Of the 50 states, California ranked 32nd in the country for the overall well-being of its children, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 Kids Count Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being.
The annual report, in its 36th year, ranks states based on indicators associated with the well-being of young people including their economic circumstances, education, health, and family and community relationships.
California fared best in the health category, ranking 11th, although data related to low birth-weight babies (7.1 percent in 2019 compared to 7.5 percent in 2023) and children and teen deaths per 100,000 (18 in 2019 compared to 22 in 2023) both worsened between the years considered. However, fewer children lacked health insurance at 3 percent in 2023 compared to 4 percent in 2019. The rate of minors considered overweight or obese was stagnant at 31 percent.
The Golden State came in 30th for education. The percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds not in school rose from 51 percent in 2014–18 to 56 percent in 2019–23. Additionally, 68 percent of fourth graders were not proficient in reading in 2019 compared to 71 percent in 2024, and in 2019, 71 percent of eighth graders were not proficient in math compared to 75 percent in 2024. In a spot of good news, the percentage of high schoolers who didn’t graduate on time decreased from 16 percent in 2018–19 to 13 percent in 2021–22.
Though it ranked 37th for family and community, California saw improvements in teen birth rates per 1,000 (nine in 2023 versus 12 in 2019), the percentage of children residing in high-poverty areas (5 percent in 2019–23 versus 11 percent in 2014–18) and the percentage of children in families where the head of household doesn’t have a high school diploma (17 percent in 2023 versus 20 percent in 2019). In 2023, 34 percent of children were in single-parent families compared to 33 percent in 2019.
The percentage of children in poverty decreased from 16 percent in 2019 to 15 percent in 2023, but, for overall economic well-being, the state ranked 44th as slight upticks were observed in the percentages of children whose parents lack secure employment (28 percent in 2023 versus 27 percent in 2019) and teens not in school or working (7 percent in 2023 versus 6 percent in 2019). In both 2019 and 2023, 41 percent of children lived in households with high housing cost burdens, according to the report.
All California-specific data can be viewed here.
National data
As a nation, the academic well-being of young people has worsened in recent years, data shows. Fifty-four percent of 3- and 4-year-olds were not in school in 2019–23 compared to 52 percent in 2014–18.
The percentages of fourth graders not proficient in reading (66 percent in 2019 versus 70 percent in 2024) and eighth graders not proficient in math (67 percent in 2019 versus 73 percent in 2024) worsened.
“This is even more troubling when we consider that these indicators are strongly tied to future academic achievement, workforce readiness and economic success,” the report states. “Here, too, the United States lags behind comparable countries in student reading and math, although it’s not too late for action — leaders can strengthen our education system to get kids back on track. Early childhood education also is linked to later academic success and positive health outcomes, but preschool attendance remains a challenge for the country.”
Just 13 percent of high schoolers didn’t graduate on time in 2021–22, however, compared to 14 percent in 2018–19.
Health trends were a mixed bag with the percentage of low birth-weight babies slightly increasing (8.3 percent in 2019 versus 8.6 percent in 2023) and the percentage of children without health insurance decreasing from 6 percent in 2019 to 5 percent in 2023. More children and teen deaths were reported per 100,000 in 2023 at 29 compared to 25 in 2019. In both 2018–19 and 2022–34, 31 percent of minors were considered overweight or obese.
In 2023, smaller percentages of children were in poverty (16 percent in 2023 versus 17 percent in 2019) or had parents who lacked secure employment (25 percent in 2023 versus 26 percent in 2019). Seven percent of teens were not in school or working in 2013 compared to 6 percent in 2019. The percentage of children in households with a high housing cost burden was stagnant at 30 percent in 2019 and 2023.
Measures of family and community largely improved, with 8 percent of children living in high-poverty areas in 2019–23 compared to 10 percent in 2014–18. In 2023, 11 percent of children belonged to families where the head of household didn’t have a high school diploma versus 12 percent in 2019, and the teen birth rate per 1,000 fell from 17 in 2019 to 13 in 2023. In both 2019 and 2023, 34 percent of children were part of single-parent families.
National data is also disaggregated by race/ethnicity and displays widespread disparities.
Of the country’s results, “many changes reflect longer-term trends that have been unfolding for decades, while others demonstrate the resilience of kids and families and the success of pro-family policies in shoring up those who needed support during the pandemic,” according to the report.
Noting that evidence has shown what children need to thrive, like mental and physical health care, food, stable homes, quality education and good relationships with caring adults, “leaders have an opportunity now to make kids a priority, apply what we know works and secure a strong future for children and our nation,” the report states.
