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    How do DC, Maryland and Virginia rank for early education?

    5 Mins Read
    About the study To determine the rankings, WalletHub compared all 50 states and DC across three key dimensions – Access, Quality and Resources and Economic Support – using 12 relevant metrics, each graded on a 100-point scale. Access metrics include the share of school districts offering a state pre-K program, enrollment rates for three- and four-year-olds, the presence of waiting lists for child care assistance, and pre-K program growth. Quality metrics include pre-K quality benchmarks met, income requirements for state pre-K eligibility, and school safety plan and audit requirements. Resources and Economic Support metrics cover total spending per child enrolled in preschool, changes in state spending per child, Head Start program spending, and monthly child care co-payment fees as a share of family income. Data was collected as of June 30, 2026 from the National Institute for Early Education Research, the Education Commission of the States, and the National Women's Law Center. All three DMV locations landed in the top 11 — making the region one of the most impressive clusters of early education strength anywhere in the country. Here's a closer look at each. District of Columbia: Ranked No. 1 in the country The District of Columbia is at the very top of WalletHub's 2026 rankings with an overall score of 77.43. DC earned a perfect No. 1 ranking in both Access and Resources & Economic Support, meaning no state in the country does more to make early education available to families or invests more financial resources in getting children there. In the access category, DC leads the country in the enrollment of three- and four-year-olds in pre-K, pre-K special education or Head Start programs, with 77% of DC three-year-olds and 95% of DC four-year-olds enrolled. That enrollment is also growing rapidly: DC saw a 56% increase in three-year-old enrollment and a 50% increase in four-year-old enrollment between the 2001-02 and 2024-25 school years. DC also spends the most money per child enrolled in preschool of any state or district in the country, at over $27,000 per year. The one area where DC has room to grow is Quality, where it ranks No. 20. While not a bad score, it is the category where DC trails both Maryland and Virginia. DC at a glance: Overall rank: No. 1 (score: 77.43) Access rank: No. 1 Quality rank: No. 20 Resources & Economic Support rank: No. 1 Three-year-old enrollment: 77% Four-year-old enrollment: 95% Spending per child enrolled in preschool: about $27,000/year Maryland: Ranked No. 3 in the country Maryland's No. 3 overall ranking has a score of 74.45, built primarily on exceptional strength in Quality and Resources. Maryland ranks No. 2 in Quality and No. 3 in Resources & Economic Support, with a No. 14 Access ranking that reflects solid statewide reach. Maryland has one of the highest quality rankings in the country, also meeting a high number of pre-K quality benchmarks, which covers everything from teacher qualifications and class sizes to curriculum supports and continuous quality improvement systems. Maryland's financial investment in early education is equally impressive. The state has the 15th-highest spending per child enrolled in preschool in the country, at nearly $12,000 per year. Maryland at a glance: Overall rank: No. 3 (score: 74.45) Access rank: No. 14 Quality rank: No. 2 Resources & Economic Support rank: No. 3 Spending per child enrolled in preschool: $12,000/year Virginia: Ranked No. 11 in the country Virginia's No. 11 overall ranking with a score of 60.08 displays that Virginia performs consistently across all three categories – Access (No. 23), Quality (No. 8), and Resources & Economic Support (No. 24) – making it one of the more balanced early education systems in the top quarter of the country. Virginia's No. 8 Quality ranking is particularly notable. The state meets the pre-K quality benchmarks, including requirements around teacher qualifications, class sizes, and health screenings. Virginia also has school safety plans in place, contributing to its strong quality score. Where Virginia has the most room to grow relative to its DMV neighbors is in the Access category, with a No. 23 ranking that means that statewide reach and enrollment rates are not yet at the level of Maryland or DC. Income requirements for state pre-K eligibility are also a factor, as they determine how many families qualify for state-supported programs in the first place. For Northern Virginia families specifically, proximity to DC-area resources and strong local school district investment can offset some of the statewide limitations. Virginia at a glance: Overall rank: No. 11 (score: 60.08) Access rank: No. 23 Quality rank: No. 8 Resources & Economic Support rank: No. 24 What this means for DMV families With all three DMV locations ranking in the top 11 in the country, families in the region are in a strong position when it comes to early childhood education. DC leads the nation in making pre-K available and affordable. Maryland leads in quality and investment. Virginia is a consistently solid performer that is well above the national average in every category measured. Only 11 states currently offer universal pre-K programs, though many are working toward it. The DMV, with DC already leading the country and Maryland and Virginia both in the top tier, is well-positioned to be part of that next wave of expansion. For parents with children approaching preschool age, that's good news worth paying attention to.
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    DC ranks No. 1, Maryland No. 3 and Virginia No. 11 among the best states for early education in 2026, according to WalletHub’s annual study. Every year, personal finance website WalletHub analyzes early childhood education systems across all 50 states and the District of Columbia to help families locate where their children have the best chance at a strong academic start. Children enrolled in early education programs are more likely to be academically prepared for future grades, have higher graduation rates and higher earning potential than those who are not enrolled, according to the National Education Association. 

    Key Takeaways

    • Highest ranked: The District of Columbia ranked No. 1 in the country for early childhood education in WalletHub’s 2026 study, with a No. 1 ranking in both Access and Resources and Economic Support.
    • Other rankings: Maryland ranked No. 3 overall, with exceptional Quality (No. 2) and Resources (No. 3). Virginia ranked No. 11 overall with scores across all three dimensions: Access (No. 23), Quality (No. 8) and Resources and Economic Support (No. 24).
    • The more you know: All three DMV locations rank in the top 11 in the country, making the region one of the strongest early education environments in the United States.

    About the study

    To determine the rankings, WalletHub compared all 50 states and DC across three key dimensions – Access, Quality and Resources and Economic Support – using 12 relevant metrics, each graded on a 100-point scale. Access metrics include the share of school districts offering a state pre-K program, enrollment rates for three- and four-year-olds, the presence of waiting lists for child care assistance, and pre-K program growth. Quality metrics include pre-K quality benchmarks met, income requirements for state pre-K eligibility, and school safety plan and audit requirements. Resources and Economic Support metrics cover total spending per child enrolled in preschool, changes in state spending per child, Head Start program spending, and monthly child care co-payment fees as a share of family income. Data was collected as of June 30, 2026 from the National Institute for Early Education Research, the Education Commission of the States, and the National Women’s Law Center.

    All three DMV locations landed in the top 11, making the region one of the country’s most impressive clusters of early education strength. Here’s a closer look at each.

    District of Columbia: Ranked No. 1 in the country

    The District of Columbia is at the very top of WalletHub’s 2026 rankings with an overall score of 77.43. DC earned a perfect No. 1 ranking in both Access and Resources & Economic Support, meaning no state in the country does more to make early education available to families or invests more financial resources in getting children there.

    In the access category, DC leads the country in the enrollment of three- and four-year-olds in pre-K, pre-K special education or Head Start programs, with 77% of DC three-year-olds and 95% of DC four-year-olds enrolled. That enrollment is also growing rapidly: DC saw a 56% increase in three-year-old enrollment and a 50% increase in four-year-old enrollment between the 2001-02 and 2024-25 school years.

    DC also spends the most money per child enrolled in preschool of any state or district in the country, at over $27,000 per year. 

    The one area where DC has room to grow is Quality, where it ranks No. 20. While not a bad score, it is the category where DC trails both Maryland and Virginia.

    DC at a glance:

    • Overall rank: No. 1 (score: 77.43)
    • Access rank: No. 1
    • Quality rank: No. 20
    • Resources & Economic Support rank: No. 1
    • Three-year-old enrollment: 77% 
    • Four-year-old enrollment: 95% 
    • Spending per child enrolled in preschool: about $27,000/year 

    Maryland: Ranked No. 3 in the country

    Maryland’s No. 3 overall ranking has a score of 74.45, built primarily on exceptional strength in Quality and Resources. Maryland ranks No. 2 in Quality and No. 3 in Resources & Economic Support, with a No. 14 Access ranking that reflects solid statewide reach.

    Maryland has one of the highest quality rankings in the country, also meeting a high number of pre-K quality benchmarks, which covers everything from teacher qualifications and class sizes to curriculum supports and continuous quality improvement systems.

    Maryland’s financial investment in early education is equally impressive. The state has the 15th-highest spending per child enrolled in preschool in the country, at nearly $12,000 per year. 

    Maryland at a glance:

    • Overall rank: No. 3 (score: 74.45)
    • Access rank: No. 14
    • Quality rank: No. 2
    • Resources & Economic Support rank: No. 3
    • Spending per child enrolled in preschool: $12,000/year 

    Virginia: Ranked No. 11 in the country

    Virginia’s No. 11 overall ranking with a score of 60.08 displays that Virginia performs consistently across all three categories – Access (No. 23), Quality (No. 8), and Resources & Economic Support (No. 24) – making it one of the more balanced early education systems in the top quarter of the country.

    Virginia’s No. 8 Quality ranking is particularly notable. The state meets the pre-K quality benchmarks, including requirements around teacher qualifications, class sizes, and health screenings. Virginia also has school safety plans in place, contributing to its strong quality score.

    Where Virginia has the most room to grow relative to its DMV neighbors is in the Access category, with a No. 23 ranking that means that statewide reach and enrollment rates are not yet at the level of Maryland or DC. Income requirements for state pre-K eligibility are also a factor, as they determine how many families qualify for state-supported programs in the first place. For Northern Virginia families specifically, proximity to DC-area resources and strong local school district investment can offset some of the statewide limitations.

    Virginia at a glance:

    • Overall rank: No. 11 (score: 60.08)
    • Access rank: No. 23
    • Quality rank: No. 8
    • Resources & Economic Support rank: No. 24

    What this means for DMV families

    With all three DMV locations ranking in the top 11 in the country, families in the region are in a strong position when it comes to early childhood education. DC leads the nation in making pre-K available and affordable. Maryland leads in quality and investment. Virginia is a consistently solid performer that is well above the national average in every category measured.

    Only 11 states currently offer universal pre-K programs, though many are working toward it. The DMV, with DC already leading the country and Maryland and Virginia both in the top tier, is well-positioned to be part of that next wave of expansion. For parents with children approaching preschool age, that’s good news worth paying attention to.

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