South Carolina has the sixth best early education system in the country, according to a report released this week by the personal finance company WalletHub.
The ranking carries weight for families in Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, York and across York and Lancaster Counties, where access to state funded prekindergarten shapes how ready children are for kindergarten. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 metrics, from the share of school districts that offer a state prekindergarten program to spending per child enrolled.
Where South Carolina stands out
The state’s strongest mark came in access. South Carolina ranked first in the nation for the share of school districts that offer a state prekindergarten program, meaning the program reaches families in nearly every corner of the state.
South Carolina also placed above the national midpoint in several areas. The state ranked 11th for its income requirement for state prekindergarten eligibility, 15th for total state Head Start program spending per child enrolled in preschool, and 11th for monthly child care copayment fees measured as a percent of family income. On WalletHub’s scale, first is best and 25th is average among the 51 jurisdictions.
Quality of Early Education in South Carolina (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 6th
- 24th – Share of 3- and 4-year-olds Enrolled in pre-K, pre-K Special Education and Head Start
- 11th – Income Requirement for State Pre-K Eligibility
- 15th – Total State Head Start Program Spending per Child Enrolled in Preschool
- 11th – Monthly Child Care Co-Payment Fees as a Percent of Family Income
- 1st – Share of School Districts that Offer State Pre-K Program
Where the state falls short
South Carolina lagged on one of the access measures. The state ranked 24th for the share of 3 and 4 year olds enrolled in prekindergarten, prekindergarten special education and Head Start programs, placing it near the middle of the pack even as district level availability topped the country.
The report frames early learning as a national gap. Only 12 states and the District of Columbia currently offer universal prekindergarten, WalletHub said, which leaves access uneven from one state to the next.
The full report is available at wallethub.com.
Source: WalletHub, “2026’s States with the Best and Worst Early Education Systems.”
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
