Education gains drive child well-being improvements
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Indiana's education gains are improving well-being for the state's 1.6 million kids, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Driving the news: The annual Kids Count Data Book, released Monday, ranks children's quality of life in four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.
- Indiana's 25th-place child well-being ranking is two spots higher than in the previous year's report.
By the numbers: Indiana ranked 11th in education outcomes, 11th in economic well-being, 30th in health, and 31st in family and community.
- Youth mental health indicators show improvement, with fewer young people reporting persistent sadness, but access to care remains a challenge.
Zoom in: Indiana jumped six spots in education this year, thanks to meaningful gains in reading and statewide standardized testing.
- IREAD-3 proficiency rose to 87.3%, up from 82.5% in 2024, matching the highest pass rate since the pandemic.
- Indiana's graduation rate increased for the third consecutive year, to nearly 92%.
Yes, but: Fewer students are going straight to college.
- The state previously set a goal to increase the share of adults with higher education to 60% by last year but was only at 53% by the end of 2024.
What they're saying: "The latest Kids Count data show that Indiana is building real momentum for our children," Tami Silverman, president and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute, said in a news release.
- "The data tells us this is not a moment to slow down," Silverman added. "When we invest in the social infrastructure around youth, we turn today's progress into long‑term success."