"It's really, really hard not only for the academic background, because some of them have never been in school before, but also the emotional impact," said fourth and fifth grade teacher Lilly Chow. She said her students often act out in class because they are frustrated or confused not only about school work, but also about being in a new country with families they haven't seen in a long time.

The school district recommends the Mission Education Center to families if language and placement exams show that the student has few English skills and little academic experience. Chow says some of her students are in fourth or fifth grade, but have only completed first grade in their home countries. The school district operates a similar newcomer school for Chinese-speaking children in the Financial District called the Chinese Education Center.

Listen to Katrina Schwartz's story from November 22.

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Mission Education CenterMission Education Center

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