The Minneapolis School District is expanding its Arabic language program to Washburn High School this year, adding to its existing programs at seven other district schools. Minneapolis is the only district in the metro area to offer Arabic from elementary through high school levels, according to a district release.

The district has help with a grant from Qatar Foundation International for more than $68,000 to make sure "students have access to a global education through a comprehensive and rigorous Arabic curriculum," the release said.

"Thanks to this partnership, our students will have even more opportunities to learn important languages useful for both college and career," said Superintendent Ed Graff in the release.

The district is one of Minnesota's most diverse, it said, adding that the first program started at Roosevelt High School more than 15 years ago.

In addition, the release said about 12,000 students in the district are enrolled in foreign language courses, including Hmong, Japanese, Latin, Ojibwe and Somali.