New Mexico still ranks last in the nation for education, according to the 2024 KIDS COUNT Databook, an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
New Mexico has ranked 50th in education for the eighth consecutive year.
The data book, launched June 10, provides a comprehensive analysis of child well-being across the United States, with a particular focus this year on ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) and chronic absenteeism.
To determine state rankings, the Annie E. Casey Foundation uses four areas: economic well-being, education, health, and families and communities. Each area is comprised of four indicators that are measured and used to determine the state's ranking. In education, New Mexico remained last, followed by Mississippi at 49th and Louisiana at 48th.
Annie E. Casey uses the National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP) to measure student proficiency. Only 21% of New Mexico's fourth grade students are proficient in reading, according to the state's most recent NAEP scores.
“Reading skills are critical for students to succeed academically and as adults,” explained Emily Wildau, KIDS COUNT Coordinator for New Mexico Voices for Children. “New Mexico’s ranking in the area of education is heavily influenced by national standardized test scores,” Wildau said. “K-12 students of color, those from low-income families, and those with disabilities tend to fare worse than their wealthier white peers,” she said. This is largely due to a lack of funding and culturally responsive training and support across multiple generations.”
“These scores do not reflect the abilities of our children; they reflect an education system that was not designed with multicultural, multilingual students in mind,” Wildau explained.
“New Mexico’s rankings are not a reflection of who we are, but serve as motivation to continually improve our systems so children and families can thrive,” said Gabrielle Uballez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children.
Key points from the 2024 KIDS COUNT book
In education, New Mexico ranked 50th.Day All over the country. Interestingly, Mississippi ranked 49th.Day It ranked 30th in overall child welfare.Day For education. Louisiana (48th)Day It ranked 42nd in overall child welfare.nd In education.
The four indicators measured in the education domain are:
young children not attending school
Nationally and in New Mexico, the group of 3- and 4-year-old students out of school increased between 2018 and 2022. Nationally, 54% of students in this age group are out of school, 2% worse than in 2013-17. In New Mexico, 59% of students in this age group were out of school, a 1% increase from 2013-17.
4th grader not proficient in reading
In New Mexico, the percentage of fourth grade students unable to read at grade level increased from 76% in 2019 to 79% in 2022. Nationwide, 68% of fourth graders cannot read at grade level, which is 2% worse than in 2019.
8th grader not good at math
Nationally, eighth-graders' math performance was worse than in 2019. Nationally, 74% of eighth grade students cannot perform math at grade level, a 7% increase from 2019. In New Mexico, the situation is much worse. In 2019, 79% of New Mexico eighth grade students were able to do math at grade level. By 2022, 87% of eighth grade students could not perform math at grade level. This is an 8% increase.
High school student who does not graduate on time
Nationally, 14% of students are not graduating on time, the same as the previous data point (2018-2019). This is one indicator that New Mexico has improved. In 2020-2021, 23% of students did not graduate, a 2% improvement over 2018-2019, when 25% of students did not graduate on time.
In economic well-being, the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked New Mexico 48th.Day All over the country.
In health, New Mexico ranked 44th.Day All over the country. Mississippi ranked 50thDay In health, Louisiana ranked 49th.
In the Families and Communities category, New Mexico ranked 49th.Day All over the country. Mississippi ranked 50thDay Louisiana ranks 48th in the nation.
By all metrics, New Mexico's overall ranking in child welfare remains 50th, unchanged from last year.
By almost every metric, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Louisiana are together in the lower 48 states.Day49Dayand 50Day Rankings – except one. Mississippi ranks 30th.Day In education.