Philly Student Stories: Limayra Luciano

by Rosie Dillon

Photo: Rosie Dillon

Luciano with her friend Dai Phan.

Limayra Luciano, age 14, is originally from Puerto Rico, but has been living in the U.S. for a decade. She started school in Philadelphia at the bilingual program at William Cramp Elementary in Kensington. This fall she is a sophomore at Northeast High and is in the ESOL program there. When she transferred to Northeast from Ben Franklin last year, she went directly into ESOL without waiting for a placement test because she had been in the program at Franklin and because “my dad wanted me to,” she said. By the time Luciano was tested for placement at Northeast, she was already settled in her class, so she didn’t move up to the next level, she explained. She said that she prefers ESOL classes to being placed in mainstream English. And until now, there has been no limit on how long a student can stay in ESOL classes. Starting this year, the state and District expect all students to complete and exit ESOL programs within five years. Asked why she is content to stay in ESOL, she said, “I guess the different cultures, and it’s easier.... They explain more and they understand you because you’re from a different culture; it is better here for us.” This summer, Luciano was one of 120 students from dozens of nations enrolled at the month-long Refugee Summer Program at Northeast. She was making up Algebra I. Her favorite subjects in school are literature and science. After math class, Luciano worked at a summer camp where her older sister helped her get a job. She has American friends, but when asked if they understand her, she said, “Most of the time, but not really, because they are used to American culture and American ways. When we do things from our culture, they might not understand everything.”