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

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.