(WAVE/WKYT) – The 2026 Kentucky Kids Count Data report was released on Monday.
The data shows Kentucky children are continuing to feel the pressures of challenges from an increase in child deaths, a drop in health insurance coverage and educational shortfalls.
The Kids Count Data is a report card on how kids are doing now compared to the past. Metrics include economic wellbeing, family/community, health, and education.
Kentucky ranks 36th in the country.
The data, which was tracked between 2019 and 2024, shows that education is Kentucky’s biggest strength, compared to other states.
Ranking second, in the rate of high school student graduation, and 10th in fourth grade reading proficiency.
But on the flip side, two out of three Kentucky fourth graders scored below proficient reading levels. And over three in four eighth graders scored below proficient in math in 2024. Both worse than scores in 2019.
Dr. Terry Brooks, Executive Director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, weighed in on the results.
“If we’re in a world where we’re really happy that two out of three kids can’t read and two out of four kids can’t do math, that is a profound statement that when it comes to education, we don’t need incremental change, we need a revolution,” he said.
Dr. Brooks called on parents to be more involved with kids’ school projects helping them out. And said they should reach out to lawmakers at the state level to advocate for different education policies.
Kentucky’s neighbor Indiana came in at number 29.
They saw improvements in fewer children living in high-poverty areas. And lowering rates of childhood obesity.
For more information on the Kids Count Data, and to find Kentucky and Indiana’s reports, click or tap here.