A new national scorecard released June 8, 2026, puts Tennessee at 37th among the 50 states for children’s well-being, a ranking that combines solid progress in classrooms with growing financial and health pressures at home. The report uses a revamped scoring system that looks at change since 2019, not just a single-year snapshot, which means the numbers are likely to shape tough conversations about where the state is actually moving the needle for kids and where it is not.
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book debuts a 0-1,000 index built from 16 indicators across economic well-being, education, health, and family and community measures. In those state-by-state tables, Tennessee’s overall index score lands at 475, which trails the national average of 547.
Where Tennessee Lands
That 475 is not the whole story. Tennessee’s scores are uneven, with noticeable gains in education even as several measures tied to family stability lag behind. The Sycamore Institute, the state’s KIDS COUNT network partner, points to an education score of 439, roughly a 40-point jump that moves Tennessee to 18th in the nation. Economic well-being is rated at 454, and the family and community score comes in higher, at 524.
Economic Strain And Housing Pressure
Behind those index scores are some stark household realities. Local reporting on the Data Book’s state tables finds that about 297,000 Tennessee children, roughly 19 percent, were living in poverty. Another 441,000 children, or 28 percent, lived in families without secure parental employment. The share of children in households that spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing climbed to 29 percent, a growing pressure point for many families, according to the Memphis Flyer.
Health Signals: Mortality And Coverage Gaps
On the health side, the Data Book lists Tennessee’s child and teen death rate at 38 deaths per 100,000, which translates to 633 deaths in 2024, and notes an increase in the share of children without health insurance compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. That pattern mirrors concerns raised earlier this year when the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth reported a 2023 death rate of 32.2 per 100,000, the highest since 2000, and urged continued attention to child health.
Reaction From Advocates And Officials
Advocates are treating the new scores as both a win in some areas and a warning flare in others. “Tennessee continues to distinguish itself through notable gains in educational attainment,” Mandy Spears of the Sycamore Institute said. TCCY Executive Director Richard Kennedy added, “As we strive to create a brighter future for children, youth and families across Tennessee, it’s important to pause and celebrate the progress we’ve made.”
Even so, the KIDS COUNT findings function as both a snapshot and a roadmap. Schools appear to be gaining ground, while families continue to wrestle with rising costs and stubborn health challenges, pressures that are expected to loom large in this year’s legislative debates. Local outlets such as the Memphis Flyer note that these numbers are likely to influence where the next rounds of state and local funding ultimately land.
