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.
Priority Placement Criteria
Priority placement for all preschool programs goes to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
Note: Children who are age-eligible for kindergarten are not eligible for enrollment in High Five unless specified by their Special Education Individual Education Plan (IEP).
HIGH FIVE is a half-day or full-day preschool program for Minneapolis children who:
Teacher-Student ratio is 2:20 = There are 20 students per class 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 Preschool students.
Registration process: You may apply online, complete a school request form (2. Request a School and choose the prefered language), or call 612.668.1840 for registration information and materials.
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:
OR
Live in the attendance area for Lyndale Community School in South Minneapolis; located at 312 W. 34th 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 OR Lyndale Community School, 312 W. 34th St., Minneapolis 55408 Fee: MPS is required by state law to establish a sliding fee scale for Preschool students.
Registration process: You may apply online, complete a school request card, or call 612.668.1840 for registration information and materials.
2) ALPHABET SOUP is a half-day preschool program offered three days a week 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: Wilder ECFE Early Childhood, 3345 Chicago Ave S Door 2, Minneapolis 55407 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
All preschool programs prepare children for kindergarten and beyond by focusing on the whole child and using researched-based and age-appropriate lessons based on the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress:
Star Rated: The High Five and Three School preschool programs were awarded a four-star rating by Parent Aware.