Hi S.. My son attends The French Academy in St. Louis Park. (We live in SW Minneapolis.) We have checked out the Edina French immersion school. They start at Kindergarten, and abide by the state laws for age requirements, as they are part of the Edina Public School system. I believe the age requirement is that the child has to turn 5 yrs. old by the beginning of September to enroll in Kindergarten. There is an "Early Start" option (with approval from the school) that allows a child turning 5 by late October to enroll. Being a French speaker won't matter for enrollment (I believe), but of course will help your daughter personally. Edina does have "open enrollment", so you may have a chance to get in when the time comes, even though your primary residence is not in Edina. (I understand that you have to be actually living there.) As a non-resident, you are ranked lower for priority in enrollment. I know some families who attend there and really like it. I also know some French families who don't like it. We chose The French Academy (which we really like), because it has only French natives on the staff, most here on Visas, so the accent is perfect. They also follow the French curriculum, and their enrollment rules are much different, regarding age. (They start with Preschool and can enroll at 33 months.) They are also accredited with the French Ministry of Education, so are basically a French school here in the U.S. They are a private school, which means private school tuition. An advantage for Edina, as they are a lot less expensive for a non-resident of Edina. I would be happy to tell you what I know (pros and cons) for both schools if you would like, as my husband and I have really looked into all this. Just respond personally, and we can get in touch. Good luck!
