Cumulative classroom quality during pre-kindergarten and kindergarten and children’s language, literacy, and mathematics skills

•Classroom quality in pre-K and K was examined in relation to children’s language, literacy, and mathematics skills in K.•Higher-quality in pre-K uniformly predicted better K language and literacy skills at all levels of K quality.•Higher-quality in K also contributed to the prediction of better K language and literacy skills in an additive manner.•Higher-quality in pre-K predicted better K mathematics skills for children who experienced high levels of quality in K.