Between 1970 and 2006, children ages 3–4 saw the largest increase in enrollment rates. There was also notable growth in enrollment rates for those ages 18–19 and 20–24, the period when individuals are typically enrolled in postsecondary education.

Changes in enrollment patterns may reflect changes in attendance requirements, the perceived value or cost of education, as well as the time taken to complete degrees. Between 1970 and 2006, the enrollment rate of children ages 3–4 (typically nursery school ages) increased from 20 to 56 percent. This rate is up from 52 percent of students in this age group 5 years earlier in 2001. Some of this increase may reflect changes in the data collection method in 1994;¹ however, the rate of nursery school attendance had already doubled before that year (see table 1-1). The enrollment rate of children ages 5–6 (typically kindergarten² or 1st-grade ages) increased from 90 percent in 1970 to 96 percent in 1976 and has since remained roughly stable.

The enrollment rate for youth ages 7–13 has remained high over the past 35 years (between 98 and 99 percent), reflecting state school attendance requirements. The maximum compulsory age of school attendance varies by state between ages 16 and 18; this fact may account for the lower enrollment rates for youth ages 14–17 (between 93 and 97 percent) compared with those for youth ages 7–13 (Education Commission of the States 2006). No measurable differences have been found in the enrollment rates for these age groups since 2001.

Youth ages 18–19 are typically transitioning into postsecondary education or the workforce. Between 1970 and 2006, the enrollment rates for these youth increased at the elementary/secondary level (from 10 to 19 percent) and at the postsecondary level (from 37 to 46 percent), raising the overall enrollment rate of those ages 18–19 from 48 to 65 percent. This overall rate is up from 61 percent of students in this age group 5 years earlier in 2001.

Adults ages 20–34 who are enrolled in school are usually enrolled in postsecondary education. Between 1970 and 2006, the enrollment rate of young adults ages 20–21 increased from 32 to 48 percent, and the rate of those ages 22–24 increased from 15 to 27 percent. Among older adults, the enrollment rate increased from 8 to 12 percent for those ages 25–29 during this period, and from 4 percent in 1970 to 7 percent in 2006 for those ages 30–34. Despite this pattern of increase from 1970 to 2006, there was no measurable change in the enrollment rates for those ages 20–34 between 2001 and 2006.

¹ Beginning in 1994, new procedures were used to collect preprimary enrollment data. As a result, pre-1994 data may not be comparable to data from 1994 or later. (back to text)

² As of April 2005, of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, there were 36 states or jurisdictions that did not require kindergarten attendance; however, most mandate that school districts offer kindergarten programs (Education Commission of the States 2005). (back to text)