The incoming 7th grade class has a choice of FRENCH or SPANISH as a language elective. There are 3 times as many Spanish classes as French classes (or 3 to 1). How many students can choose Spanish if there are 850 students? Round to the nearest whole number
If there are 3 times as many Spanish classes as French classes, then there is 1 French class and 3 Spanish classes.
The total number of language classes is 1 French class + 3 Spanish classes = <<1+3=4>>4 classes.
If there are 850 students and 4 classes, then each class has 850 students / 4 classes = <<850/4=212.5>>212.5 students per class.
Since the number of students has to be a whole number, 212 students can choose Spanish. Answer: \boxed{212}.