Washington state has dropped in the national ranking for overall child well-being and education, according to the 2025 KIDS COUNT ® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report, now in its 36th year of publication, analyzes how kids are faring in post-pandemic America. According to the statewide children’s advocacy organization Children’s Alliance, this year’s data show Washington leaders “must do more to provide the support and resources children need to thrive in school and life.”
Washington’s overall national ranking slipped from 14th to 16th this year, and its education ranking fell from 26th to 27th. In 2024, 68% of the state’s 4th graders scored below proficient in reading, and 70% of 8th graders scored below proficient in math — only slightly better than the national averages of 70% and 73%. Access to early learning opportunities is a particularly troublesome indicator. In Washington, 57% of children aged 3 and 4 are not enrolled in preschool, compared to 54% nationally. That problem is likely to be exacerbated by federal and state funding cuts to early childhood education.
Slowed progress
Facing a projected $16 billion budget shortfall over the next four years, Washington lawmakers this year cut funding or delayed expansion in key early learning programs — like the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program and Working Connections Child Care — which mainly serve low-income families. Lawmakers proposed several progressive tax measures to help fill the gap, but many of those efforts stalled due to ongoing opposition from the Governor’s Office. These decisions could slow progress toward improving education across the state. Federally, the Trump administration has threatened funding to the national Head Start program.
Yet, research consistently shows that high-quality early learning helps children succeed for years to come — boosting high school graduation rates by 6% and helping to close learning gaps before kindergarten even begins. Washington’s below-average early learning enrollment numbers may help explain why gaps persist through high school, where 16% of Washington students fail to graduate on time, compared to 13% nationally.
“Access to high-quality early learning sets our children up for success in kindergarten and beyond,” said Dr. Stephan Blanford, executive director of Children’s Alliance, in a release. “For too long, many kids in Washington have not been getting the support and resources they deserve. Unfortunately, due to cuts made to early learning at the state level, as well as threats to federally funded programs, I am concerned that our state’s performance will only worsen in the future.” Children’s Alliance is Washington state’s member of the KIDS COUNT network.
Key findings
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 ranks the states according to how children are faring overall.
Key findings from the most recent 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book for Washington state include:
- Washington ranks 9th in health, down from 4th in the 2024 Data Book. Most concerningly, child and teen death rates have risen to 29 per 100,000 – a 38% increase since 2019. However, our state continues to be a leader in health insurance coverage, with 97% of children covered.
- Washington ranks 30th in economic well-being. The data show that 31% of Washington children live in households with a high housing cost burden, compared to 30% of children nationally. Importantly, Washington’s 31% figure is up from 29% in 2019.
- Washington ranks 11th in family and community. Notably, the percentage of children living in high-poverty areas decreased to 2%, according to data from 2019-2023, compared to 8% nationally.
A call to take action
Officials at Children’s Alliance say the organization wants lawmakers and officials in Washington to use the detailed information in the report to “unite across party lines and respond with initiatives that invest in young people.”
“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 Dr. Blanford. “Programs that meet these needs benefit all of us. And all of us need to pitch in to fund them. It’s time for Washington lawmakers and the Governor to work together to advance more progressive revenue measures to relieve the tax burden on working families and ensure we can make the necessary investments to improve outcomes for every child in our state.”
