We’re splitting hairs here, but believe NM is REALLY 50th in Kids Count

Take a close look at the following. It is directly from the 37th page of the 2026 Kids Count report. Notably, Mississippi is said to have finished 50th while New Mexico ranked 49th.

We realize that neither state is likely happy about being at the bottom of this report, but take a look at the rankings among each of the four categories. You’ll find that New Mexico’s numbers are:

47, 50, 41, 50. That’s an average ranking of 47th

For Mississippi which finished 50th overall, their numbers are:

49, 16, 50, 49. That’s an average ranking of 41st

So, would you rather be New Mexico with no “good” scores at all with massive oil and gas revenues, but no idea how to use them to improve outcomes? Or, would you rather be Mississippi which has made great strides in one (arguably the most) significant area of education? Notably, New Mexico got the lowest numerical score possible in education, 1 of a possible 1,000 points. Not to mention the fact that overall Mississippi’s average ranking is far better than New Mexico’s? Now, RGF has no doubt that New Mexico’s weather and oil and gas revenues COULD be used to quickly improve the State in ways that Mississippi could only dream of, but the question is about government policies and childhood poverty, not POTENTIAL which New Mexico has in abundance.