Newport-Mesa ahead of preschool curve

California preschool enrollment isn’t reaching the kids who need it most, a new study says, but the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s children are flying above the curve.

A study from the RAND Corporation shows that 59% of children in California attend preschool, and the majority of those who don’t attend are in low socioeconomic demographics.

But Newport-Mesa has excelled in comparison to the average, with 85% of its students who entered kindergarten this year having had a preschool education through a district program or private center, according to a district survey.

“We are very proactive in putting pieces in place to make sure we offer programming that is accessible to children who have the most barriers and that our programs strive for the highest quality,” said Lorie Hoggard, director of early childhood education for the district.

The numbers vary throughout district zones, with Newport Beach’s numbers higher than Costa Mesa’s, but both cities remain well above the state average presented by the RAND study.

More on this story to come later.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.