Featured School of the Week: Japanese Immersion at Richmond Elementary School

From our friends at Richmond Elementary School:

Japanese Immersion at Richmond Elementary School is Free to Attend

Richmond Elementary School, located in SE Portland near Cesar Chavez and Division, is celebrated for its Japanese Dual Language Immersion program, now in its 36th year. All students, regardless of their background or prior experience with Japanese, are invited on a journey to become fluent in both Japanese and English from their first day of kindergarten.

As a Portland Public School, Richmond is free to attend and has school bus services from multiple locations in Portland, including N, NE, SW, and SE areas. Admission is lottery-based, and graduates can seamlessly continue their Japanese language journey at Mt. Tabor Middle School and Grant High School.

Richmond fosters both academic excellence and a positive, supportive learning environment where students explore and appreciate diverse cultural perspectives. The school’s dedicated teaching teams work collaboratively to implement an integrated bilingual instructional model, where students learn in Japanese and English equally throughout the school day.

Students and teachers are supported by caring and committed administration and staff, including Principal Eto, who brings value to the community with her experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, her commitment to transparency, and her ability to relate as a parent. With her guidance and support from parents, Richmond has created a Black Student Union and LGBTQIA+ affinity spaces for students.

The Richmond community thrives thanks to the dedication of two active parent volunteer groups, Oya no Kai and the PTA. These volunteer-led organizations provide many opportunities to connect with the school and Japanese culture, including exchange programs, seasonal celebrations, classroom engagement, cultural nights, and after-school activities like Aikido, Taiko, and Abacus.

For more information about Richmond Elementary School and its Japanese Immersion Program, visit their website.
Learn more about registration at Connect with Kindergarten.
Apply here.

Disclaimer: This message was created by Richmond Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), an organization independent of Portland Public Schools. The PTA takes responsibility for the content of this ad. Learn more about the Richmond PTA at www.richmondptapdx.com.