Elementary School
Program Description
Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (MIMS) is a premier PK-8 campus within the Houston Independent School District (HISD), proudly dedicated to providing a high-quality dual-language education. As a recognized leader in language immersion, MIMS serves students from Pre-K through 5th grade using an innovative dual-language model that promotes bilingualism, biliteracy, and cultural competence.
At MIMS, students are immersed in both English and Mandarin Chinese from an early age. Math and Science are taught in Mandarin, in addition to a dedicated Mandarin language course, while other core subjects are taught in English. This intentional structure ensures that students not only master grade-level academic content but also develop strong proficiency in both languages.
Our program is structured to support a balanced and effective learning environment:
Pre-Kindergarten: 2 classes
Kindergarten to 4th Grade: 4 classes per grade level
5th Grade: 3 classes
By integrating language and content instruction across subjects, MIMS prepares students to become global citizens equipped with the linguistic skills and cultural awareness needed to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Structure Questions
Question: Can you explain the immersion program model?
Answer: For grades pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, all students will spend 50% of the instructional day in a Mandarin class and the remaining 50% in an English class. Teachers will be native speakers of each language, and students will switch midway through the day. During Mandarin instruction, teachers will teach math, science, and Chinese language arts in Mandarin. During English instruction, teachers will teach English language arts and social studies in English. MIMS provides instruction in both languages every instructional day.
Question: Does MIMS offer enrichment classes?
Answer: MIMS offers four enrichment classes to elementary school students on a four-day rotation. The four classes are physical education, art, music, and media (technology combined with library). Elementary students receive 50 minutes of enrichment daily.
Question: Do elementary students have recess?
Answer: Yes, each grade level has a 30-minute unstructured recess built into its daily schedule.
Question: What are the school hours for elementary students?
Answer: MIMS instructional hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students who arrive after 8:35 a.m. will be considered tardy. Daily attendance is taken at 9:45 a.m. Morning drop-off is from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and afternoon pick-up is from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Question: What curriculum does MIMS use to teach the program?
Answer: We use the Better Chinese Mandarin literacy curriculum textbooks for the elementary-grade Chinese program. For math and science, which are the other two subjects taught in Mandarin, we use the HISD-approved curriculum translated by teachers.
Application Questions
Question: Which grade levels are accepting students?
Answer: Pre-K, kindergarten, and 6th grade accept applications annually. All other grades are on a space-available basis. We have 44 prekindergarten openings and 48 kindergarten openings each year, and approximately 35 openings for 6th grade. For other grade levels, availability depends on current student enrollment; MIMS opens seats individually as they become available.
Question: Is there a sibling preference for future years?
Answer: Based on guidance from the Office of School Choice, sibling priority applies only to applicants for Pre-K, kindergarten, and 6th grade at MIMS. The currently enrolled sibling must be attending MIMS in the following school year. Please note that 25% of seats are reserved for siblings; after those seats are filled, additional siblings are placed at the top of the waitlist. All siblings must meet the program’s entry criteria. Sibling eligibility is verified by campus staff prior to the district lottery date.
Question: Do students receive district transportation services?
Answer: Every student who joins MIMS is coded as a magnet transfer student. All kindergarten through 8th-grade students on a magnet transfer are eligible to receive district transportation services if they live more than 2 miles from the school. Transportation requests are handled directly by the district, and each student will receive a unique link to submit the request. MIMS is not responsible for transportation options. Please note that pre-kindergarten students are not eligible for transportation.