It is generally expected that funds invested in public instruction will strengthen pupil achievement. Similarly, it is expected that enrollments of young children in preschool education should lead to higher achievement. In a trend analysis, we examined three variables as predictors of grade 8 achievement in 2007: (1) state expenditures per student in 2000, (2) state level percentage of 3 year old and 4 year old children who attended school in 2000, and (3) state level grade 4 achievement scores in 2003. State expenditures per pupil and percent participation in early childhood education at the state level were not significant predictors of grade 8 achievement. Grade 4 achievement explained more than 80 percent of the variance in grade 8 achievement.