Record Number of Edina High School graduates recognized for bilingual language proficiency

A record setting 40 percent of the Edina High School Class of 2024 will receive recognition for bilingual language proficiency with their diploma. This year 260 seniors will be awarded a Bilingual or Multilingual Certificate or Seal for their achievements in ASL, Chinese, Czech, French, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Somali or Swahili.

Students qualify by demonstrating proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing, based on the guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the State requirements set by the Minnesota Department of Education. This spring marks the ninth year EHS has assessed and awarded language seals and certificates to graduates. 

The class of 2024 results are:

• Bilingual Certificate - 127 students 
• Bilingual Gold Seal - 106 students 
• Bilingual Platinum Seal - 27 students 
• Multilingual award recipients (proficiency in two languages) 
  • Pavlina Andish (French and Czech)
  • Jane Porter (French and Spanish)
  • Leilani Quintana (French and Spanish)
  • Julia Rapallini (Spanish and Italian)
  • Oscar Sanchez Christiansen (Spanish and French)
  • Prema Suthaharan (French and Korean) 

“We are proud to confirm these are our highest results since the start of testing in 2016, with 40 percent of the senior class earning these distinctions,” said Kim Caster, area leader of Edina High School’s World Language department. “Results like these start at the foundation and this speaks to the quality of instruction in our World Language departments and the support for bilingualism across Edina Public Schools.”