The status of a language is very often described and measured by different factors, including the length of time it has been in use in a particular territory, the official recognition it has been given by governmental units, and the number and proportion of speakers. Spanish has a unique history and, so some argue status, in the contemporary United States based on these and other criteria. The history and political economy of the various groups and languages as socioeconomic context are important for exploring language status, rights, and their manifestation in educational policies. This study explored whether the claims that Spanish indeed has a unique status within what is now the United States are warranted. It explored arguments for Spanish language exceptionalism, and the "fit" with some of these various "theories" or paradigms underlying language status and educational policies, more generally, to explore its status as the second national language in the United States.