Seal of Biliteracy
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
The Seal of Biliteracy Program was established to recognize graduating high school students who attain a high level of competency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in two or more languages. Ladue School District awards this honor upon graduation to high school students meeting all requirements. The Seal of Biliteracy can be awarded to native English speakers and English language learners alike. The seal will be awarded to students who have performed at the level of Intermediate Middle to Lower Advanced on approved assessments, which must be at least as rigorous as those recommended in the biliteracy seal guidelines established by national organizations supporting foreign language instruction.
Recognizing Globally Competent Students at Ladue
Why the Seal of Biliteracy
Affirm...
... the value of diversity, honor multiple cultures and foreign languages, and strengthen the relationships between multiple cultures in a community.
Show...
...universities and potential employers that a student has the ability to communicate effectively with people in two or more languages and cultures, both orally and in writing.
Encourage...
... all students to pursue proficiency in at least one language other than their native language.
Reward...
... students for their level of proficiency or mastery of a language, rather than focusing on how many years they have studied it.
Focus...
... schools and teachers on the development of student language proficiency as a driving principle behind high quality English language and world languages curriculum and instruction.
Promote...
... the development of biliteracy in particular, in which students develop academic reading and writing skills in addition to speaking and listening skills.
How to get the Seal of Biliteracy
Arrange to Take an Assessment
AAPPL (I-5 and above)
AP exam (4 and above)
Transcript and Form
Students deliver official transcript to counselor and fill out Seal of Biliteracy request form
School Handles Seal
Counselor forwards request to registrar who notifies the secretary to apply the seal to the diploma
What Students Had to Say
Macey Goldstein
Class of 2018
I have really enjoyed learning Spanish these last few years and plan to continue learning the language in college. I think learning another language is a valuable skill, and the SOBL helps recognize the work I have put into the development of that skill.
Leah Snidman
Class of 2018
I think it's really amazing that Ladue was the first school to be able to give students the opportunity to receive the seal of biliteracy. For me, Spanish gave me an opportunity to be able to go to Costa Rica and actually connect with the people on another level.
Charlie Loitman
Class of 2018
I think having such an chance to show my progress as a Spanish student is really exciting. It's a great opportunity to see and test myself that I have gotten some level of fluency and literacy in the language.
