Percent of Population Ages 3 and 4 who are Enrolled in School: Census 2000

2000 State-by-State Census Data on Early Education and Care Enrollment

Children ages 3 and 4	7,701,024	100.0%
Enrolled in school	3,795,049	49.3%

Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau released preliminary data on early education and care enrollment taken during the 2000 census. It shows 49.3% of America's 3- and 4-year olds were "enrolled in school" in the year 2000. This is similar to the finding of the National Household Education Survey (NHES) that 49.6% of 3- and 4-year olds were in nursery school programs in 1999. Both Census and NHES are useful sources of information, but only the Census allows for state-by-state comparisons.

Note that the Census does not report the percentage of children in any type of classroom, but only in classrooms considered to be "school." Some idea of how much difference this makes can be obtained from the 1999 NHES where both types of information are available. In the NHES, parents reported 57% of 3- and 4-year-olds to be in a classroom when childcare centers are included, compared to 49.6% in nursery school and preschool. (see note)

All States by Rank

Rank	State	Percent Enrolled
1	New Jersey	63.2
2	Connecticut	61.1
3	Massachusetts	59.5
4	Maryland	57.7
5	New York	57.6
6	Georgia	55.9
7	Louisiana	55.7
8	Florida	54.9
9	Delaware	54.5
10	South Carolina	54.0
11	Illinois	52.5
12	Rhode Island	52.4
13	Virginia	52.3
14	Mississippi	52.2
15	North Carolina	51.1
16	New Hampshire	51.0
17	Hawaii	49.9
18	Colorado	49.8
19	Vermont	49.1
20	Pennsylvania	49.0
21	Michigan	48.9
	Alabama	48.9
23	Kansas	47.3
	Ohio	47.3
25	Missouri	47.2
26	Tennessee	46.0
27	California	45.8
28	Oklahoma	45.5
29	Minnesota	45.3
30	Arkansas	45.2
	Washington	45.2
32	Texas	45.1
33	Wisconsin	44.9
34	Nebraska	44.6
35	Iowa	44.5
36	Maine	44.4
37	Kentucky	44.0
38	Wyoming	43.5
39	Montana	42.0
40	Oregon	41.3
41	New Mexico	40.4
42	Utah	40.3
43	Alaska	40.1
44	Arizona	40.0
45	South Dakota	39.9
46	Indiana	39.7
47	Idaho	36.9
48	West Virginia	36.8
49	Nevada	36.3
50	North Dakota	34.4

Source: Analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census, Summary File 3, Table PCT23, and the National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) 1999 National Household Education Survey.

Note: The Census Bureau asks, "At any time since February 1, 2000 has this person attended regular school or college," inclusive of nursery school, preschool, kindergarten and possibly higher grades. A very small number of 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in Kindergarten or higher. Private homes in which custodial care is provided are not considered nursery schools. Children enrolled in Head Start programs or similar programs sponsored by local agencies to provide preschool education to young children are counted under nursery school. The terms "nursery school or preschool" are defined as a group or class that is organized to provide educational experiences for children during the year or years preceding kindergarten. School includes childcare programs where "instruction" is an important and integral phase of the program.

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