Locations
Maine
Statistics on children, youth and families in Maine from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Maine Children's Alliance
Why This Indicator Matters
Access to high-quality preschool can enrich children's development so that they thrive in school and later enter the workforce as well-prepared employees. Public preschool, sometimes known as prekindergarten, is an optional program and the decision to offer a four-year-old program is made by school boards at the local level. Some areas of the state serve the majority of their four-year-olds through public preschool, where other areas serve a small percentage, although the number of hours of instruction (full day vs half day) varies between school administrative units.
Enrollment in public pre-school had been increasing and was 6,187 students as of October 2019. But, due to the pandemic fewer students enrolled in public pre-school the following fall. In October 2020, there were just 4,746 public preschool students, statewide, a drop of 23%. It took 3 years to recover, but as of October 2022, there were 6,269 students in public preschool, more than in 2019.
Now in October of 2025, 6,557 students or 54% of all Maine's 4-year-olds are enrolled in public preschool. This is the highest level of enrollment recorded since our records start in 2007.
In 2025-2026, there was notable variation by county. 6 counties had enrollment rates above 60%. These were Knox (73%), Washington (69%), Aroostook (66%), Androscoggin (65%), Penobscot (62%), and Lincoln (61%). Waldo (34%), Cumberland (42%), and Kennebec (43%) were the only 3 counties with enrollment rates below 50%.
National data is for three and four-year olds showed 47% enrolled in public preschool in 2022 (the latest available data as of 9/1/2026). Maine's program is only for four-year-olds, so there is no comparable data. National Education Statistics students age 3 and 4
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Enrollment in public pre-school had been increasing and was 6,187 students as of October 2019. But, due to the pandemic fewer students enrolled in public pre-school the following fall. In October 2020, there were just 4,746 public preschool students, statewide, a drop of 23%. It took 3 years to recover, but as of October 2022, there were 6,269 students in public preschool, more than in 2019.
Now in October of 2025, 6,557 students or 54% of all Maine's 4-year-olds are enrolled in public preschool. This is the highest level of enrollment recorded since our records start in 2007.
In 2025-2026, there was notable variation by county. 6 counties had enrollment rates above 60%. These were Knox (73%), Washington (69%), Aroostook (66%), Androscoggin (65%), Penobscot (62%), and Lincoln (61%). Waldo (34%), Cumberland (42%), and Kennebec (43%) were the only 3 counties with enrollment rates below 50%.
National data is for three and four-year olds showed 47% enrolled in public preschool in 2022 (the latest available data as of 9/1/2026). Maine's program is only for four-year-olds, so there is no comparable data. National Education Statistics students age 3 and 4
Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The number and percent of four-year-old children enrolled in a four-year-old program offered through a school administrative unit. Children must be four years of age by October 15 of the entering school year in order to be eligible for a public preschool program, also known as pre-kindergarten. Data marked as 2025 is for students enrolled as of October 2025.
Data Source
Maine Department of Education Data Warehouse
2025 Data Uploaded 9/1/2026
2025 Data Uploaded 9/1/2026
Notes
Data represent school years. Year indicated is the fall term of the year, such that "2025" means the 2025-2026 school year.
Previous data for 2015-2016 was revised to include the sum of PK and PR which are two different types of public preschool programs. Data from 2020 and later from the Maine Department of Education has no separate breakout between Pre-Kindergarten and Preschool.
Previous data for 2015-2016 was revised to include the sum of PK and PR which are two different types of public preschool programs. Data from 2020 and later from the Maine Department of Education has no separate breakout between Pre-Kindergarten and Preschool.
Last Updated
September 2026