Home Economy Economic Activity KIDS COUNT: R.I. ranks last in N.E. for child well-being

KIDS COUNT: R.I. ranks last in N.E. for child well-being

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PBN Staff

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06/08/2026

Screenshot — RHODE ISLAND ranks No. 26 in the nation for child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation annual KIDS COUNT Data Book released Monday. /COURTESY KIDS COUNT

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranks No. 26 in the nation for child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation annual KIDS COUNT Data Book released Monday. The report looks at four domains, economic, educational, health and family and community across all 50 states. However, a new scoring system was used for this year’s ranking. States received a

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PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranks No. 26 in the nation for child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation annual KIDS COUNT Data Book released Monday. The report looks at four domains, economic, educational, health and family and community across all 50 states. However, a new scoring system was used for this year’s ranking. States received a comprehensive score from 0 to 1,000 that tracked 16 indicators across the four domains over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024. The foundation said the new scoring system shows whether policies and public investment are improving children’s lives, not merely how states compare to each other, according to the report. Overall, Rhode Island received a score of 583, slightly above the national score of 547 but last in New England. “Behind every number in this report is a child who is either hungry or fed, housed or homeless, progressing academically or falling behind. No state is consistently getting this right,” said Lisa M. Lawson, CEO and president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. “The Data Book challenges us to follow the evidence and do what delivers results." The report concluded Rhode Island’s low overall ranking is driven primarily by declines in economic well-being and family and community context. From 2019 to 2024, the state's economic well-being score fell by 161 points, compared to 29 states that saw improvements in this area, the report found. The state, however, showed an improvement in health, rising from 682 to 737 from 2019-2024. Education held steady at 408. Across the four domains with the new scoring system, Rhode Island ranks No. 36 for economic well-being, No. 25 for education, No. 11 for health and No. 26 for family and community context. “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 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Executive Director Paige Parks. “Rhode Island needs to continue tackling the housing crisis. Rhode Island’s housing is considered one of the least affordable in the country. We must also work to help families meet their economic needs through strategies like the proposed state Child Tax Credit and much-needed improvements to the Rhode Island Works program.” New Hampshire is the top state overall for child's well-being, according to the report. The Granite State ranks first for economic well-being, health and family and community and fourth for education. Massachusetts is second. The Bay State ranks second for education and health, No. 11 for family and community and No. 13 for economic well-being. Utah, Vermont and Minnesota rounded out the top five. The other two New England states, Connecticut and Maine, rank No. 7 and No. 21 respectively.