Washington's Kids Count education rank fell from 20th to 31st

What this chart asks

How has Washington's Kids Count education rank changed over the past decade?

Why it is shown this way

• Points rather than a line, because the 2016-2023 editions are missing and a line would imply values we did not verify.
• The rank axis runs upward, so a rising point means a worse rank; the axis title says so.

Chart annotations

These markers provide relevant context for interpreting the chart. Their timing or position does not, by itself, establish causation.

2016-2023 editions not shown

2024

Values for these editions were not verified and are omitted rather than interpolated.

Why this is marked: Warns readers that the ordinal axis skips eight Data Book editions.

Data and accessibility

Download chart data · Open accessible table · Download PNG · Download SVG

Dataset wa-k12-spending-outcomes, analysis kc-rank-series

Sources

This chart draws on the sources of the dataset versions it visualizes.

Washington K-12 spending and outcomes: per-pupil spending, Kids Count rank, NAEP math

1. U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2024 (2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances) Primary statistical source for per-pupil spending values

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

2. U.S. Census Bureau, Public School Spending Per Pupil Reaches Historic High in 2024 (CB26-TPS.29, May 7, 2026) Primary source for national average ($17,619) and District of Columbia value

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

3. CRBC News (republishing Business Insider), School Spending 2024: How Much Each U.S. State Spends Per Public School Student (Ranked), June 11, 2026 Secondary source used only to pair each Census value with its state; every value cross-checked against the Census chart

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

4. Washington State Standard via Seattle's Child, WA is stuck mid-pack in national education ranking (June 2025) News report of Kids Count 2025 Data Book; source for 'ten years ago, Washington was 20th'

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

5. Seattle's Child, KIDS COUNT 2024: WA must do better for kids News summary of the 2024 Kids Count Data Book (education rank 26th)

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

6. Seattle's Child, 2025 KIDS COUNT: Washington state's education rankings decline News summary of the 2025 Kids Count Data Book (education rank fell from 26th to 27th; four indicator values)

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

7. Washington State Standard via Seattle's Child, 2026 KIDS COUNT Spotlight: Big drop in WA education ranking News report of the 2026 Kids Count Data Book (education rank fell from 27th to 31st)

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. All rights reserved (linked, not redistributed). Not redistributed; facts only

8. NCES, 2024 Mathematics State Snapshot Report, Washington Grade 8 Primary source for 2003, 2022, 2024 scores

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

9. NCES, 2019 Mathematics State Snapshot Report, Washington Grade 8 Primary source for 2017 and 2019 scores

   Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

   Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

10. NCES, 2015 Mathematics State Snapshot Report, Washington Grade 8 Primary source for 2013 and 2015 scores

    Retrieved October 14, 2026. Public domain (U.S. government work). Permitted

    Archived copy captured October 14, 2026

Limitations

• 2016-2023 editions are not shown.
• The education domain combines preschool enrollment, fourth-grade reading, eighth-grade math and on-time graduation; it is not a test-score ranking.
• Ranks are relative: a state can fall in rank without its own indicators getting worse.