The Importance of Preschool

At New Horizon Academy, we’ve long known the importance of a well-rounded preschool and pre-kindergarten education. This is why we use a research-based curriculum in our preschool and pre-k programs, and why we regularly assess our young learners to ensure that they’re on the path to kindergarten success.

Now, new research has found that high-quality preschool and pre-k education has a lasting impact on children’s success in school. We’ll share a few findings here.

How Preschool Impacts Future School Success

In one study , researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development tracked nearly 1,000 children as they moved from preschool to third grade. All of the students involved in the study were from low-income families. Some of the children attended half-day preschool programs, while others attended full-day preschool.

Researchers found that children who attended full-day preschool had higher reading and math skills and better social-emotional development than children who attended half-day preschool. Full-day children were also three times less likely to repeat a grade than their half-day counterparts.

Childcare Protected Against Negative Effects of Pandemic

In another study , researchers found that attending a formal daycare or preschool program during the pandemic had positive impacts on children’s language, vocabulary, and social-emotional skills.

After following more than 600 children from the ages of eight to 36 months, researchers looked closely at children’s vocabulary knowledge and skills. They determined that children could produce an average of 29 more words for every day that they spent in a childcare setting, as compared to children who did not regularly attend childcare. In addition, children could understand an average of 16 more words for each day spent in childcare. Researchers also noted positive impacts on children’s social-emotional skills.

Preschool at New Horizon Academy

Many parents think they have to enroll their children in a school district-based preschool program in order for them to be prepared for kindergarten. But that’s not necessarily true! New Horizon Academy’s accredited preschool and pre-k programs help children meet – and, in many cases, exceed – kindergarten readiness expectations in all learning domains.

Learn more about New Horizon Academy’s proven approach to kindergarten readiness here .