurora’s total population, based on recent census data. Because it is a magnet school, students are not limited to a specific neighborhood boundary. Families from across the district can apply for enrollment.

The academic program integrates students into a dual-language model from preschool through fifth grade. For the youngest students, instruction is delivered in Spanish 90% of the time and in English 10% of the time. As students advance through the grades, the ratio shifts. First graders spend 80% of their day in Spanish and 20% in English. By the time students reach fifth grade, the instruction is split evenly, with 50% of the time in Spanish and 50% in English.

Rafoul noted that English literacy remains a constant component of the curriculum. Some classes are taught in English while others are taught in Spanish as students progress through the grade levels. This structure allows students to develop proficiency in both languages simultaneously rather than transitioning from one to the other at a later date.

Rafoul has taught in Colorado for more than two decades. She moved from Mexico to the United States to work in bilingual education. She holds a master’s degree in Linguistically Diverse Education from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her previous roles include elementary school teacher, biliteracy instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal.

The school currently operates with three grade levels. Rafoul indicated that the student body will continue to grow until the program reaches fifth grade. She said that having students in the building after a year of operational planning has been a positive experience for the staff. The small size of the school allows educators to work directly with families and parents on a regular basis.

Recent additions to the school staff include a new music teacher. The administration is also in the process of expanding the school library. Rafoul described these resources as tools to enrich the educational experience for students. She stated that students have responded well to learning in Spanish.

The application window for the 2027-2028 school year magnet program opens on November 13. This deadline applies to La Escuela Bilingüe Betty Benavidez and to other magnet schools across Aurora Public Schools. Families interested in enrolling their children must submit applications by that date to be considered for the next intake.