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Definition and Source
PROVIDER
Definition
The KIDS COUNT index reflects child health and educational outcomes as well as risk and protective factors, such as economic well-being, family structure and community context. The index incorporates a developmental perspective on childhood and includes experiences across life stages, from birth through the late teens. The indicators are consistently and regularly measured, which allows for legitimate comparisons across states and over time.
The overall rank for each state was obtained in the following manner. First, the state numerical values for each of the 16 key indicators were converted into standard scores and then summed within their domains to create a domain standard score for each of the 50 states. The four domain standard scores were summed to get a total standard score for each state. Finally, the states were ranked 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, the state numerical values for each of the 16 key indicators were converted into standard scores and then summed within their domains to create a domain standard score for each of the 50 states. The four domain standard scores were summed to get a total standard score for each state. Finally, the states were ranked 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 annual KIDS COUNT Data Book.
The 16 indicators of child well-being are derived from the following government statistical agencies:
ECONOMIC WELL-BEING INDICATORS
The 16 indicators of child well-being are derived from the following government statistical agencies:
ECONOMIC WELL-BEING INDICATORS
Children in poverty U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Children whose parents lack secure employment U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Children living in households with a high housing cost burden U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Teens not in school and not working U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Young children not in school U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Fourth graders not proficient in reading U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Eighth graders not proficient in math U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress.
High school students not graduating on time U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
Low birth-weight babies Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics.
Children without health insurance U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Child and teen deaths per 100,000 Death statistics: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics. Population statistics: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates.
Children and teens who are overweight or obese U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, National Survey of Children's Health.
Children in single-parent families U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Children in families where the household head lacks a high school diploma U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Children living in high-poverty areas U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Teen births per 1,000 Birth statistics: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics. Population statistics: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates.
Notes
The year represents the year the KIDS COUNT Data Book was published. The indicators on which the indices are based reflect the most recent data available at the time of publication — the target reference year for most indicators — though some indicators may reflect prior or more recent years based on source availability.
For example, for the 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book, most estimates are from 2010; some indicators reflect earlier years such as 2008-2009, and a couple from 2011—the most current year available at the time.
Breaks in trend
The 2022 Overall Index Rankings and the 2022 Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The data source for 8 of the indicators changed to the 5-year American Community Survey data because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on data quality in 2020.
The 2020 to 2021 Overall Index Rankings and the 2020 to 2021 Health Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The indicator “Children and teens ages 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese” has replaced “Teens ages 12 to 17 who abused alcohol or drugs in the past year”.
The 2019 Overall Index Rankings and the 2019 Health Domain Rankings should be compared with caution to prior year rankings. The indicator “Children 18 and below without health insurance” had previously been “Children 17 and below without health insurance.” With the release of the 2017 American Community Survey data, the Census Bureau made changes to the health insurance tables so that the categories better align with the current health insurance landscape. Age categories changed such that the age group for children now includes age 18.
The 2018 Overall Index Rankings and the 2018 Health Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The indicator “Teens who abuse alcohol or drugs” underwent significant changes in 2015. Whether a change in ranking is due to this methodological change or real changes in children’s well-being is unknown. In 2015, the questionnaire for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) underwent significant changes to improve quality of the data collected, expand the number of prescription drugs covered, and address changing substance use and mental health policy and research needs. Much of the 2015 data is not comparable to the data from previous years. The 2015 data will provide a new baseline with which data collected in subsequent years can be compared.
For a summary of changes in the 2015 NSDUH see: National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2014 and 2015 Redesign Changes at https://www.samhsa.gov/data/population-data-nsduh
The 2017 Overall Index Rankings and the 2017 Education Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. For the 2017 Data Book, the data source for the indicator “high school students not graduating on time” changed. Starting this year, this indicator is being measuring using data derived from the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). Prior to the 2017 Data Book, this indicator was derived from the Averaged Freshman Graduate Rate (AFGR). Although the ACGR and the AFGR measure a similar outcome—the share of high school students who graduate within four-years—the methods for calculating each measure are quite different. This means that the reported percentages of students graduating on time and states’ relative graduation rate ranking may vary across the two measures. These types of differences can result in states changing positions in the overall index and in the education domain as a result of the methodology change rather than due to any meaningful changes in how children are faring within and across states. Accurate discussions of year-to-year changes in rankings must be the result of changes that can only be attributed to changes in how children are faring.
The data source for “high school students not graduating on time” was changed because the ACGR now the “gold standard” for graduation rate reporting. It was designed to be more accurate and uniform across states and it is the number that the U.S. Department of Education uses to report graduation rates.
For more information about how the ACGR and AFGR differ see: https://ies.ed.gov/learn/blog/what-difference-between-acgr-and-afgr
For example, for the 2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book, most estimates are from 2010; some indicators reflect earlier years such as 2008-2009, and a couple from 2011—the most current year available at the time.
Breaks in trend
The 2022 Overall Index Rankings and the 2022 Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The data source for 8 of the indicators changed to the 5-year American Community Survey data because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on data quality in 2020.
The 2020 to 2021 Overall Index Rankings and the 2020 to 2021 Health Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The indicator “Children and teens ages 10 to 17 who are overweight or obese” has replaced “Teens ages 12 to 17 who abused alcohol or drugs in the past year”.
The 2019 Overall Index Rankings and the 2019 Health Domain Rankings should be compared with caution to prior year rankings. The indicator “Children 18 and below without health insurance” had previously been “Children 17 and below without health insurance.” With the release of the 2017 American Community Survey data, the Census Bureau made changes to the health insurance tables so that the categories better align with the current health insurance landscape. Age categories changed such that the age group for children now includes age 18.
The 2018 Overall Index Rankings and the 2018 Health Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. The indicator “Teens who abuse alcohol or drugs” underwent significant changes in 2015. Whether a change in ranking is due to this methodological change or real changes in children’s well-being is unknown. In 2015, the questionnaire for the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) underwent significant changes to improve quality of the data collected, expand the number of prescription drugs covered, and address changing substance use and mental health policy and research needs. Much of the 2015 data is not comparable to the data from previous years. The 2015 data will provide a new baseline with which data collected in subsequent years can be compared.
For a summary of changes in the 2015 NSDUH see: National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2014 and 2015 Redesign Changes at https://www.samhsa.gov/data/population-data-nsduh
The 2017 Overall Index Rankings and the 2017 Education Domain Rankings should not be compared to prior year rankings. For the 2017 Data Book, the data source for the indicator “high school students not graduating on time” changed. Starting this year, this indicator is being measuring using data derived from the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). Prior to the 2017 Data Book, this indicator was derived from the Averaged Freshman Graduate Rate (AFGR). Although the ACGR and the AFGR measure a similar outcome—the share of high school students who graduate within four-years—the methods for calculating each measure are quite different. This means that the reported percentages of students graduating on time and states’ relative graduation rate ranking may vary across the two measures. These types of differences can result in states changing positions in the overall index and in the education domain as a result of the methodology change rather than due to any meaningful changes in how children are faring within and across states. Accurate discussions of year-to-year changes in rankings must be the result of changes that can only be attributed to changes in how children are faring.
The data source for “high school students not graduating on time” was changed because the ACGR now the “gold standard” for graduation rate reporting. It was designed to be more accurate and uniform across states and it is the number that the U.S. Department of Education uses to report graduation rates.
For more information about how the ACGR and AFGR differ see: https://ies.ed.gov/learn/blog/what-difference-between-acgr-and-afgr
Last Updated
May 2026