MERCER COUNTY — While the children in Success by 6 classrooms are busy learning letters, counting and important social skills, here are some program numbers for you:

• $95,700 in donations and grants.

• 11 school districts.

• 218 prospective kindergartners.

• $439 per student.

• $14.63 per day.

• $3.25 per hour.

Glancing at the figures, it’s obvious that the program is a wise investment. Those youngsters learning to take turns and tie their shoes are the workforce of tomorrow.

The United Way of Mercer County has expanded the Success by 6 initiative from 7 school districts to 11 in its third year, more than doubling the number of area pre-kindergartners getting a jump-start academically, socially and emotionally.

The state’s been pushing for early childhood education; thanks to the United Way, Mercer County’s ahead of the curve

Donations to Success by 6 are an investment in economic development and changing the quality of life in the area, said 2005 campaign chairman Richard Epstein.

“If we prepare people to be successful, it’s going to help us all,” said Mercer Superintendent Dr. Bill Gathers at the United Way annual meeting Wednesday.

And in keeping with the United Way’s effort to meet the community’s needs, they’ve got proof that the program is working.

Kindergarten screenings identify students who might benefit from the program. Students are tested at the beginning and end of the 6-week summer program and districts also track their progress as they move through school.

Educators also track students identified for the program but not enrolled and have found quite a discrepancy between skill levels.

At Mercer Elementary, Principal Claudia Zigman said that when tested in January the kindergartners who attended Success by 6 scored 60 and 80 percent proficient or above in reading and math respectively. None of the students who should have been in the program but were not tested that well.

New to the program are Brookfield, Greenville, Grove City and Lakeview school districts, where administrators talked at a recent work session about their excitement at the opportunity to help students get ready for time in the classroom.

“It has been almost frighteningly perfect,” said Oakview Elementary Principal Dr. Michelle Rhule of the first few weeks, noting that there’ve been no tears. “They are so happy to be there at the end ot he day they ask ‘can we stay a little longer?’ They’re learning a lot already.”

“It’s a winner in any facet,” said Dr. Gathers. “Anyone who’s been involved in it can’t help but become passionate about it.”

At a news conference Wednesday at West Hill Elementary in Sharon, Principal Sheila Schneider spoke for all the area administrators: “I know that we’re all grateful.”

“I’m proud to be part of the United Way … the best thing we can do for people in the community is give them an education so they can understand the world they live in,” said Epstein.

Success by 6 is a joint collaboration between United Way of Mercer County and the Brookfield, Farrell, Greenville, Grove City, Hermitage, Lakeview, Mercer, Reynolds, Sharon, Sharpsville, and West Middlesex school districts, Mercer County Head Start, Northern Mercer County United Way, Grove City United Way, Shenango Valley Foundation, Northern Mercer County Community Foundation, Grove City Foundation and West Central Job Partnership.

This collaboration is “key,” said United Way of Mercer County executive director Jim Micsky.

“We’re all working together,” Epstein said. “That’s the only way it’ll happen.”

Larry Haynes, executive director of the Shenango Valley Foundation said they awarded a $50,000 grant to the pre-K summer program through funds from the O’Brien Children Memorial Fund, Strimbu Memorial Fund, Anderson Family Charitable Foundation, Kirila Family Foundation, Winner Foundation, Weller Family Foundation, Grove City Foundation and the Northern Mercer County Community Foundation.

The $95,000 the United Way allocated to the Success by 6 initiative goes toward student transportation, teacher stipends and food, though local shops also donate some items.