Child Care in Onondaga County

Child Care Solutions has provided Child Care Resource & Referral services in Onondaga County since 1975.  In that time we have seen many changes in local child care and early education programs as well as changes in families' wants and needs.

Here are some facts and figures about Onondaga County and its early childhood programs and a summary of significant local trends.

Onondaga County:

Population - 454,010
Population of children under age 5 - 29, 814
Population of children 5-12 yrs - 54,522
19.9% of children under age 5 live in families with income under the poverty level
          Data source:  US Census Bureau, 2000 census

Regulated child care programs and capacity (November 2008):

74          Licensed Child Care Centers
             Capacity - 5,555 children (6 wks - 12 yrs)
             - includes 10 Head Start sites that operate on a school-year calendar

63          Registered School-Age Child Care Programs
             Capacity - 3,901 children (4 - 12 yrs)

287        Registered Family Child Care Homes
             Capacity - 2,152 children (6 wks - 12 yrs)
             - includes providers' own children under 6 years

118        Licensed Group Family Child Care Homes
             Capacity - 1,475 children (6 wks - 12 yrs)
             - includes providers' own children under 6 years

44% of Onondaga County's public school districts (8 out of 18) sponsor Pre Kindergarten programs.  Those districts are Cicero, North Syracuse, East Syracuse Minoa, Jordan-Elbridge, Lafayette, Liverpool, Lyncourt, Solvay and Syracuse.  Private and parochial schools and community organizations sponsor an additional 79 pre-school and nursery programs serving 3 and 4 year-old children.