Just like our name implies, Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School is a rainbow of cultures, backgrounds, languages and people that come together to make a beautiful school community. We strongly believe that our diversity is our greatest asset and that our intentional multicultural school setting helps students to grow into open-minded, adaptable, and compassionate individuals. Here are five ways diversity at our tuition-free charter school expands your child’s experience and global perspective.
1. Diversity Broadens Cultural Awareness
Exposure to peers from different cultures introduces your child to new traditions, languages, and ways of life. Our true multicultural setting welcomes students, families and staff from countries around the world. With a variety of dialects and heritage Spanish speakers, our classrooms are more like a global village than just a room with 4 walls. This early immersion fosters curiosity and respect for differences, preparing students for a connected world.
2. A Diverse School Can Boost Empathy and Social Skills
Our diverse teachers know that supporting students to interact with diverse peers is part of the curriculum at Arco Iris. They teach children to navigate varying perspectives and experiences with an open mind and heart - something we believe comes naturally to children and that is important to be nurtured at school. These interactions sharpen their ability to communicate and lead with empathy across boundaries, skills essential for life beyond school.
3. Diversity Encourages Critical Thinking
Diversity challenges assumptions. When students encounter contrasting viewpoints and ways of life—whether in a history debate or a group project—they learn to question, analyze, and reason. A classmate’s unique take on a topic might spark your child to see an issue from a fresh angle, building intellectual flexibility that memorization alone can’t achieve.
4. A Diverse Education Can Prepare Students for a Global Workforce
Today’s job market is multicultural and interconnected. Schools with diverse populations mirror this reality, giving your child a head start. Working on a science project with teammates from different backgrounds mimics the collaborative dynamics they’ll face in future careers, teaching adaptability and cultural competence early on. You can see firsthand how an education at Arco Iris prepares students for an ever-changing world by reading our alumni Success Stories on our blog.
5. Embracing Diversity Builds Confidence in Our Own Identity
Encountering a diverse student population, and celebrating our differences and similarities, helps kids appreciate their own uniqueness. Whether it’s by sharing a special holiday tradition with their classmates or learning words from different Spanish-speaking countries around the world, exposure to different ways of knowing helps students grow more secure in who they are, empowering them to engage with the world boldly.
We love watching diverse friendships bloom and cross-cultural connections take center stage at our small, tuition-free school. Curious about enrollment at Arco Iris? Our small school is still enrolling for the 2025-26 school year. Our lottery date has passed, but there are a few spots still available. Please call us at (503) 372-6052 to learn about availability or to be placed on the waitlist. We can’t wait to have you join us!
About Arco Iris
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion is a small tuition-free public charter school providing a rich, immersive Spanish language experience and robust academics in a true multicultural setting. Centrally located off 217, between SW Portland and Tigard, we serve K-5 students in the greater Beaverton area to become bilingual and biliterate leaders of the future. Get to know us on Instagram @arcoiris_spanishimmersion and on the web at www.arcoirisschool.org. We’re enrolling for Fall 2025-26. Bilingual Education: A Rainbow of Possibilities