Preschool Programs

Preschool Program for 4 - 5 year olds

High Five hours are either full or half day, depending on location. Teacher-Student ratio is 2:20- There are 20 students per class maximum with 1 licensed teacher and 1 associate educator.

Age Requirement:

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

Eligibility Criteria - See below.

Transportation: Free transportation is available for children that live in the school attendance boundaries.

Locations: 

High Five sites are located at many Minneapolis Public PK-8 schools. Half-day / full-day options vary by location. To find a location near you, Enter your address here.

Preschool Programs for 3-year olds

Three School is a half-day preschool program. Teacher-Student ratio is 3:20- There are 20 students per class maximum with 1 licensed teacher and 2 associate educators

Age requirement:

1. Turn 3-years-old by September 1.
2. Start High Five, a preschool program for four-year-olds, the following fall.
3. Live in the designated school boundaries.

Transportation: Free transportation is available for children that live in the school attendance boundaries.

Locations

Age Requirements- children must:

• Turn age 4 by September 1 (for High Five)
• Turn age 3 by September 1 (for Three School)

Age parameters are not negotiable.

After age requirements are met, the following list of priorities are used to determine eligibility for High Five and Three School.

Residency + One or More Prioritized Qualifications  - Students who live in the requested MPS school's attendance area AND meet one or more of the following criteria are prioritized:

• Qualify for educational benefits (based on family income).
• Experiencing housing instability.
• Qualify for special education services (speech-only services are not considered for priority placement).
• Identified through health and development screenings, with a potential risk factor that may influence learning.

Note: Having a home language other than English is not a qualifying criteria for eligibility.

Each family must complete a Preschool Fee Agreement. This determines the fee amount collected monthly or enrollment in our preschool programing. The fee amount is determined by family income and family size.

Click the appropriate school year tab below for current information.

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 Educational Benefits (formerly known as Free and Reduced) or who receive Early Childhood Special Education services. Families that do not qualify for Educational Benefits will be charged based on the sliding fee scale.