YONKERS - The public schools' 1,533 prekindergartners donned T-shirts proclaiming their college aspirations yesterday as part of a districtwide effort to improve academic achievement.

The Class of 2022, as the children called themselves, performed for their parents, who then heard messages from school principals about the importance of planning for higher education from their children's earliest years.

"I don't think it's ever too early to start thinking about higher education," said Jennifer Schulman, principal of the Robert C. Dodson School, where 57 prekindergartners sang for their parents.

About 15 parents attended the event at the Dodson school, one of 29 schools around the city with prekindergarten classes that held programs for students and their parents.

The initiative is part of Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio's efforts to improve student performance and make college a more likely option for many Yonkers public school students.

Last month, Pierorazio said the district had a 75 percent overall graduation rate. In the past two years, the district has responded to its low academic performance in many ways, including smaller student populations in high schools, expanded prekindergarten and the September opening of a center with high school diploma programs. The district is also battling national trends.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 22 percent of Hispanics between the ages of 16 and 24 dropped out of high school in 2006, while the figures for non-Hispanic blacks were around 10 percent and about 5 percent for non-Hispanic whites. About half the Yonkers public school students are Hispanic.

Yesterday's program targeted parents as much as prekindergartners.

"We must turn the parents around," schools spokeswoman Jerilynne Fierstein said. "They have to believe that even though it wasn't an option for them, it's an option for their children."

Parent Miriam Aguila didn't go to college, but she said she wanted her daughter, who attends the Dodson school, to do so.

"Even though she is only 4 years old, I've thought about her future," said Aguila, adding she has noticed many of her fellow Mexican immigrant parents don't place much importance on college.

Parent Paul Sin said he thought prekindergarten was too young to begin a college discussion with his sons, one of whom performed at the Dodson school yesterday.

"I just let them enjoy their educational life by not pressuring them about their school career," said Sin, a pastor at the Korean Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale.

Sin acknowledged his outlook was different from his Korean- American counterparts, who begin molding their children for college from an early age. Sin said he preferred beginning a college discussion with children at the middle school age.

Reach Ernie Garcia at elgarcia@lohud.com or 914-696-8290.