Is Oklahoma ranked among the worst states for child welfare?

Oklahoma ranks No.46 in child well-being according to the latest report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reflecting bottom-10 rankings across the domains of economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. 

In these domains, encompassing 16 indicators, Oklahoma ranked No.40, No.48, No.43, and No.40, respectively. For each indicator, Oklahoma’s score was equal to or worse than its national counterpart, with the exception of the percentage of children living in high housing cost burdened households being 3% lower in Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma ranked near last in both skills-related education indicators. Seventy-seven percent of 4th graders and 83% of 8th graders scored below proficient in reading and math, respectively, which translated to No.48 and No.49 rankings. 

Worsened education indicators since 2019 reflect broader national trends, except for high school graduation rates, which increased nationally. 

Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico ranked worse than Oklahoma overall.