World Languages

At the elementary level, APS offers Spanish Dual Language Immersion (DLI) at two schools. The program is designed to benefit both Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers.

Learn About Dual Language Immersion

IB Spanish at Randolph

International Baccalaureate schools, such as Randolph Elementary, are committed to multilingualism as a means of affirming cultural identity and developing international-mindedness. The term “multilingualism” in the Primary Years Program refers to linguistic ability in more than one language, and recognizes that each of a student’s languages may be developed to different levels, and within different contexts, depending on their social and academic experiences.

Randolph, an IB World School

There are eight languages offered across Arlington Public Schools at the secondary level. In addition, the Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program continues at the secondary level.

To gain an understanding of the common course progression pathways available, by language, view the linked APS World Language Course Progression Flowcharts.

Program Goals and Standards:

• Goal 1: Communication
  Use knowledge and language skills for functional communication.
• Goal 2: Cultures
  Gain knowledge of other cultural perspectives and practices.
• Goal 3: Connections
  Connect foreign language study to experiences in other curricular areas to personal interests.
• Goal 4: Comparisons
  Compare the target language and culture with their own language and culture.
• Goal 5: Communities
  Use the language and apply learning to the world beyond the classroom.

Proficiency Expectations

Based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Virginia Standards of Learning, the APS World Languages Office has created language expectations by level. These are used as a guide for what students should be able to do with the language at the completion of a year of study. Descriptors of proficiency: ACTFL Levels of Proficiency

Registration for Credit by Exam (CBE) is now OPEN for the 2026-27 school year.

Note: Registration for CBE closes on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 4:00 PM.

Students in grades 9-12 who have proficiency in another language have the opportunity to take a proficiency exam and potentially earn up to four world language credits in nearly 100 languages.  It is important to note that credits cannot be duplicated on a transcript, nor can a proficiency test replace a previously earned grade taken in high school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Credit by Exam?
Arlington Public Schools allows students with the ability to comprehend and communicate in languages other than English to earn high school credits through selected world language tests. Credit by Exam measures students’ foreign language proficiency in order to award up to four high school foreign language credits. We use nationally-normed tests such as STAMP and OPI for most languages.

Click here for more about the test itself, preparation tips, and technology setup.

How does participating in the credit by exam help students?
If students wish to graduate with an Advanced Studies Diploma (ASD), they will need to earn world language credits. These are earned by taking three years of one language (3 x 1) or two years each of two different languages (2 x 2). The successful participation in the exam will allow students to earn credits that they can use towards the ASD.

How many world language credits can be earned through the exam?
Students can earn between one and four high school world language credits, depending on their performance on the exam.

If a student was placed into a higher level class because of their language skills, they can take the test to earn retroactive credit for prior levels.

If a student is enrolled in level III and receives four credits on the exam, only one additional credit, credit for level IV can be added to their transcript. Multiple credits for the same world language course cannot be awarded. 

How will my score on this assessment help me obtain a Seal of Biliteracy?
Since 2015-16 the Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded to students who pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English at the proficient or higher level (11th grade SOL Reading and Writing exams) and who score an intermediate-mid level (“IM” or a score of “5”) or higher in another language on a nationally-normed exam.

The Seal of Biliteracy is not officially awarded until graduation; it is placed on students’ high school diplomas.

Who is eligible to take the exam?
Students in grades 9-12 who have had substantial experience outside of school listening, speaking or signing, reading, and writing in their native language are able to take the exam.

Students interested in receiving credit by taking a language proficiency test should at least be at the Novice High level and be able to:

• Ask and answer simple questions in full sentences.
• Make simple statements in a conversation.
• Communicate basic information about oneself, people they know, and daily activities.
• Express likes and dislikes in writing and speaking.
• Fill out a form with basic information.
• Read and write a list of daily activities.

Who is not eligible to take the exam?
Students who have already taken a class and did not pass or are looking to improve a prior grade through testing; this is not possible.

Additionally, students enrolled in Spanish for Fluent Speakers III or any Level IV world language class should not take this test, unless they are looking to earn retroactive credits due to testing; otherwise they will take an abridged version of this test during their coursework to attempt to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

If my child is not a native speaker of the language but has a high level of proficiency, can my child participate?
Yes, but the student must be able to read, listen, write and speak in the exam language. Students scores are not an average of all sections – they can only earn credits based on the lowest score among all sections.

Will my child receive a grade for taking the exam?
Your student will not receive any letter grade that will impact the grade point average (GPA). If successful, your student will receive credit(s) for the language tested and a “P” for “pass” will appear as the “grade” for the credit(s) earned their transcript. If your child does not earn any credits, nothing to this effect will appear on the transcript.

What are the languages offered?
Many languages are available for Credit by Exam. Arlington Public schools is committed to finding tests for any language other than English, including American Sign Language.  Any language listed here is currently offered. If you do not see your language represented, you can reach out to the Office of World Languages to inquire about the potential for other options.

How many exams are given each school year? Can my child take it more than once?
The exam is offered once each school year. Students may earn up to 4 credits on the exam. If a student does not earn the desired number of credits on their first attempt, they may take the exam one additional time during their high school career.

Is there a fee to take the exam?

The first exam is free. Students are responsible for the cost of any subsequent exam, including exams taken for an additional language. Exam fees range from $9.90 to $218, depending on the test. Students who are scheduled to take an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and do not attend will be charged a $60 no-show fee. Eligible students participating in the free and reduced-price meals program will receive a 50% fee reduction, provided the required consent form allowing the school to verify eligibility has been submitted.

Credit by Exam fees will be invoiced through MySchoolBucks in October and must be paid within 15 days of the invoice date.

MySchoolBucks is the same secure online payment portal used for school meals and accepts VISA® and MasterCard®.Families may apply for meal benefits through the links on the APS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.

When will the exam occur?
Tests will be offered at Wakefield on Election Day in November every year. This is a non-school day for students and is a grade preparation day for teachers.

Full time students at Grace Hopper Center and Arlington Community High School will test at their school site on a different day that same week.

How is the exam scored?
The exam is scored by either a computer or an assessor who is proficient in the language of the exam. Results are final and cannot be appealed. Credits will be awarded based on the following:

What is the timeline for the exam?
The registration period for the exams begins in August every year. An automatic confirmation of the registration will be emailed to the person completing the form. Parents will be notified of results in early spring of that school year. Results will be uploaded to ParentVUE and sent to their school counselor.

How can students prepare for the exam?

Based on the language of the exam, most students can prepare with a demonstration version of the test. Please see the following links:

Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish: Test information

Amharic, Bengali, Greek, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese: Test information

All other languages: Test information | Test information (Test type is language-dependent)

Where can I find more information?

Call the World Languages Office at 703-228-6013, or speak with your student’s school counselor.

Since 2015-16, The Virginia Board of Education’s Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency by a graduating high school student in one or more languages in addition to English.

To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must meet the following criteria:

• Pass all required End-of-Course Assessments in English reading and writing at the proficient or higher level
• Demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate-mid level or higher in one or more languages other than English, as demonstrated through a state-approved assessment.

Virginia law (HB 2360) recognizes the Seal of Biliteracy as an official diploma seal and considers it a “high-demand workforce credential” that may be used to help satisfy graduation requirements.

The Seal of Biliteracy is a valuable distinction for college admissions and career readiness. It reflects a student’s commitment to multilingualism, cultural understanding, and academic achievement.

For more details, please visit the Virginia Department of Education’s website.

Since 1987, Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has sponsored Governor’s World Language Academies (GWLA), summer residential programs for Virginia’s most motivated and talented world language students. The current Governor’s Summer Residential World Language Academies  include full-immersion academies in French, German and Spanish; a partial-immersion Japanese Academy; and a Latin Academy.

Interested students, who are currently in their sophomore or junior year, should speak to their world language(s) teacher to apply. For more information, please visit the Virginia Department of Education’s website.