- A decade ago, Mississippi ranked 48th in education in the annual publication.
The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today reports that Mississippi’s education ranking has climbed to 16th in the nation, the state’s highest ranking ever. The state ranked 48th in 2014.
Last year, the Data Book ranked Mississippi 30th in education.
Over the past decade, the Mississippi Department of Education notes that the statewide graduation rate has risen from 75 percent to 89.2 percent, higher than the national average.
The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book is a 50-state report of data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, analyzing how children and youth are faring across the nation. The Data Book reports on national and state data from 16 indicators related to economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. The Data Book then ranks the states according to how children are faring overall.
Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education, said in a statement that Mississippi’s momentum in education is the result of strong policies and dedicated, effective educators.
“Our students’ achievements have made the state a national leader in improving academic outcomes,” Evans stated. “I am tremendously proud that our national ranking for education has steadily climbed from 48th in 2014 to 16th in 2025. Mississippi students have proven once again that there is no limit to what they can accomplish with the strong support of Mississippi educators.”
Overall, the Data Book ranked Mississippi 48th in child well-being, up one spot from the prior year.
You can read the full Data Book report on Mississippi here.
Frank Corder
