The 2026 Kids Count Data Book is a sobering look at the well-being of children across the United States. Despite some gains over the past few years—fewer children living in high-poverty neighborhoods and a drop in teen births, for example—on too many fronts, namely education, child well-being declined.
Overall, the overall score for the U.S. fell from 553 in 2019 to 547 in 2025. Eell-being declined in 29 states and improved in 15 states. Six states had no change in status.
Education measures declined for a third year in a row, with 47 out of 50 states reporting worse conditions.
Kids Count is an annual report released by The Annie E. Casey Foundation that tracks the well-being of children and youth across the United States in four major domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. This year, the foundation enhanced the index, providing both rankings and scores for each state.
“Accessible public data provide a crucial reality check on whether states and the nation are making real progress for kids,” said Lisa M. Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “With these numbers as our guide, we can direct resources where they have the greatest impact and expand opportunity for every child.”
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Economic Well-Being
Children's economic well-being saw two improvements and two declines in the four main categories.
The number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods declined by 2 percent—a continuation of a decade-long trend. Furthermore, the number of children whose parents lack secure employment is down one percent.
However, the number of children living in households burdened by high housing costs is up one percent, and the number of teens not in school and not working increased one percent as well.
Education
Three of the four education indicators lost ground during this period "underscoring the pandemic's continued effects," the report's authors wrote. The number of young children aged three and four not in school increased by 2 percent, highlighting the lack of access to high-quality early education programs. The number of fourth graders not proficient in reading is up by four percent, and the number of eighth graders who are not proficient in math increased by six percent. The only category that saw an improvement was the number of high school students not graduating on time, which is down by one percent.
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Health
The number of children without health insurance is stable at six percent, and the number in children and teens aged 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese declined by one percent. Despite this progress, two major categories moved in the wrong direction over the past six years. High rates of child and teen deaths (eight percent increase) and low birthweight babies (two percent increase) continued.
Family and Community
The final of the four primary domains has seen the most positive improvements. The percentage of children in single-parent families stands at 34 percent, unchanged from 2019. The number of children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma has decreased by one percent, the number of children living in high-poverty areas has seen a two percent decrease, and the number of teen births per 1,000 teens has decreased from 17 to 13 births.
Quote by- 2026 Kids Count Data Book, Annie E. Casey Foundation
Regional Disparities Matter
The states that saw the most improvements or had the highest scores were largely on the East Coast, with the top state being New Hampshire at 838. The states with the most varied outcomes are mostly Western states, and the states that have seen the most declines, or have the lowest scores, are mainly in the South, with Mississippi scoring worst at 271.
The authors note that where a child is born and lives will have the largest impact on their overall well-being, especially their opportunity to receive an equal education.
Still the KIDS COUNT data also shows that where there is intentional and focused investments, substantial improvements can happen. The report highlights progress in New Mexico and Mississippi, states that have improved their score by at least five points since 2019. New Mexico's expansion of the child tax credit helped more families afford food and housing, while Mississippi's education ranking increased due in part to new literacy and teacher training programs.
“No state is consistently getting this right,” Lawson said. “Behind every number in this report is a child who is either hungry or fed, housed or homeless, progressing academically or falling behind. The Data Book challenges us to follow the evidence and do what delivers results.”
