Immersive school provides migrant children with more than English classes

Las Sierras Academy is an immersive, one-year program for high school students in New Orleans who do not speak English. The program is housed within George Washington Carver High School, a public charter school and historically majority African American school.  Las Sierras leaders say that 80 percent of their students entered the U.S. unaccompanied, an often traumatic experience.  

“Our kids have a mix of experiences,” said Emma Merril, who leads Las Sierras. “We have a mental health professional on-staff because we know that this population experienced immense trauma, of trauma in their home country. Our education system needs to serve all kids.”