Wharton K-8 Dual Language Academy has won the Embassy of Spain’s elementary award for Academic Excellence in Spanish.

“I am extraordinarily proud of the work that our faculty and staff have put into creating our outstanding dual language school,” Wharton Principal Jennifer Day said.

In order to be eligible for the award, elementary schools must use Spanish in at least 50 percent of their instruction time. The Wharton K-8 Dual Language Program is a school-wide program beginning in kindergarten and continues through the eighth-grade. The school will receive a $5,000 prize.

HISD’s Helms Elementary was also a finalist for the award. The other six finalists were schools in California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Maryland.

HISD has announced a plan to open 14 new dual language programs for the 2014-2015 school year. Interested families can apply by visiting the new dual language programs at participating schools, and interested bilingual and dual language teachers are encouraged to attend the dual language teacher recruitment fair scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St.