Expanding Pre-K Access Helps Stabilize K-12 Enrollment

Urban Institute research shows universal pre-K programs can boost public school retention.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:05pm

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An abstract, impressionistic image of a pre-K classroom scene, with blurred shapes and colors representing young children engaged in learning activities, conveying the warmth and energy of early childhood education.Expanding access to high-quality pre-K programs can help stabilize enrollment in public schools by keeping more young students engaged in the early grades.Today in Tulsa

A new study from the Urban Institute found that children who participated in Washington, D.C.'s universal pre-K program were significantly more likely to stay in public schools through kindergarten compared to their peers who did not attend preschool. As school districts across the country face declining enrollment, expanding access to pre-K is one strategy that can help build families' confidence in public school systems and sustain K-12 enrollment.

Why it matters

Stable enrollment allows school districts to better plan for staffing and programs, as funding is based on per-student counts. Declining enrollment can strain resources and force difficult decisions like school closures or layoffs. The Urban Institute's research suggests that investing in pre-K can be an effective way for states and districts to rebuild public school enrollment.

The details

The Urban Institute's analysis found that 3-year-old pre-K participants in D.C. were 35 percentage points more likely to stay in public schools through kindergarten, and 18 percentage points more likely to remain at the same school from pre-K to kindergarten, compared to peers who didn't attend preschool. Since D.C. launched its universal pre-K program in 2010, the city's public school enrollment has outperformed the national average, and the system experienced higher enrollment stability during the pandemic compared to the rest of the country.

  • D.C.'s first universal pre-K participants entered kindergarten in 2010.
  • As of the 2023-24 school year, D.C. and four states offered universal pre-K to all 4-year-olds.
  • Pre-K participation jumped 7% nationwide in 2023-24 compared to the previous year.

The players

Urban Institute

A nonprofit research organization that released a paper on the benefits of universal pre-K for K-12 enrollment.

D.C. Public Schools

The public school system in Washington, D.C. that has seen enrollment gains and stability since launching its universal pre-K program in 2010.

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What’s next

The Urban Institute recommends that districts and states expand universal pre-K access to 3-year-olds, offer pre-K programs at public schools, and invest in pre-K programs that operate on a school-year schedule and meet the needs of children and families.

The takeaway

Expanding access to high-quality, publicly-funded pre-K programs can be an effective strategy for school districts facing declining K-12 enrollment. By boosting early childhood education, districts can build families' confidence in public schools and sustain enrollment in the critical early grades.