Children And Education
Prekindergarten Participation

Increasing


Prekindergarten Participation

What does this measure?

The number of children ages 3 or 4 enrolled in public pre-kindergarten education programs, expressed as a percentage of all children ages 3 or 4.

Why is this important?

Early emphasis on reading, numeracy and social skills prepares children to succeed in kindergarten and lays the foundation for success throughout their educational careers.

How does our county compare?

In 2024, 10% of Lancaster County 3- and 4-year-olds were enrolled in a pre-kindergarten program, lower than the Pennsylvania rate of 24%. Participation in Lancaster has increased 1 percentage point since 2007, but has decreased from a high of 17% in 2019.

Enrollment in Lancaster County in 2024 was the lowest amongst neighboring counties behind Chester (11%), York and Cumberland (both 12%), Lebanon (16%), Dauphin (19%) and Berks (23%). Of surrounding counties, Berks had the largest increase in enrollment (12 percentage points) since 2007 and Lebanon had the only decrease in enrollment (6 percentage points) since 2007.

Notes about the data

Data are from KidsCount. Includes the unduplicated count of PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program and Child Care Works enrollments in Keystone STARS 3 and 4; Head Start; public school pre-k. The Pennsylvania increase in enrollment in 2016-17 is in part driven by the creation and launch of the public PHLpreK program in Philadelphia.

Prekindergarten Participation
20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201920202021202220232024
Pennsylvania16%17%18%18%18%17%16%19%19%20%23%26%23%20%22%23%24%
Lancaster County9%12%11%11%10%10%10%11%11%12%15%17%14%11%14%13%10%
Berks County10%12%12%12%12%13%12%15%14%16%18%21%20%19%18%20%23%
Chester County3%4%4%4%4%4%4%7%7%7%8%10%9%8%8%8%11%
Cumberland County3%5%4%4%4%4%4%4%5%7%7%12%12%11%11%12%12%
Dauphin County19%26%22%18%18%18%18%19%19%25%29%25%27%22%24%20%19%
Lebanon County22%29%25%24%22%22%23%25%25%27%24%24%23%20%23%17%16%
York County5%8%8%8%8%8%8%9%9%12%12%13%11%11%12%11%12%

Source: KidsCount




Number of Prekindergarten Participants
20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201920202021202220232024
Pennsylvania46,56650,70152,06451,61552,13749,63347,15856,20655,24259,72968,97275,86868,41060,74965,97065,92266,839
Lancaster County1,2151,5381,5131,4841,4631,4221,3771,6051,5461,7362,1112,3442,0011,5912,0031,8671,379
Berks County1,1421,2921,3101,3611,2911,3121,2781,5701,5091,7091,8592,2262,1171,9631,8982,1352,222
Chester County4515155505085015125279449019291,0311,3281,1861,0081,0991,0311,292
Cumberland County167217213197207231207213254369380620607600554637690
Dauphin County1,2021,5871,3991,2171,1951,1841,1891,2971,2631,7042,0441,7001,8151,4521,6011,3571,320
Lebanon County666848749739760751788871865924872835785683813576523
York County5657998448339229208231,0231,0111,2911,1791,3831,2311,2301,2721,2411,290

Source: KidsCount




INDICATORS TREND
Prekindergarten Participation Increasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
Per-Student Spending Maintaining
Students Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Maintaining
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Decreasing
College Graduation Rates Decreasing
Brain Drain/Gain Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Charitable Giving Maintaining
Voter Registration Rate Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Age of Housing Stock Not Applicable
Violent Crime Rate Maintaining
Incarceration Rate Decreasing
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population Density Increasing
Air Quality Decreasing
Water Use Decreasing
Waterways Impaired by Pollution Not Applicable
Change in Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Employer Size Not Applicable
Change in Number of Businesses by Sector Increasing
Change in Total Agricultural Sales Increasing
Spending for Local Government Maintaining
Spending for School Districts Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty Decreasing
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Veterans Living in Poverty Maintaining
Working Poor Decreasing
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Increasing
Median Home Value Maintaining
Occupied Housing Units Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Maintaining
Cost of Renting Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Health Status Decreasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Mortality Rates Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Increasing
Fatal Drug Overdoses Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Households With Internet Access Increasing
High-Tech Jobs Increasing
STEM Graduates Increasing
Science and Engineering Research and Development Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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