Montana ranked 3rd worst for early education

In Missoula County, access to affordable and high-quality early education remains a growing concern. According to the 2023 State of the Young Child in Missoula report from Zero to Five Missoula, about 57% of families with young children said they had difficulty finding reliable childcare or preschool options. 

A 2022 study by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research found that the average monthly cost of full-time preschool in Missoula was over $900 per child, placing additional strain on low- and middle-income households.