Louisiana's kids are not OK
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The annual rankings for overall child well-being are based on economic well-being, education, health and family/community. Image: Annie E. Casey Foundation
Louisiana ranks second to last in the U.S. for overall child well-being, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Why it matters: The numbers offer a yearly check-in on how well the state is serving its youngest residents and where it's falling short, especially in areas like child poverty and health.
The big picture: The annual Kids Count report shows how children are faring overall, based on economic well-being, education, health and family/community factors.
- Louisiana improved its fourth grade reading proficiency scores and its on-time high-school graduation rate, the report found.
- But, the overall news is not great for the state's children.
- The foundation found that children in Louisiana experience less economic stability, worse health and more concerning community conditions than peers in most other states.
Zoom in: The states with the biggest challenges are generally in the South and Southwest. New Mexico ranked last, with Louisiana and Mississippi rounding out the bottom three.
- Many Northeast and Midwest states rank near the top, with New Hampshire ranked 1st.
Zoom out: Some of the bright spots nationally were reductions in child poverty, fewer teen births, an increase in on-time high school graduation and more children with health insurance, the organization said.
- Education continues to be a problem nationally, the report found.
- Reading and math scores have declined since 2019, chronic absenteeism is a "major challenge" and preschool participation hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Between the lines: The foundation argues that a child's future success often depends on where they grow up.
- "Geographic disparities around the country have persisted for years, shaped by differences in state and local policies, economic conditions, infrastructure, resources, neighborhood characteristics and community investment," the report says.
Concerning stats for Louisiana:
- The child and teen death rate ranked 49 out of 50, based on 2023 data. Louisiana averaged 48 deaths per 100,000 children ages 1-19. Leading causes of death are vehicle crashes, drowning and homicide.
- 25% of children live in poverty statewide, compared to 16% children nationally.
- 79% of 8th graders were below proficient in math, which is higher than the national average of 73%.
The bottom line: "Moving our state from 49th in overall child well-being won't be easy, but we do know what works: improving families' economic security, making sure children have nutritious food, and building safe, opportunity-rich communities," said Jen Roberts, CEO of Agenda for Children, in statement.