The Twin Cities area provides a range of education choices from private schools to magnet schools, community schools and charter schools.

Within the public realm, the State of Minnesota offers the Enrollment Options Program. This program, more commonly known as “Open Enrollment,” allows a student to attend a school in a district outside the district in which he/she resides. For example, if the student lives in Minneapolis, he/she can apply to attend a school in St. Paul. Contact the individual school districts for information about options within districts.

More than 100,000 Minnesota high school students have used the state's Post Secondary Enrollment Options, a law that allows high school juniors and seniors attend college, free, full or part-time. Students may continue to participate in high school activities while they participate in PSEO. Many high schools also offer Advanced Placement, College in the Schools, and International Baccalaureate courses. For more information about high school courses, please check with the high school(s) that interest you.

Dr. Joe Nathan, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for School Change, and an expert on Twin Cities' schools, can help you get a better sense of educational opportunities in/near Minneapolis and St. Paul. E-mail Dr. Nathan at jnathan@umn.edu to set up a time to discuss your school-choice questions.

In addition to the Web sites listed below, school descriptions and comparative data are available from Schoolhouse Magazine. Contact the Relocation Assistance Program to receive a copy of the magazine.

Pre K - 12

• MN Dept of Education
• Minneapolis Public Schools
• St. Paul Public Schools
• Montessori

• Search for Preschools (offered through Work/Life Program)

Colleges and Universities

• Anoka-Ramsey Community College
• Art Schools (as listed on ArtSchools.com)
• Augsburg College
• Bethel University
• Century College
• College of St. Catherine
• College of Visual Arts
• Concordia University
• Dakota County Technical College
• Inver Hills Community College
• Hamline University
• Macalester College
• Metropolitan State University
• Minneapolis College of Art and Design
• Minneapolis Community & Technical College
• Minnesota Private College Council
• Normandale Community College
• Northwestern College
• Saint Mary's University
• Saint Paul Technical College
• State University System
• University of Minnesota
• University of St. Thomas
• William Mitchell College of Law