Nebraska sees dip in national ‘Kids Count' ranking for youth well-being
Nebraska ranks No. 10 in overall child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count data book. In this photo, Dimensions Education Programs in Lincoln provides a hands-on, experiential approach to learning that is based on the needs and curiosity of young children. (Courtesy of We Care for Kids)
OMAHA — Nebraska dropped a notch — from No. 9 to No. 10 — in a national ranking for overall child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count data book, a 50-state examination of how youths are faring in post-pandemic America.
The report, released Monday, shows that while still in the top 10, Nebraska's overall ranking has been trending down over the past few years, according to information collected and analyzed for the national Annie E. Casey Foundation.
In the 2023 and 2022 data books, Nebraska ranked No. 8 overall. It was No. 7 in the 2021 report.
The data book, now in its 36th year, presents national and state information from 16 indicators in four broad areas: economy, education, health, and family and community factors. Each state gets an overall well-being ranking and also is ranked by each of the four broader areas or domains.
Advocates say Nebraska's overall ranking was driven by the state's strong economic showing, which considers poverty rates and the share of teens who are working or in school. For its economic health impact on youths, Nebraska scored as the third-best state.
Voices for Children in Nebraska, in providing perspective, noted that the state's economy remained stable throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery. It said 11% of children were in poverty in 2023, the same as before the pandemic started in 2019.
About 81% of Nebraska families with children had at least one parent working full time in 2019, the same percentage as in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, according to the latest report, only 4% of teens ages 16 to 19 were not attending school or not working (the second-lowest share in the nation, says Voices for Children in Nebraska).
'The economic picture didn't crumble with the pandemic,' said Josh Shirk, research coordinator for Voices for Children in Nebraska. He said expansion of food programs for kids and the child tax credit helped.
Nebraska 'is dragging behind,' however, in education, Shirk said. Reading scores for fourth graders worsened since 2015 and, he said, the pandemic appeared to exacerbate the problem. According to the report, the share of kids in the fourth grade not reading at a proficient level rose from 63% in 2019 to 72% in 2024.
In addition to Nebraska's No. 3 rank for economic well-being, Nebraska in the 2025 data book was ranked No. 21 in the education domain; No. 17 in health and No. 15 in family and community factors.
The annual data book is intended to help policy makers, advocates and communities make decisions and policies that help young people thrive.
'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults — stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow,' said Juliet Summers, executive director at Voices for Children, Nebraska's representative in the Casey Foundation's Kids Count network.
Summers said programs that meet those needs are smart investments.
'Nebraska has a lot to be proud of, but also plenty of work still to do to maximize opportunity for all our state's children,' she said.
Shirk said the kids-focused organization is concerned with what is ahead, as Congress grapples with the national budget.
'Things like food insecurity, health insurance. Those numbers could get much worse over the next few years if we take away programs,' he said.
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