Michigan ranks 33rd for child well-being in annual report with education among the nation’s worst

Michigan ranked 33rd for overall child well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual Kids Count Data Book, lagging in education and economic well-being, amongst other areas.

This is the 36th year the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization examining children’s welfare, has released its Kids Count Data Book which ranks states’ care for youth through education, health, family and community, and economic wellbeing.

Historically, Michigan has particularly dragged in its education ranking, with the 2025 ranking sitting at 44th in the nation. Michigan worsened in the number of children ages 3 and 4 not attending school than in previous years. When it came to benchmark testing, the data book found that the number of eighth graders not testing proficient in math and fourth graders not testing proficient in reading worsened than in previous years as well.

“Education has consistently been our lowest ranking domain among the four key domains that the Annie E. Casey Foundation evaluates, pointing to the continued, urgent need for our state leaders to do more to support Michigan students,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy in a news release Monday.

Pushing for a school funding solution in Michigan continues to be a top priority for the league, which acts as the state’s member organization of the Kids Count network, Stanton said. Michigan has worked to improve school access and outcomes, notably through securing universal school meals and investments in school mental health resources.

But with federal threats on education looming, namely the Trump administration’s interest in gutting the U.S. Department of Education, Stanton said it’s important to point out the federal decisions that would harm students and advocate for policies that set kids up for educational success.

“Speaking out against federal threats to education is also vital to ensuring our schools stay strong and are able to meet the needs of every student that walks through their doors,” Stanton said. “Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would remove protections for thousands of students in Michigan, especially those from low-income households and those receiving special education services.”

The state’s best ranking has historically been in health, ranking this year at 22nd. Michigan’s health ranking, the only sector where Michigan placed in the top half of states, is largely attributed to the large portion of the state’s children who have access to health insurance, the league’s news release said. 

But just as stakeholders have raised concerns with President Donald Trump’s plans for education, alarm bells are sounding off for a federal spending plan that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.

More than 1 in 4 Michiganders is covered by Medicaid each month, including more than 1 million children, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

While there are areas where Michigan has made improvements, there continue to be sectors of children’s well-being that demand attention and resources, Stanton said. These needs would be best addressed with the collaboration of state and federal policymakers to ensure Michigan’s kids have opportunities to grow up healthy and prepared for their futures.

“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. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like employment and economic growth,” Stanton said. “We encourage Michigan leaders and lawmakers alike to use both the national KIDS COUNT data and the state data we will be releasing later this year in informing smart policy and budget decisions that prioritize the well-being and futures of our state’s youngest residents.”