To identify the states with the strongest early education systems, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. These metrics range from the share of school districts offering a state pre-K program to the number of pre-K quality benchmarks met and total reported spending per child enrolled in pre-K.
| States with the Best Early Education Systems | States with the Worst Early Education Systems | |
| 1. District of Columbia | 42. Alaska | |
| 2. Arkansas | 43. Hawaii | |
| 3. Maryland | 44. Idaho | |
| 4. New Jersey | 45. Montana | |
| 5. West Virginia | 46. Minnesota | |
| 6. South Carolina | 47. Massachusetts | |
| 7. Vermont | 48. New Hampshire | |
| 8. New Mexico | 49. North Dakota | |
| 9. Georgia | 50. Missouri | |
| 10. Nebraska | 51. Indiana |
Best vs. Worst
- 14 states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and South Carolina, have the highest share of school districts that offer a state pre-K program, which is 8.3 times higher than in Alaska, the state with the lowest.
- The District of Columbia has the highest share of 4-year-olds enrolled in pre-K, pre-K Special Education or Head Start programs, which is 8.6 times higher than in Idaho, the state with the lowest.
- Connecticut has the highest income requirement for state pre-K eligibility, which is 4.1 times higher than in Washington, which has one of the lowest.
- The District of Columbia has the highest total spending per child enrolled in preschool, which is 9.2 times higher than in Florida, which has one of the lowest.
- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Michigan, South Carolina and Wyoming have some of the lowest monthly child care co-payment fees (as a share of family income), which is ten times lower than in Maine and North Carolina, the states with the highest.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/
“The more that states invest in early education, and the more accessible they make those programs, the more they will benefit in the future. Having access to quality early education gives students a jump start that can improve their future performance in school, as well as lead to better job opportunities and higher earnings in the long-term. A better-educated, higher-earning population will in turn bring economic benefits back to the state.”
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“The District of Columbia is the state with the best early education system, boasting the highest enrollment of three- and four-year-olds in pre-K, pre-K special education or Head Start programs. In the District, 77% of three-year-olds and 95% of four-year-olds are enrolled. D.C. also spends the most money per child enrolled in preschool, at over $27,000 per year, giving children more resources and a better start to their education.”
- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
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