When you’re making a list of things to look for in a preschool, you may be interested to learn about the benefits of academic preschool. Both academic preschool activities and the academic preschool curriculum can prepare your child to enter kindergarten. Furthermore, when your child attends a quality preschool, it can also provide them with a strong foundation through high school and beyond.

There are a growing number of children being enrolled in preprimary programs. These programs provide educational experiences in small groups or classes at nursery schools, preschools, and kindergarten programs.

The percentage of three-to-five-year-olds that were enrolled in these types of programs increased between the years of 1990-to-2013. It is estimated that there was a 59%-to-65% increase in enrollment, most of which occurred between 1990-to-2000.

In 2013, 42% of children aged three, and 68% of children aged four, were enrolled in preprimary programs. While more children were attending these programs in 2013 than in 1990, there wasn’t a significant difference from 2000 through 2012.

The number of five-year-olds in preprimary programs actually declined between 1990 and 2013. In 1990, 89% of five-year-olds were enrolled in these types of programs, while in 2013, there were 84% of five-year-olds enrolled.

You may be interested to learn about the potential negative effects when at-risk children don’t attend a quality preschool:

More likely to drop out of high-school: 25%

More likely not to attend college: 60%

More likely to be arrested for committing a violent crime: 70%

A study was conducted between 1962-to-1967 to follow the lives of 123 children between the ages of three and four. These children were born in impoverished situations and were considered to have a high risk of not succeeding in school. More specifically, these children were expected to fail, and as a result, were provided with early childhood education services.

Recently, these researchers interviewed the study’s still-living participants at 40 years of age. It was found that these participants were more likely to succeed in a variety of areas. Furthermore, given the aforementioned risks, the study showed these results:

More high school graduates

More consistent employment

Higher earnings

Less committed crimes

When you consider the benefits of academic preschool, it’s important to think about the positive impact this can have on your child’s future. This includes grade school, middle school, high school, college, career path, and other important facets of his or her life.