BLOG HIGHSCOPE MEMBERSHIP TOOLS CONTACT US DONATE Perry Preschool Project More than 50 years ago, the Perry Preschool Project forever changed the trajectory of early education. Does High-Quality Preschool Education Make a Difference? The Perry Project began as a research study seeking the answer to whether access to high-quality education could have a positive impact on preschool children and the communities where they live. Under the visionary research guidance of psychologist David Weikart, and with the extraordinary dedication of Perry Elementary School principal Charles Eugene Beatty, 123 preschool children with risk factors of failing in school were randomly divided into two groups. One group entered a high-quality preschool program based on HighScope’s active learning approach, and a comparison group who received no preschool education. The Perry Project was conducted from 1962–1967, but led to a longitudinal documentary as we continue to follow the Perry Preschool participants throughout their lives in this landmark study that forever changed the trajectory of early education. The Perry Preschool Project established the lasting human and financial value of early childhood education and led to the establishment of the HighScope Education Research Foundation and one of the first early childhood programs in the United States intentionally designed to increase school success for preschool children living in poverty. The longitudinal study found that at age 40, the participants who experienced the preschool program Had fewer teenage pregnancies Were more likely to have graduated from high school Were more likely to hold a job and have higher earnings Committed fewer crimes Owned their own home and car As the longest-running longitudinal study in early education, the Perry Study continues to prove that investing in high-quality early education yields positive results for children and families. Study Results HighScope Perry Preschool Study Through Age 40 Arrested 5+ times by age 40 Program Group Non-program Group Earned $20,000+ at age 40 Program Group Non-program Group Graduated high school Program Group Non-program Group Basic achievement at age 14 Program Group Non-program Group Homework at age 15 Program Group Non-program Group IQ 90+ at age 5 Program Group Non-program Group Return on Investment Education Savings $7,303 Taxes on Earnings $14,079 Welfare Savings $2,768 Crime Savings $171,473 Costs of Perry Preschool Program $15,166 Return per Dollar Invested $12.90 JOIN OUR MAILING LIST Be the first to learn about new strategies, products, and events. SIGN UP SUPPORT OUR MISSION Together we can empower educators, lift families, and prepare our youngest children for school and for life. INVEST STAY CONNECTED Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn CONTACT US 600 North River Street Ypsilanti, MI 48198-2898 USA CONTACT US WHO WE ARE Our Values Our History Our People Our Commitment to Equity Our Anniversary OUR RESEARCH Our Agenda Research Projects Services We Provide Perry Preschool Project OUR PRACTICE Our Approach Curriculum Infant-Toddler Curriculum Preschool Curriculum Assessment COR Advantage COR for Kindergarten Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Professional Learning Certification and Accreditation Demonstration Preschool OUR REACH International Institutes United States MEMBERSHIP HIGHSCOPE CONFERENCE COURSE SCHEDULE THE PLAYGROUND NEWS CAREERS FAQS TERMS & POLICIES ORDER FORM CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF THE WORLD, ONE CHILD AT A TIME Copyright © 2021 HighScope Educational Research Foundation. The name "HighScope" and its corporate logos are registered trademarks and service marks of the HighScope Foundation.