The number of children enrolled in public or private prekindergarten education programs, expressed as a percentage of all children age 4.
Early emphasis on reading and social skills prepares children to succeed later in their education.
In 2021, 30% of Essex County 4-year olds were enrolled in a pre-kindergarten education program, lower than the state rate of 37%. This is an 11-point decrease from 2020 and the lowest rate since 2002 when the rate was 36%, most likely due to the COVID pandemic. Between 2020 and 2021, enrollment in private programs increased 1 percentage point while enrollment in public programs decreased 12 points.
Essex County had a slightly lower participation rate than Middlesex, MA, whose rate was 34%, in 2021. Comparable data were not available for Westchester, NY and Lake, IL.
Enrollment is based on counts made on Oct. 1 of each year.
Private | Public | |
---|---|---|
Essex County, MA | 7% | 23% |
Middlesex County, MA | 8% | 26% |
Massachusetts | 8% | 29% |
Private | Public | |
---|---|---|
Essex County, MA | 671 | 2,078 |
Middlesex County, MA | 1,273 | 4,348 |
Massachusetts | 5,486 | 21,176 |
Private | Public | |
---|---|---|
Essex County, MA | 10% | 26% |
Middlesex County, MA | 12% | 22% |
Massachusetts | 11% | 27% |
Private | Public | |
---|---|---|
Essex County, MA | 981 | 2,477 |
Middlesex County, MA | 2,051 | 3,882 |
Massachusetts | 8,269 | 20,865 |