Page 50 - 2015 Compass Now

Figure 4: Availability of Early Childhood Opportunities

Poor/Fair Good Excellent

20.0% 27.9%

44.0% 35.6% 35.2%

52.7% 47.1%

54.0% 57.4%

48.7%

7.4% 10.4% 27.3% 25.0% 7.4%
La Crosse Monroe Trempealeau Vernon Houston

Source: COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey

Nearly 64% of respondents rated the availability of early childhood opportunities as excellent or good; 8.6%
(down from 12% in the 2011 survey) indicated the availability was fair or poor. Overall, the public preschool
enrollment in the Great Rivers Region has increased or remained steady over the past five years. See Figure 5.
All school districts in La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon Counties offer public preschool education.
The structure of preschool programs varies throughout the region, with most districts offering a half-day
schedule 4-5 days a week, and a few districts offering a full-day schedule 2-3 days a week.

Figure 5: 4K Enrollment

EDUCATION 1,200
1,000
# of Students Enrolled
800
600 La Crosse Monroe Trempealeau Vernon Houston
400
200 878 317 320 304 33

0 1024 451 418 292 34

2009 1062 448 343 175 35
2010
2011 1111 463 399 263 35
2012
2013 1187 453 388 278 41

Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction; Minnesota Department of Education

42 COMPASS NOW 2015