HEI Spanish Immersion Schools Franklin

🌟 Key Highlights: HEI Spanish Immersion Schools Franklin

Note: The school previously known as HEI Spanish Immersion Schools Franklin is now known as Sol Spanish Immersion School. This summary reflects the core program and features common to both iterations.

The school is a private, independent dual-language immersion school in Franklin, Tennessee. It is committed to integrating the research-based pedagogy of Finland (ranked among the world’s best education systems) with Spanish language immersion, fostering a holistic learning environment where children develop 21st-century transversal skills alongside academic and language mastery.

🏫 Overview

• Type: Private / Independent Spanish Dual-Language Immersion School

• Location: Franklin, Tennessee (Williamson County/Cool Springs Area)

• Ages/Grades Served: Preschool (Age 2.5) – Elementary/Middle School (currently up to Grade 2, expanding yearly to K–8)

• Enrollment: Varies, typically a highly specialized, small student body (reported student-teacher ratio of 6:1 in early years).

• Core Mission: To use the child-centered, research-based pedagogy of Finland to nurture children who are bilingual, creative, critical thinkers, and are equipped with the skills and confidence to lead in a global, changing world.

• Affiliation: Independent private school; utilizes the curriculum and philosophy developed by HEI Schools (University of Helsinki’s educational initiative).

• Accreditation: Licensed by the State of Tennessee as a Child Care Center/Non-Public School. Programs adhere to the standards of the Finnish National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education.

• Focus: Dual-language immersion (Spanish/English) across the Pre-K to Elementary years, emphasizing play-based, project-based, and inquiry-based learning.

✅ What Makes the School Unique?

The school is distinguished by its integration of two highly sought-after educational philosophies:

• Finnish Pedagogy: The core curriculum is based on the world-renowned Finnish education model. This philosophy emphasizes holistic development, values play-based learning over formalized testing, promotes teacher autonomy, and focuses on transversal skills (empathy, collaboration, problem-solving) as the foundation for lifelong learning.

• Full Spanish Immersion: Spanish is the vehicle for instruction (not just a subject), allowing children to naturally acquire the language while simultaneously mastering academic content. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required for enrollment.

• Project-Based Learning (PBL): Learning is highly child-centered and project-based. Students engage in collaborative inquiry-based projects where their questions and initiatives guide the learning process, deepening their critical thinking and creativity.

• Multi-Aged Classrooms: Consistent with both the Montessori and Finnish models, the school often utilizes multi-age grouping (e.g., Primary/Preschool) to foster social skills, leadership, and natural peer teaching.

• Holistic and Wellness Focus: The program pays close attention to the social-emotional, physical, and creative growth of each child, incorporating daily planned activities and focusing on the overall well-being and happiness of the student.

• Curriculum Expansion: The school has a clear plan to add one grade level each year until reaching 8th grade, providing a long-term, continuous path for families seeking this specialized educational model.

• Organic and Calming Environment: The learning spaces are intentionally designed to be calm, relaxed, and conducive to self-directed discovery, complementing the holistic pedagogy.

📞 Contact Information