Mississippi has reached a new milestone in education, ranking 16th in the nation according to the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This marks the state’s best performance in education since the report began, a significant jump from 48th place in 2014 and 30th last year.
The KIDS COUNT Data Book tracks the well-being of children across all 50 states, using 16 key indicators in four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. Each state is ranked based on how children are doing overall.
Mississippi’s rise in the education category reflects a decade of steady progress. According to the Mississippi Department of Education, the state’s high school graduation rate has increased from 75% in 2014 to 89.2% today, surpassing the national average.
Dr. Lance Evans, Mississippi’s state superintendent of education, credited the improvement to sound education policies and the hard work of teachers across the state.
“Our students’ achievements have made the state a national leader in improving academic outcomes,” Evans said in a statement. “I am tremendously proud that our education ranking has climbed from 48th to 16th over the past decade. Mississippi students continue to show that, with strong support from educators, they can achieve great things.”
Despite the gains in education, Mississippi continues to face challenges in other areas. The state ranked 48th overall in child well-being, a slight improvement from 49th the previous year.
