Three are full-length high schools, where students enter in the ninth grade and generally remain in the program until graduation. Two programs are located at district intake centers, where language minority students are assessed and placed. For those designated as newcomers, these intake centers offer special, short-term courses before the students enter one of the schools in the district. In some districts, one newcomer center has been established at a centralized site to serve, for example, all eligible middle school students. Program designs differ according to educational goals, site options, staff availability, and resource allocation.
Most programs serve newcomer students for the full school day.
This schedule provides time to offer several content area courses along with English language instruction. Two programs operate solely after school and students attend on a volunteer basis. Most of the programs are designed to educate students for one year, although some offer an additional summer program. One is a summer-only program. The grade-level designation of newcomer students varies at different sites.