IDDS, located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, offers K-12 instruction and unique curriculum-enhancing partnerships with local businesses and organizations.

International Spanish Language Academy is an elementary-level Spanish-language immersion school offering full-day kindergarten and extended day care. The school is currently working toward International Baccalaureate accreditation. ISLA aims to enable children to move on from sixth grade with the ability to read, write, and speak with native speakers of Spanish.

Minneapolis Public Schools serve over 38,000 students through 50 elementary schools, seven middle schools, seven high schools, eight special education schools, eight alternative schools, 18 contract alternative schools, and five charter schools.

ESL, language and art immersion, and gift and talented programs are offered. High schools utilize Small Learning Communities, which focus on technology, science, and other fields.

The district also administers two kindergarten readiness programs: half-day High Five preschool classes for children who turn four by September 1, and Fours Explore, a fee-based full-day program.

In-school before and after care for PreK-Grade 6 is offered at select sites through Minneapolis Kids. The Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program offers fantastic classes for parents and their infants and toddlers.

Parents can tour schools, attend annual School Information Fairs, and use website tools to explore their options.

The Minnesota Waldorf School in Maplewood is a non-sectarian school offering pre-K through eighth grade education based on Waldorf principles, and a Growing Together program on Friday mornings for parents and children ages 18 to 42 months.

This tuition-free public charter high school aims to provide a world-class and professionally-guided academic and artistic environment for training aspiring pre-professional artists in dance, theater, and music. The conservatory's campus includes newly-renovated classrooms in the Landmark Center, Lowry Building, and Roy Wilkins Dance Studios.

Saint Paul Public Schools has preK-12 programming comprising a wide array of educational opportunities, including traditional elementary, middle, and high school classes; special education programs; classes for four-year-olds; alternative learning centers; and language and art immersion.

Community Education offerings provide low-cost enrichment classes for adults, children, and families. Each session is filled with terrific arts & crafts, language, fencing, gymnastics, science, sports, and computer classes. Babysitter training classes are also available.

Twin Cities German Immersion School is a tuition-free public charter elementary school that engages children through an enriched curriculum taught in German, the language of instruction beginning in Kindergarten.

The school aims - with the help of involved parents - to create a community which nurtures a child's natural curiosity and fosters international awareness. The school opened in 2005 with two grades, and will continue expanding until it reaches a K-8 configuration.

Students who complete the program through eighth grade should be able to use their German language skills to do school work, speak with friends and teachers, and communicate with native speakers comfortably and effectively.

Windom, a small K-8 school in the Minneapolis public school system, offers two linked, but distinct, special programs: Dual Spanish Immersion for Grades K-4 and an Open Program for Grades 5-8. The Open Program is being phased out one year at a time as the school transitions to solely immersion programming.

Yinghua Academy, a public charter school, offers full immersion programming in Mandarin Chinese to kindergarteners, first, and second graders. Third and fourth grade classes are taught in English, with daily Chinese language arts classes.

Before and after school care is available for a fee, and afterschool programming includes yoga/tai chi, Chinese dance, and traditional Chinese music.