Minneapolis Public Schools is expanding its Arabic program.
Qatar Foundation International is giving the district a $68,305 grant to go toward an Arabic language program at Washburn High School.
The school district’s first Arabic program started at Roosevelt High School more than 15 years ago. Arabic is now offered at Lyndale Elementary School, Sanford Middle School, Ramsey Middle School, South High School, Wellstone High School and Heritage Academy.
School district officials say Minneapolis is the only district in the Twin Cities metro that offers Arabic from elementary to high school.
According to the school district, about 12,000 Minneapolis students are enrolled in a world language course. Options include Arabic, Chinese, Dakota, French, German, Hmong, Japanese, Latin, Ojibwe, Somali, Spanish and American Sign Language.
