Spanish Immersion Preschool in Woodbury, MN: A Parent's Guide

If you are a Woodbury parent weighing a Spanish immersion preschool, here is the short version: immersion is one of the most effective and natural ways for a young child to become bilingual, it does not require you to speak Spanish at home, and the earlier a child starts, the easier it is. This guide walks through how immersion works, what to expect at each age, what it costs locally, and how to decide if it is right for your family.

At Alma Flor Ada Spanish Immersion Early Learning Academy, we serve families across Woodbury and the East Metro, from 16 months through Kindergarten. What follows is the same explanation we give parents who visit us in person.

What is a Spanish immersion preschool?

A Spanish immersion preschool is an early learning program where most of the day is taught and lived in Spanish. Children are not sat down for Spanish lessons. Instead, they hear and use Spanish during play, meals, songs, stories, and daily routines, which is exactly how they learned their first language.

The result is natural acquisition. A toddler who hears “vamos a lavarnos las manos” before every snack does not memorize a translation. They simply learn what the words mean by living them, day after day. Over months and years, that repetition builds real, usable fluency alongside strong English.

How does the 90/10 immersion model work?

Our program uses a 90/10 dual language model, which means roughly 90 percent of the day is conducted in Spanish and about 10 percent in English. The English is intentional and reserved for moments when a child needs clarity or emotional reassurance, so no child ever feels lost.

Three things make the model work for young children:

• Native Spanish-speaking teachers. Children hear authentic pronunciation, rhythm, and cultural context, not textbook Spanish.
• Consistency. Spanish is the language of the classroom all day, every day, which is what allows the brain to treat it as a real language rather than a subject.
• Play-based learning. Language is attached to activities children care about, so it sticks.

We explain this in more depth in How the 90/10 Spanish immersion model works.

Do parents need to speak Spanish at home?

No. This is the single most common worry we hear, and the answer is a confident no. Families do not need to speak Spanish at home for a child to thrive in immersion.

Young children are built to learn language through exposure and relationships, not through a parent’s coaching at the dinner table. Your job at home is to support and celebrate, not to teach. Plenty of our most fluent students come from homes where no one spoke a word of Spanish on the first day of school. We cover this fully in Do you need to speak Spanish at home for immersion to work?.

What is the right age to start Spanish immersion?

The earlier, the better, and 16 months to 3 years is an ideal window. There is a well-documented window in early childhood when the brain absorbs new languages with remarkable ease. Starting during the toddler and preschool years takes full advantage of that receptiveness.

That said, there is no single “too late.” Children who join us at 4 still make excellent progress because immersion meets each child where they are. Our five-level progression system is designed around development, not just age:

• Early Pre-K, Level 101: 16 months to 2 years. The beginning of the journey, built on play, music, and bilingual routines. See our Early Pre-K program.
• Pre-K, Levels 102 to 103: 2 to 3 years. Vocabulary, early academics, and emotional fluency deepen.
• Kindergarten Readiness, Levels 104 to 105: 4 and up. Bilingual literacy, math foundations, and the confidence to thrive in elementary school.

Children advance through the levels once a year, or earlier when our teachers see they are ready.

Will my child be ready for Kindergarten?

Yes. A well-run immersion program supports both Spanish development and Kindergarten readiness at the same time. Our students build the social, emotional, academic, and early literacy skills they need to step confidently into Kindergarten, and they carry the lifelong benefit of a second language with them. We go deeper in Will my child be ready for Kindergarten after Spanish immersion?.

What does Spanish immersion preschool cost in Woodbury?

We believe families deserve to know what enrollment costs before they tour, so our tuition is transparent:

• Toddler Program: 460 dollars per week
• Pre-K and Kindergarten Program: 420 dollars per week

Tuition includes full-day immersion, native Spanish-speaking teachers, all curriculum materials, daily snacks and lunch, and cultural enrichment built into every day. Before care runs from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and after care from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for families who need it. Our full breakdown lives on the tuition page.

What makes Alma Flor Ada different in the East Metro?

We are not childcare with a few Spanish words sprinkled in. We are a true immersion academy in Woodbury, focused on bilingual development, social and emotional growth, cultural connection, and school readiness. A few things families tell us set us apart:

• A faculty of native Spanish speakers from across the Spanish-speaking world, which means real culture, not just vocabulary.
• A warm, structured environment designed specifically for early childhood.
• A year-round calendar aligned with Woodbury Public School District 833, with summer programming that blends STEM and language.
• Transparent tuition and a team that genuinely treats your family like ours. As we like to say, tu familia es nuestra familia.

How do I know if immersion is right for my child?

The honest answer is that the best way to know is to visit. Watching children move through a Spanish-only morning, happy and engaged, tells you more than any article can. If you are still weighing the decision, our guide Is a Spanish immersion preschool right for your child? walks through the questions worth asking.

When you are ready, we would love to meet you. Schedule a tour of our Woodbury academy at 8420 City Centre Drive, or call us at 651-999-3952. Most families apply after they have walked the halls, met our teachers, and seen immersion in action.