The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book paints a powerful portrait of child well‑being across America, tracking 16 key indicators in economic security, education, health, family and community life. While Missouri clocks in at a middling 27th overall, the story is more nuanced — and pressing — for students and families in St. Louis.
“All data tells a story, and Missouri being ranked 27th is a tale of both adversity and opportunity,” said Little Bit Foundation CEO Miranda Walker Jones. “The data helps us identify persistent or new challenges, design and implement impactful programs, develop new community partnerships and much more.”
According to Jones, the foundation is working to address these challenges through embedded programs. She says the data can serve as a valuable guide to inform policies, investments and systems that give youth a strong start in life.
With fewer than half of students performing at grade level in reading and math, and preschool participation still struggling to rebound, Missouri faces significant educational challenges. Chronic absenteeism is undermining academic recovery, as the effects of pandemic-era setbacks persist. As a result, Missouri ranks 33rd in education nationwide, according to the latest data.
For St. Louis advocates, educators and policymakers, the 2025 Data Book, now in its 36th year, is as much a roadmap as it is a snapshot. It shows where families are gaining ground and where urgent, targeted investment is still needed. In a recent interview, a teacher at the St. Louis Language Immersion School (SLLIS), a local charter offering wraparound services for students, teachers and staff, emphasized the need to address the whole child in academic recovery.
“Teachers are often the unsung heroes in our communities,” SLLIS Instructional Coach Samantha Shiver said. “Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to change the trajectory of a child’s life and help shape them into productive, empowered members of society. As educators, we’re constantly evolving to give our students what they need, not just academically, but emotionally and socially, too. At SLLIS, we aim to create a just, equitable, and transformative school — and that starts with our teachers.”
“Remove the barriers to learning and you empower students to succeed in the classroom and beyond”
At SLLIS, the focus is on nurturing students, celebrating their successes and empowering them to embrace challenges. According to the school’s STAR and MAP assessments, the students’ academic growth in reading and math outpaces more than 90% and 80% of schools statewide.
But why aren’t other schools in St. Louis and the state performing at this level? The answer, Jones said, is poverty. She believes poverty robs children in a myriad of ways, especially academically.
Serving more than 17,000 students each year, the foundation targets schools where 90 percent to 100 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. To close academic gaps, the organization uses a holistic model centered on health and nutrition; wellness and family support; academic enrichment; and college and career readiness. What sets the local chapter apart is its embedded approach that puts staff directly inside communities to work alongside educators and students.
Academic enrichment programs, like BookFairs and the 1-2-3 Read! program brings book fairs to every partner school once per semester where each student can select two age-appropriate books to keep. The FIRST LEGO League program, or FLL, is an international competition for elementary and middle school students who learn to design and program LEGO Education robots to complete tasks. During the year, Little Bit helps FLL teams build their robots and program them to perform a series of missions. The year culminates in a competition organized by Little Bit and judged by FLL-certified officials.
The data book also shows that Missouri ranks 27th in the nation for overall child well-being. The report makes clear that a child’s chance to thrive is deeply tied to where they’re born. State-level differences in wealth, public policy, and long-term investment all shape the resources children can access. Some of those resources may include services for learners with special needs.
“The Kids Count Data Book helps us understand trends in poverty across our community, allowing us to ensure our Mobile Food Markets, In School Food Markets, and programs like Healthy Kids, Better Learners are in schools and communities with higher poverty rates and/or zip codes that demonstrate the greatest need,” said Jones.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. The Special School District in St. Louis County receives about $72 million in federal funding each year, with $41 million from the IDEA. Those funds are essential to the students served by districts across St. Louis County, especially those with the greatest needs. Budget cuts put critical services at risk, including individualized support plans, specialized instruction, and access to vital resources for students with disabilities.
Between 2019 and 2023, 57% of children aged 3 to 4 were not enrolled in school, up slightly from 56% between 2014 and 2018. Reading and math proficiency among older students has also declined. In 2024, 73% of fourth-graders were not proficient in reading, a notable increase from 66% in 2019. By fourth grade, children are expected to use reading to learn other subjects, according to the report. Children who reach fourth grade without being able to read proficiently are more likely to struggle academically and have lower overall educational attainment. Low reading proficiency can also reduce earning potential and chances for career success as adults. This widens the racial and income disparities that remain. Among eighth-graders, math proficiency dropped even more sharply, with 77% not meeting standards in 2024 compared to 68% five years earlier.
Still, Jones remains hopeful. She acknowledges that the region faces challenges, but believes lasting change is possible. Over the past 24 years, the Little Bit Foundation — working closely with schools and community partners — has served 54 schools across 42 ZIP codes, providing wraparound services that include individualized mentorship, nutrition, essential supplies, career readiness events and broader community-based support.
“We are all working together to improve key indicators of success, like attendance, on-time graduation rates, wellness, academics and more,” Jones said. For her, the work is a reminder that when communities come together, progress isn’t just possible — it’s already happening.