Preschool Enrollment

The Preschool Enrollment indicator measures the share (i.e., the percent) of neighborhood children aged three and four year-olds enrolled in any group or class that provides educational experiences for children during the years preceding kindergarten. Southern states lead in preschool enrollment. Southern states also are leaders in the movement toward full-day kindergarten and other education reforms. The South accounts for seven of the top eight states for enrollment at age four. However, Alabama and Tennessee remained behind other Southern states in preschool education and lacked the relatively high Head Start enrollments to pick up the slack. Additionally, three states (Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina) spend less on preschool education than K–12 parity. Early childhood education is linked with health factors such as stronger cognitive and physical development, as well as with school and employment outcomes, which are shown to contribute to improved physical health. Early childhood education, especially in the first five years of life, has demonstrated positive effects on children’s health and well-being up to three decades later, including better reproductive health and birth outcomes. Listed in the Educational Opportunities domain, the Preschool Enrollment indicator is also tied to the Employment Opportunities, Economic Health and Neighborhood Characteristics domains. The Preschool Enrollment indicator is calculated from U.S. Census data.

Neighborhoodsort descending Indicator Value Rank
Acipco-Finley 18.0% 54
Airport Highlands 0.0% 87
Apple Valley 16.8% 58
Arlington - West End 7.1% 73
Belview Heights 13.2% 67
Bridlewood 33.7% 25
Brown Springs 43.5% 18
Brownsville Heights 2.4% 78
Brummitt Heights 0.0% 87
Bush Hills 30.9% 28
Central City 44.4% 13
Central Park 10.1% 71
Central Pratt 0.0% 87
College Hills 4.7% 76
Collegeville 19.0% 51
Crestline 20.5% 47
Crestwood North 23.2% 42
Crestwood South 13.4% 66
Dolomite 19.0% 51
Druid Hills 10.3% 70
East Avondale 25.8% 35
East Birmingham 0.0% 87
East Brownville 25.2% 38
East Lake 48.6% 10
East Thomas 11.2% 69
Eastwood 21.5% 45
Echo Highlands 14.0% 64
Enon Ridge 53.3% 8
Ensley 11.8% 68
Ensley Highlands 14.9% 61
Evergreen 46.2% 11
Fairmont 21.4% 46
Fairview 27.9% 32
Five Points South 15.5% 59
Forest Park 36.4% 21
Fountain Heights 1.6% 81
Garden Highlands 43.7% 17
Gate City 20.5% 47
Germania Park 1.9% 80
Glen Iris 14.7% 63
Grasselli Heights 0.0% 87
Graymont 13.8% 65
Green Acres 0.3% 85
Harriman Park 31.5% 27
Highland Park 48.7% 9
Hillman 0.0% 87
Hillman Park 25.6% 37
Hooper City 1.1% 84
Huffman 27.4% 34
Industrial Center 44.3% 15
Inglenook 31.6% 26
Jones Valley 1.3% 82
Killough Springs 15.1% 60
Kingston 20.0% 50
Liberty Highlands 17.0% 57
Maple Grove 23.5% 41
Mason City 44.4% 13
North Avondale 0.0% 87
North Birmingham 6.8% 74
North East Lake 25.0% 39
North Pratt 92.8% 2
North Titusville 14.8% 62
Norwood 8.4% 72
Oak Ridge 0.0% 87
Oak Ridge Park 34.6% 23
Oakwood Place 20.2% 49
Overton 36.2% 22
Oxmoor 41.8% 20
Penfield Park 23.6% 40
Pine Knoll Vista 0.0% 87
Powderly 28.0% 31
Redmont Park 46.0% 12
Riley 0.0% 87
Rising - West Princeton 29.6% 29
Roebuck 18.8% 53
Roebuck Springs 27.5% 33
Roosevelt 82.7% 4
Sandusky 85.3% 3
Sherman Heights 1.2% 83
Smithfield 34.4% 24
Smithfield Estates 5.3% 75
South East Lake 25.8% 35
South Pratt 0.0% 87
South Titusville 0.0% 87
South Woodlawn 95.6% 1
Southside 22.4% 44
Spring Lake 28.9% 30
Sun Valley 17.2% 56
Tarpley City 43.4% 19
Thomas 0.2% 86
Tuxedo 17.5% 55
Wahouma 3.3% 77
West Brownville 22.5% 43
West End Manor 55.5% 6
West Goldwire 43.8% 16
Woodland Park 0.0% 87
Woodlawn 55.7% 5
Wylam 2.1% 79
Zion City 55.2% 7

Key Citations:
1. Karoly LA. Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise. RAND Corporation, 2005.
2. McKey, Ruth Hubbell. "The Impact of Head Start on Children, Families and Communities. Final Report of the Head Start Evaluation, Synthesis and Utilization Project." (1985).
3. Schweinhart L, Montie J, 2004. The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study to Age 40. High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. Accessed on December 21, 2012: http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=219.
4. http://nieer.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/YB20200520Exec20Summary.pdf.

Stretch versions: Preschool enrollment could be obtained from local public school systems instead of the ACS if the jurisdiction offers universal pre-K programs. The Promise Neighborhood Indicators Guidebook provides guidance on collecting a measure of participation in early learning programs through a community survey. If there is a reliable child care quality rating system in the community, a stronger indicator could be the percent of three or four year olds enrolled in a high-quality early education program.