Missouri ranks 28th in nation for child well-being, new KIDS COUNT report finds
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
MISSOURI (KBSI) — Missouri ranked 28th in the nation for overall child well-being in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The report found mixed results for Missouri children and families since 2019.
In the area of economic well-being, Missouri showed improvement in child poverty, parental employment and the number of teens not in school and not working. The state’s economic well-being score ranked 15th nationally. However, the percentage of children living in households with high housing costs remained unchanged.
Education indicators showed some of the state’s largest challenges. The percentage of young children not enrolled in school increased from 54% to 56%, while the share of fourth graders not proficient in reading rose from 66% to 73%. Eighth-grade math proficiency also declined, with 77% of students not proficient in math compared to 68% in 2019. Missouri’s high school graduation rate improved slightly, with the percentage of students not graduating on time dropping from 10% to 9%.
Health outcomes were mixed. The percentage of low birth-weight babies and uninsured children remained unchanged, while child and teen deaths increased from 32 to 34 per 100,000. The share of children and teens who were overweight or obese improved from 34% to 30%.
Family and community indicators showed positive trends. Missouri saw declines in the percentage of children living in single-parent families, children living in high-poverty areas and teen birth rates. The percentage of children living in households where the head of household lacked a high school diploma also improved.
The KIDS COUNT Data Book measures child well-being across four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. The report found that while several indicators improved nationwide since 2019, education outcomes remain a significant concern in most states.
