Education
Prekindergarten Participation

N/A


Not Available


Prekindergarten Participation, 2020

What does this measure?

The number of children enrolled in public or private prekindergarten education programs, expressed as a percentage of all children age 4.

Why is this important?

Early emphasis on reading and social skills prepares children to succeed later in their education.

How is our region doing?

In 2020, 49% of MetroWest 4-year-olds were enrolled in a public or private prekindergarten education program, similar to the state rate (50%). Both the region and state have seen a steady increase in public prekindergarten participation since 2002, from 25% to 40% at the regional level, and from 27% to 42% at the state level. Over that time, participation in private prekindergarten programs decreased slightly, from 12% to 9% in MetroWest and 11% to 8% at the state level. Overall, in the region in 2020, there were about 13,500 children enrolled in public prekindergarten programs and about 3,100 in private programs.

Within the region, the share of 4-year-olds enrolled in public prekindergarten was highest in Worcester County, at 46%, compared to 38% in Middlesex and 35% in Norfolk. Private prekindergarten was more prevalent in Norfolk and Worcester (both at 10%) than in Middlesex (8%).

Notes about the data

Enrollment is based on counts made on Oct. 1 of each year.

Prekindergarten Participation, 2020
PrivatePublic
Massachusetts8%42%
Region9%40%
Middlesex County8%38%
Norfolk County10%35%
Worcester County10%46%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Children Enrolled in Prekindergarten, 2020
PrivatePublic
Massachusetts5,77030,616
Region3,11013,493
Middlesex County1,4506,496
Norfolk County7452,692
Worcester County9154,305

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Prekindergarten Participation, 2002
PrivatePublic
Massachusetts11%27%
Region12%25%
Middlesex County12%22%
Norfolk County11%22%
Worcester County12%35%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Children Enrolled in Prekindergarten, 2002
PrivatePublic
Massachusetts8,26920,865
Region4,2319,247
Middlesex County2,0513,882
Norfolk County9301,821
Worcester County1,2503,544

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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