6.7%
of Rochester residents are under age 5.
That is the share reported for Rochester city in the Census Bureau’s most recent QuickFacts profile.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Rochester city, Minnesota QuickFacts Current QuickFacts profile Family learning
Updated July 30, 2026
Minnesota preschool and early learning statistics.
Eight current figures for families, writers, and community partners following the early years in Minnesota, with direct links to the public data behind each one.
A Rochester perspective
Early learning is a local decision with a statewide story.
Families in Rochester choose a preschool based on the people, routines, values, and support their child will experience each day. The broader numbers help show why those choices matter: early learning depends on thousands of educators, a large network of programs, and reliable options for working families.
Use this page as a starting point for understanding the current landscape. The figures below come from public agencies and reports; source dates are included because early-learning data changes over time.
About 400,000
Minnesota children are under age 6.
Young children account for about 30.6% of the state’s population under age 18.
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Child Care Overview June 2024 report72.7%
of Minnesota children under 6 living with two parents have both parents in the labor force.
The same report estimates that 294,300 young children live with two parents in Minnesota.
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Child Care Overview June 2024 report9,327
programs provide child care capacity across Minnesota.
The statewide estimate includes licensed centers, family child care, Head Start, public school early learning, and other programs serving children before kindergarten.
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minnesota Early Care and Education Workforce March 2024 articleAbout 40,000
early educators support Minnesota’s early care and education programs.
The estimate is paired with the statewide count of programs serving children before kindergarten entry.
Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minnesota Early Care and Education Workforce March 2024 article156,395
licensed slots were available for Minnesota infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
This count excludes the separate licensed capacity reported for school-age children.
Source: Minnesota Child Care Cost Modeling Report October 2023 report12,360
ongoing state-funded pre-K seats were secured in Minnesota.
The funding change was made during the 2024 legislative session and applied with the 2025-26 school year.
Source: Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, School-based Preschool Updated for the 2025-26 school year37,144
Minnesota children received child care assistance in state fiscal year 2025.
The figure covers children age 14 and under who received support through the state’s Child Care Assistance Program.
Source: Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Child Care Assistance Program County Data State fiscal year 2025Sources and methodology
How to use these figures.
This page brings together the newest relevant public figures available from Minnesota agencies, the U.S. Census Bureau, and a state-commissioned report. Each figure links directly to its original source and includes the source’s reporting date.
Some statistics describe a city, some describe the entire state, and some describe a specific program or type of licensed capacity. They should not be combined to create a new total. When a newer official release changes one of these figures, this page will be updated while keeping these citation links in place.
Cite this page
Seeds of Wisdom Preschool. “Minnesota Preschool & Early Learning Statistics 2026.” Updated July 30, 2026. https://seedsofwisdompreschool.com/minnesota-preschool-statistics
For Rochester families
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