Data / Rankings / School enrolment, children aged 3 and 4 / US states

US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024

District of Columbia had the highest school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4 of 51 states in 2024, at 79%. North Dakota had the lowest, at 28.9%. The median was 43.6% and the figure for the United States was 45.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest79District of Columbia
Lowest28.9North Dakota
Median43.651 states
United States45.5History

Map of states, 2024

Alabama: 42.6 %Alaska: 36.4 %Arizona: 35 %Arkansas: 41.1 %California: 44.6 %Colorado: 48.7 %Connecticut: 59.7 %Delaware: 44.7 %District of Columbia: 79 %Florida: 48.9 %Georgia: 46.7 %Hawaii: 43.7 %Idaho: 37.7 %Illinois: 51.1 %Indiana: 39.7 %Iowa: 43.4 %Kansas: 44.7 %Kentucky: 36.7 %Louisiana: 49.2 %Maine: 39.9 %Maryland: 45.5 %Massachusetts: 55.4 %Michigan: 44.4 %Minnesota: 44.8 %Mississippi: 49.3 %Missouri: 43.6 %Montana: 38.2 %Nebraska: 43.2 %Nevada: 32.7 %New Hampshire: 51.7 %New Jersey: 61.6 %New Mexico: 39.9 %New York: 59.5 %North Carolina: 39.6 %North Dakota: 28.9 %Ohio: 41.2 %Oklahoma: 40.5 %Oregon: 41.8 %Pennsylvania: 44.3 %Rhode Island: 48.2 %South Carolina: 44.3 %South Dakota: 35.5 %Tennessee: 37.9 %Texas: 43.3 %Utah: 42.5 %Vermont: 59.7 %Virginia: 44.8 %Washington: 42.9 %West Virginia: 31.8 %Wisconsin: 41.5 %Wyoming: 47.6 %
  • Under 38
  • 38 to 41
  • 41 to 44
  • 44 to 45
  • 45 to 49
  • 49 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2024

District of Columbia: 79 %District of Columbia79New Jersey: 61.6 %New Jersey61.6Connecticut: 59.7 %Connecticut59.7Vermont: 59.7 %Vermont59.7New York: 59.5 %New York59.5Massachusetts: 55.4 %Massachusetts55.4New Hampshire: 51.7 %New Hampshire51.7Illinois: 51.1 %Illinois51.1Mississippi: 49.3 %Mississippi49.3Louisiana: 49.2 %Louisiana49.2Florida: 48.9 %Florida48.9Colorado: 48.7 %Colorado48.7Rhode Island: 48.2 %Rhode Island48.2Wyoming: 47.6 %Wyoming47.6Georgia: 46.7 %Georgia46.7Maryland: 45.5 %Maryland45.5Virginia: 44.8 %Virginia44.8Minnesota: 44.8 %Minnesota44.8Delaware: 44.7 %Delaware44.7Kansas: 44.7 %Kansas44.7California: 44.6 %California44.6Michigan: 44.4 %Michigan44.4Pennsylvania: 44.3 %Pennsylvania44.3South Carolina: 44.3 %South Carolina44.3Hawaii: 43.7 %Hawaii43.7Missouri: 43.6 %Missouri43.6Iowa: 43.4 %Iowa43.4Texas: 43.3 %Texas43.3Nebraska: 43.2 %Nebraska43.2Washington: 42.9 %Washington42.9Alabama: 42.6 %Alabama42.6Utah: 42.5 %Utah42.5Oregon: 41.8 %Oregon41.8Wisconsin: 41.5 %Wisconsin41.5Ohio: 41.2 %Ohio41.2Arkansas: 41.1 %Arkansas41.1Oklahoma: 40.5 %Oklahoma40.5New Mexico: 39.9 %New Mexico39.9Maine: 39.9 %Maine39.9Indiana: 39.7 %Indiana39.7North Carolina: 39.6 %North Carolina39.6Montana: 38.2 %Montana38.2Tennessee: 37.9 %Tennessee37.9Idaho: 37.7 %Idaho37.7Kentucky: 36.7 %Kentucky36.7Alaska: 36.4 %Alaska36.4South Dakota: 35.5 %South Dakota35.5Arizona: 35 %Arizona35Nevada: 32.7 %Nevada32.7West Virginia: 31.8 %West Virginia31.8North Dakota: 28.9 %North Dakota28.9District of Columbia: 79 %District of Columbia79New Jersey: 61.6 %New Jersey61.6Connecticut: 59.7 %Connecticut59.7Vermont: 59.7 %Vermont59.7New York: 59.5 %New York59.5Massachusetts: 55.4 %Massachusetts55.4New Hampshire: 51.7 %New Hampshire51.7Illinois: 51.1 %Illinois51.1Mississippi: 49.3 %Mississippi49.3Louisiana: 49.2 %Louisiana49.2Florida: 48.9 %Florida48.9Colorado: 48.7 %Colorado48.7Rhode Island: 48.2 %Rhode Island48.2Wyoming: 47.6 %Wyoming47.6Georgia: 46.7 %Georgia46.7Maryland: 45.5 %Maryland45.5Virginia: 44.8 %Virginia44.8Minnesota: 44.8 %Minnesota44.8Delaware: 44.7 %Delaware44.7Kansas: 44.7 %Kansas44.7California: 44.6 %California44.6Michigan: 44.4 %Michigan44.4Pennsylvania: 44.3 %Pennsylvania44.3South Carolina: 44.3 %South Carolina44.3Hawaii: 43.7 %Hawaii43.7Missouri: 43.6 %Missouri43.6Iowa: 43.4 %Iowa43.4Texas: 43.3 %Texas43.3Nebraska: 43.2 %Nebraska43.2Washington: 42.9 %Washington42.9Alabama: 42.6 %Alabama42.6Utah: 42.5 %Utah42.5Oregon: 41.8 %Oregon41.8Wisconsin: 41.5 %Wisconsin41.5Ohio: 41.2 %Ohio41.2Arkansas: 41.1 %Arkansas41.1Oklahoma: 40.5 %Oklahoma40.5New Mexico: 39.9 %New Mexico39.9Maine: 39.9 %Maine39.9Indiana: 39.7 %Indiana39.7North Carolina: 39.6 %North Carolina39.6Montana: 38.2 %Montana38.2Tennessee: 37.9 %Tennessee37.9Idaho: 37.7 %Idaho37.7Kentucky: 36.7 %Kentucky36.7Alaska: 36.4 %Alaska36.4South Dakota: 35.5 %South Dakota35.5Arizona: 35 %Arizona35Nevada: 32.7 %Nevada32.7West Virginia: 31.8 %West Virginia31.8North Dakota: 28.9 %North Dakota28.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2024 (%)Change on 2023
1District of Columbia79-0.8 pts
2New Jersey61.6-0 pts
3Connecticut59.7-0.4 pts
4Vermont59.7+0.7 pts
5New York59.5+0.8 pts
6Massachusetts55.4-0.2 pts
7New Hampshire51.7-0.6 pts
8Illinois51.1-0.2 pts
9Mississippi49.3-0.5 pts
10Louisiana49.2+0.5 pts
11Florida48.9-0.2 pts
12Colorado48.7-0.4 pts
13Rhode Island48.2+1.3 pts
14Wyoming47.6+6.2 pts
15Georgia46.7-0.9 pts
16Maryland45.5-0.7 pts
17Virginia44.8-1.2 pts
18Minnesota44.8+0.1 pts
19Delaware44.7-1.1 pts
20Kansas44.7+0.1 pts
21California44.6+0.2 pts
22Michigan44.4+0.2 pts
23Pennsylvania44.3+0.3 pts
23South Carolina44.3+0.4 pts
25Hawaii43.7-2.6 pts
26Missouri43.6+0.4 pts
27Iowa43.4+0.4 pts
28Texas43.3+0.4 pts
29Nebraska43.2+0.5 pts
30Washington42.9-0.5 pts
31Alabama42.6-0.2 pts
32Utah42.5-0.2 pts
33Oregon41.8+0.2 pts
34Wisconsin41.5+0.2 pts
35Ohio41.2-1.3 pts
36Arkansas41.1-1.7 pts
37Oklahoma40.5-0.8 pts
38New Mexico39.9-0.3 pts
39Maine39.9-0.4 pts
40Indiana39.7-0.3 pts
41North Carolina39.6-0.8 pts
42Montana38.2+1.9 pts
43Tennessee37.9-0 pts
44Idaho37.7+2 pts
45Kentucky36.7+0.1 pts
46Alaska36.4-2.4 pts
47South Dakota35.5-0.1 pts
48Arizona35-0.7 pts
49Nevada32.70 pts
50West Virginia31.8+2.7 pts
51North Dakota28.9+1.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school, including nursery school and preschool, at any time in the three months before the interview, as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Reported by households, so it includes private nursery schools. Small counties have only a few dozen children in the sample, and their rates can swing widely between periods.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs (US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs, US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/preschool-enrollment-ages-3-4/us-states. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs. US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/preschool-enrollment-ages-3-4/us-states.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs, US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/preschool-enrollment-ages-3-4/us-states (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_school_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs: US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/preschool-enrollment-ages-3-4/us-states. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs: US states by school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/preschool-enrollment-ages-3-4/us-states
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/preschool-enrollment-ages-3-4/us-states.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b14003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4?

District of Columbia, with 79% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest school enrolment, children aged 3 and 4?

North Dakota, with 28.9% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B14003: children aged 3 and 4 enrolled in public or private school as a percentage of all children aged 3 and 4, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

School enrolment, children aged 3 and 4: other rankings

US states: more rankings