INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana ranks 11th in education according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring nationwide.
While the state’s education ranking has improved from 17th in 2019, Indiana’s education score is down 77 points. The data show that even though Indiana is doing better than most other states in this area, more must be done to increase math and reading proficiency and get more young children enrolled in school.
The Indiana Youth Institute released the following:
For the first time this year, states receive a comprehensive score (from 0 to 1,000) in the Data Book, not just a ranking. The scores track 16 indicators in four domains — economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors — from data over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024. The new scoring system shows whether policies and public investment are actually improving children’s lives, not merely how states compare to each other. Indiana received an overall score of 566, above the national score of 547, with its highest score of 627 in economic well-being (ranked 23rd) and lowest score of 479 in education (ranked 11th).
According to the Data Book, Indiana’s overall ranking fell from 25th to 29th (data from 2023 compared to 2024). The state’s economic well-being score dropped 80 points and ranking fell from 11th to 23rd in that same time period. Indiana’s health ranking improved to 27th, better than in the last four years. The state ranks lowest in family and community at 36th, down from 31st last year.
The most recent data highlights how, even though Indiana ranks near the top 10 in education when compared to other states, many students are still struggling to meet academic standards. More than half of Indiana 4th graders cannot read proficiently, and nearly seven out of ten 8th graders are not proficient in math. The percentage of young children attending school (60%) has remained relatively unchanged in the last several years, and just over a tenth of high schoolers (11%) are not graduating on time.
Indiana is making progress in health with the 2026 score up 80 points from 2021 and an improved ranking from 36th to 27th in that period. The change reinforces how investments in mental and physical health pay long-term dividends.
“These data represent real children. They show where kids are thriving and where adults must do better to ensure every child can reach their full potential. The data reveal where progress is real and illuminate areas where we thought we were succeeding but still have work to do,” said Dr. Tami Silverman, president and CEO of Indiana Youth Institute, the state’s member of the Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT network.
“We know kids need stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow so they can grow up healthy and connected and thrive as adults. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like employment and economic growth.”
In its 37th year of publication, the KIDS COUNT® Data Book provides reliable statewide numbers to help leaders see where progress is being made, where greater support is needed and which strategies are making a difference. Indiana Youth Institute recognizes youth-serving organizations and professionals are doing important work to provide the kinds of services needed to help kids learn, and those investments should continue. By offering a local road map, the Data Book equips policymakers, advocates and communities with the information they need to make decisions that help kids and young people thrive.
“Accessible public data provide a crucial reality check on whether states and the nation are making real progress for kids,” said Lisa M. Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “With these numbers as our guide, we can direct resources where they have the greatest impact and expand opportunity for every child.”
Each year, IYI publishes the Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book which provides insight into the issues Hoosier youth are facing today and a data-driven understanding of opportunities and achievement gaps in the lives of Hoosier kids. The 2026 Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book was released in February. Download the Data Book HERE
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