Kids Count data book ranks Indiana 11th in education; Kentucky 2nd in high school graduation rates

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Kids Count Data Book was released Monday, showing how well kids are doing in all 50 states.

Developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the report ranks states on economic wellbeing, education, health, family and community.

Indiana's ranks 29th overall, 11th in education

According to the Indiana Youth Institute, the Hoosier state came in at 29th. Indiana's best ranking was in education, where the state came in 11th, compared to 17th in 2019.

Despite those gains, data shows Indiana's education score is down 77 points. Officials with the IYI said that shows more work is needed to increase math and reading proficiency, and get more young children enrolled in school.

However, Indiana saw an increase in low birth weight babies, child and teen deaths, and children living in poverty. Economic wellbeing dropped 80 points, falling from 11th to 23rd. The state's health ranking improved to 27th, which officials with the IYI said is better than in the last four years. Indiana ranks the lowest in family and community at 36th, down from 31st last year.

This year, the data book also gives states a comprehensive score from 0-1,000. The scores track 16 indicators in four domains: economic wellbeing, education, health, and family and community factors. The scores are based on five years of data, collected from 2019 to 2024.

Indiana's overall score was 566, above the national score of 547. The state's highest score was in economic wellbeing at 627, coming in at 23rd out of all states. The lowest score was 479 in education, coming in at 11th place.

Officials with the IYI said despite the state ranking near the top 10 in education, many students are still struggling. More than half of the state's fourth graders are unable to read proficiently, and nearly 7 out of 10 eighth graders not proficient in math.

Kentucky ranks 36th overall, 2nd in high school graduation rates

Kentucky, meanwhile, ranked 36th overall. Data shows Kentucky saw some economic improvements, ranking second in high school graduation rates.

The Bluegrass state's score was 498, below the national score of 547, but improved from 465 in 2019 with improvements in the family and community domain.

Kentucky Youth Advocates said that while the percentage of children in poverty decreased by 14% between 2019 and 2024, Kentucky ranks in the bottom 10, with nearly 1 in 5 children (19%) living in homes with income below the poverty line.

As for education, Kentucky comes in 2nd for high school graduation rates and 10th in fourth grade reading proficiency. However, two-thirds of fourth grade students scored below proficient reading levels, and over 3 in 4 eighth graders scoring below proficient math scores in 2024, both worse than scores received in 2019, KYA said.

Data shows the state is still struggling with child deaths, health insurance and housing costs. Child and teen death rates increased from 29 deaths per 100,000 children in 2019 to 31 deaths per 100,000 children in 2024. State data cites "growing trends in deaths by accidental ingestions or overdose and by suicide as the result of a firearm," with Kentucky ranking 30th.

In 2024, the commonwealth saw a 25% jump in children without health insurance compared to 2019, bringing the coverage rate to 95%. The teen birth rate in Kentucky ranks among the worst five states in the nation, however it decreased by 20% from 3019 to 2024.

Overall, data shows kids in 29 states fared worse overall in 2024 than in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. That was largely driven by declines in education.

To look at the full Kids Count Data Book, click here.