Missouri ranks 28th in latest KIDS COUNT child well-being report as education scores slide
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The State of Missouri has ranked 28th overall in the latest KIDS COUNT.
The KIDS COUNT tracks the overall well-being of children across the United States, measuring 16 indicators that are divided into four primary divisions.
Those divisions are:
- Economic well-being
- Education
- Health
- Family and community
Looking at education, the state ranked 29th out of 50 states, which is marked as worse compared to the previous baseline performance. In the category of eighth-grade math proficiency, the report shows 77% of Missouri eighth graders failed to meet the math proficiency score in 2024. In 2019, the state's rate sat at 68%.
Thee 2024 numbers also show 73% of fourth-grade students were not proficient in reading. Marking a significant jump from 66% in 2019. Tracy Greever-Rice, Program Director for Missouri KIDS COUNT, said there is room for improvement when it comes to those scores.
"There is improvement that can happen. Literacy and Numeracy are education indicators. Because we need our kids to be strong in those areas to be good, productive workers, entrepreneurs, leaders of the future," she said.
When it comes to boosting the scores, she said finding an agreement between lawmakers regarding education policy is the best way to boost scores around the state.
“This is challenging in Missouri because our school districts are very focused on local government and the ability to appropriately serve kids within local communities, “ she said.
Missouri had a strong national ranking of 15th in economic well-being, reflecting an overall improvement from its 2019 baseline. The state saw positive progress across many indicators, with child poverty dropping to 15% and households lacking secure parental employment improving to 23%.
Meanwhile, affordability remained steady, with the percentage of children living in high-housing cost households holding at 22%.
When it comes to national rankings, the top three states with the highest overall child well-being are New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Utah.
The top states with the lowest overall child well-being are Mississippi, New Mexico and Louisiana.
ABC 17 News reached out to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
