NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 8, 2026) — Tennessee ranks 37th in overall child well-being, 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 across the country are faring.* The data show Tennessee students continue to make significant educational gains—particularly compared to students across the nation. Yet opportunities remain for improvements in other areas.
For the first time in this year’s Data Book, states receive a comprehensive score (from 0 to 1,000)—not just a ranking—tracking 16 indicators over a five-year period from 2019 to 2024. The new scoring system shows whether policies and public investment are improving children’s lives, not merely how states compare to each other. Based on 2024 data, Tennessee received an overall score of 475, below the national score of 547.
Tennessee’s score in education was 439—a 40-point improvement from the prior year and the second-largest education score improvement in the country. Additionally, Tennessee slightly improved its score in health—from 463 to 484. Meanwhile, the state’s score for economic well-being fell along with its ranking on related metrics—including the share of children living in households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing, which dropped from #22 in the prior year to #32 in 2024.
“Tennessee continues to distinguish itself through notable gains in educational attainment,” said Mandy Spears, Executive Vice President of The Sycamore Institute, Tennessee’s member of the Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT network. “Other areas of child well-being, particularly economic well-being and health, show more mixed progress in comparison.”
Even with Tennessee’s academic and health improvements, the Data Book highlights opportunities to help Tennessee’s children and youth and thrive. For example, the state’s percentage of children living in cost-burdened households (i.e., households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing) rose for the first time since 2019. A closer look at population and socioeconomic trends reveal that housing supply has not kept up with demand—leading to increased housing prices across the state. There are federal, state and local policy levers that can address these challenges—including financing tools and zoning policies.
Each year, the Data Book presents national and state data from 16 indicators in four domains—economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors—and compares every state, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. according to how children are faring overall. Tennessee’s rankings and score changes from the prior year (based on data primarily from 2023) to the most recent year (based on data primarily from 2024), include:
- Economic well-being score fell by 59 points and ranks #42. Tennessee’s outcomes improved on one of the underlying indicators, stayed the same on one, and worsened on two.
- Education score improved by 40 points, earning a rank of #18. Outcomes improved on three indicators and stayed the same on one.
- Health score improved by 21 points to rank #39. Outcomes improved on two indicators, stayed the same on one, and worsened on one.
- Family and community factors score improved by 29 points, yielding a rank of #42. Outcomes improved on two indicators and stayed the same on two.
In its 37th year of publication, the KIDS COUNT® Data Book provides reliable statewide numbers to help leaders see where progress is being made compared to other states, where greater support is needed, and which strategies are making a difference. The Sycamore Institute encourages leaders from across the state to use this information to better understand how to help kids and young people succeed.
*Note: The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book is based primarily on data for 2024. Comparisons to the prior year are based primarily on 2023 data. In some cases, prior-year rankings cited in this release may differ from rankings reported in previous editions of the Data Book. When data sources or methodologies change, prior-year values and rankings are recalculated using the updated methodology to ensure valid year-over-year comparisons.
RELEASE INFORMATION
The 2026 KIDS COUNT Data is available at www.aecf.org/databook. http://www.aecf.org/databook Journalists interested in creating maps, graphs, and rankings in stories about the Data Book can use the KIDS COUNT Data Center at datacenter.aecf.org.
ABOUT THE SYCAMORE INSTITUTE
The Sycamore Institute is an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center that helps Tennesseans identify, understand, and solve big challenges with impartial analysis of data and evidence. With leadership and staff from across the political spectrum, Sycamore provides accessible, reliable information in pursuit of sound, sustainable policies that improve the lives of all Tennesseans. For more information, visit sycamoretn.org.
ABOUT THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION
The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nation’s young people by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit www.aecf.org. KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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