Locations
United States
KIDS COUNT overall rank
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Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
Overall Ranks for 2012-2016 for each state using a consistent set of indicators; namely those used to derive the rank reported in the 2012-2016 KIDS COUNT Data Books.
The overall rank for each state was obtained in the following manner. First, using the 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book to demonstrate, we converted the 2014 (or 2013/2014, depending on the indicator) state numerical values for each of the 16 key indicators into standard scores. We summed those standard scores within their domains to create a domain standard score for each of the 50 states. We then summed the four domain standard scores to get a total standard score for each state. Finally, we ranked the states on the basis of their total standard score in sequential order from highest/best (1) to lowest/worst (50). Standard scores were derived by subtracting the mean score from the observed score and dividing the amount by the standard deviation for that distribution of scores. All measures were given the same weight in calculating the total standard score.
The overall rank for each state was obtained in the following manner. First, using the 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book to demonstrate, we converted the 2014 (or 2013/2014, depending on the indicator) state numerical values for each of the 16 key indicators into standard scores. We summed those standard scores within their domains to create a domain standard score for each of the 50 states. We then summed the four domain standard scores to get a total standard score for each state. Finally, we ranked the states on the basis of their total standard score in sequential order from highest/best (1) to lowest/worst (50). Standard scores were derived by subtracting the mean score from the observed score and dividing the amount by the standard deviation for that distribution of scores. All measures were given the same weight in calculating the total standard score.
Data Source
Population Reference Bureau, analysis of data gathered for the 2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book.
Notes
Updated June 2016.
Last Updated
June 2017