North Greene Pre-K Boosts Kindergarten Readiness

Illinois data shows early education programs build critical social-emotional skills

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Data shows that roughly 71% of Illinois children ages 3 to 5 are ready for kindergarten, with access to pre-K programs being a key factor. At North Greene Elementary School, 94% of students entering kindergarten met readiness standards, highlighting the benefits of early education in developing social-emotional skills like self-regulation, peer interaction, and problem-solving that are crucial for success in the classroom.

Why it matters

As poverty levels decrease, access to early education programs can also fall, putting children from lower-income families at a disadvantage. The data shows a clear correlation between pre-K attendance and kindergarten readiness, emphasizing the importance of investing in high-quality early childhood education to ensure all children have the foundation they need to thrive in school.

The details

Children in North Greene's pre-K program are learning more than just colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. They're also developing critical social-emotional skills like self-regulation, emotional control, and peer interaction - abilities that are key to success in the kindergarten classroom. Teachers use games and activities to teach communication, problem-solving, and how to pay attention for longer periods of time, preparing students for the demands of the next grade level.

  • In the 2024-25 school year, 94% of North Greene students entering kindergarten met readiness standards.
  • Across Illinois, 71% of children ages 3 to 5 are considered ready for kindergarten.

The players

Samantha Bushnell

The elementary principal for North Greene Elementary School.

North Greene Elementary School

A school in Illinois that reports 94% of its students entering kindergarten are ready, thanks to its pre-K program that focuses on building social-emotional skills.

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What they’re saying

“What kindergarten readiness looks like for our teachers is social-emotional readiness, problem solving, learning through play. We look at their social skills. We've noticed that those that attend pre-k are often more socially and emotionally ready.”

— Samantha Bushnell, Elementary Principal (myjournalcourier.com)

The takeaway

This data highlights the crucial role that high-quality early childhood education programs play in preparing children for success in kindergarten and beyond. By focusing on developing social-emotional skills alongside academic skills, pre-K programs like North Greene's are setting students up for long-term achievement in school.