CAIRO — Northside Elementary School faces a unique challenge. The school’s current student enrollment is 408. Of that 408, a total of 238 — more than 50 percent — are Hispanic.  A high Hispanic population does bring challenges, said Principal Dr. Cheryl Larkins. “Parent communication is the biggest challenge,” Larkins said. One way the elementary school combats the obstacle, Larkins said, is that the school sends correspondence home in English and Spanish. The school also is staffed with three English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers. “They have a full schedule,” Larkins said. The first-year principal noted there has been a language barrier with incoming students. “A lot of times when students come in, they don’t speak English,” Larkins said. Despite the barrier, Larkins pointed out, “they’re quick to learn.”   Hispanic students are not the only ones having to learn a new language. “We’re all trying to learn the language,” Larkins said, adding she is learning the basics of Spanish. “I would like to be able to communicate with parents.” Northside counselor Cynthia Hargrove said ESOL students have to pass an exit exam to leave the program. “That’s a very difficult exit test that they have,” Hargrove said, adding the test includes oral, written, reading, and listening portions. Students are tested in stages annually. Students have to reach either the fourth or fifth stage to successfully exit the ESOL program, Hargrove noted. If an ESOL student begins testing in kindergarten, Hargrove said, the student typically exits the ESOL in the fourth grade. The passing rate of students exiting the ESOL program, if testing began in fourth grade, is typically between 85-87 percent, according to Hargrove. “They are very successful when they leave our school,” Larkins said. Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.