minnesotamascotThe Twin Cities encompasses St. Paul, Minneapolis, and all of the surrounding suburbs. If you are thinking about enrolling your children into a Twin Cities school district, here are a few things you should know:
Back to School September
Minnesota is one of the only states that require schools to start after Labor Day. This law was in place due to the Minnesota State Fair, which begins in August and ends on Labor Day. The State Fair is the biggest in all of America, and it is a huge tourism draw for the state. With school still out of session, your kids are free to attend, or high schoolers can work at the fair. Minnesota school generally starts the first week of September and ends the first week of June. Although there are occasionally some exceptions.
State Testing
Starting in the 3rd grade, all Minnesota students take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA). The MCA is Minnesota’s response to the No Child Left Behind required state achievement testing. Minnesota continually performs well on these tests when compared to the rest of the country. In 2019, Minnesota students scored higher than the national average in mathematics, reading, science, and writing.
Preschool and School Readiness
Minnesota does not require preschool or kindergarten. However, many Twin Cities school districts offer an Early Learning Programs or Head Start at some elementary schools. Children are eligible for kindergarten if their 5th birthday falls before September 1st of that year. Before starting school, your children must complete an early childhood screening. Minnesota state law requires your children to have up-to-date immunizations for diseases such as polio and measles before entering the school system.
Arts
Several public schools in the Minnesota metro area specialize in art education. For example, the St. Paul Public School District has the Creative Arts Secondary School, and District 197 has the Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet school. For all public schools, elementary and middle schoolers must earn 2 arts credits, and high schoolers earn one. These credits can include dance, media arts, music, theater, or visual arts. 
Sports
Three Minnesota schools made Niche’s list of the top 100 high schools for athletes. Of the three schools, two (Wayzata High School and Minnetonka Senior High School) are in the Twin Cities area. Minnesota is unique in that a lot of public schools have hockey and skiing teams. The harsh winters do not stop Minnesotans from being active. Twin Cities schools may also offer indoor after-school activities during the winter months.
Quality of Education
According to this 2019 study, Minnesota ranks #4 in the entire nation for quality of education. Minnesota rated #2 for highest math scores, and #1 for the highest median SAT scores. Of the top 100 School Districts in Minnesota, 9 of them are in the metro area. They include Wayzata, Waconia, Edina, Minnetonka, Mahtomedi, Westonka, Eden Prairie, Orono, and the St. Anthony-New Brighton School Districts. The Twin Cities is a fantastic area for children to receive a quality education.