Michigan ranks 34th in the nation for overall child well-being, in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. However, a closer look at the rankings show their performance in school is alarmingly low, at 46th.
Much of the data is from 2022. It says one in five Michigan students doesn’t graduate from high school on time. 72% of 4th graders weren’t reading proficiently, and 75% of 8th graders weren’t proficient in math — both higher than in 2019.
The report also reveals a high school absenteeism rate of 40%, or more than a half-million students missing too much school.
Anne Kuhnen, with the Michigan League For Public Policy, says the problem is about more than what happens in the classroom.
“So they’re dealing with a lot of economic insecurity at home, a lot of trauma, and these are all things that are making it hard for students to show up and do well in reading and math because they’re just not getting their essential needs met,” Kuhnen said.
The research shows disparities for children of color.
Each year, the Data Book examines four areas. They are economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. Michigan’s best ranking is 22nd in health, in part because only 3% of children in the state are uninsured.
