Preschool Programs

Preschool Programs for Four-year-olds and Three-year-olds

The Early Childhood Education Department provides families with preschool programs to prepare children for an easy transition to kindergarten and long-term academic success.

All classes are taught by high-quality, licensed teachers. The programs listed below focus either on  4-year-olds or 3-year-olds; see our Preschool handout in English, Hmong, Somali or Spanish.

Priority Placement Criteria

Priority placement for all preschool programs goes to  students who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Qualifies for free or reduced lunch (based on family income)
• Is an English Learner (home language is not English)
• Is homeless
• Has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or an individual interagency intervention plan
• Is identified, through health and developmental screenings, with a potential risk factor that may influence learning
• Is defined as at risk by Minneapolis Public Schools
• Lives in the school’s attendance zone

Note: Children who are age-eligible for kindergarten are not eligible for enrollment in High Five unless specified by his or her Special Education Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Preschool program for four-year-olds: High Five

HIGH FIVE is a half-day or full-day preschool program for Minneapolis children who:

1. Turn four years old by September 1.
    
2. Start kindergarten the following fall.

Teacher-Student ratio is 2:20 = There are 20 students per class maximum with 1 licensed teacher and 1 associate educator

Locations: High Five sites are located at many Minneapolis Public K-8 schools; see list of locations.

Transportation: FREE

Fee: MPS is required by state law to establish a sliding fee scale for High Five students.

• The sliding fee scale establishes a recommended amount of payment for service based on family income and family size.  See Preschool Fee Agreement - updated April 2020 (Hmong, Somali, Spanish)
   
• No child will be excluded because of their family's inability to pay. The fee for High Five is waived for children who qualify for free and/or reduced priced lunch or who receive special education services. Families that do not qualify for free and/or reduced price lunch will be charged based on the sliding fee scale.

Registration process: You may apply online, complete a school request card, or call 612.668.1840 for registration information and materials.

Preschool Programs for Three-Year-Olds

Currently, two programs are available for three-year-olds, Three School and Alphabet Soup; see below for more information.

1) THREE SCHOOL is a half-day preschool program for children who:

1. Turn three years old by September 1.
    
2. Start High Five, a preschool program for four-year-olds, the following fall.
    
3. Live in North Minneapolis within the area shown below (south of 35th Avenue; east of Penn Avenue; north of West Broadway and west of Third Street):

Teacher-Student ratio is 3:20 = There are 20 students per class maximum with 1 licensed teacher and 2 associate educators

Transportation: Free
 
Location: Mona Moede Early Learning Center, 2400 Girard Ave. N., Minneapolis 55411

Fee: Based on a sliding fee scale; no one turned away for inability to pay

Registration process: Contact the Mona Moede Early Learning Center at 612.668.2127 or email ecfe@mpls.k12.mn.us

2) ALPHABET SOUP is a half-day preschool program offered three days for three-year-olds.

Age requirement: Children must be three years old by September 1

Teacher-Student ratio is 2:18 = There are 18 students per class maximum with two state-licensed teachers; curriculum is based on state and Minneapolis Public Schools standards

Parent education component: Meets every other week with topics focusing on preschoolers and preparing children for kindergarten

Fee: Based on a sliding fee scale

Location: To be determined for classes beginning fall 2019

Transportation: Free transportation is available for children who are served by Early Childhood Special Education; all other students must be provided transportation by their families

Registration process: Registration ongoing until program fills; register online for Alphabet Soup