Another national study ranks New Mexico poorly on at-risk youth (you may be surprised WHY)

Fresh off yet another 50th ranking in the annual Kids Count report and the left-wing Voices for Children’s attempt to pawn the results off as being due to the “poor performance of minorities on standardized tests,” another report, this one from Wallethub, gives New Mexico poor marks for child outcomes.

Unlike Kids Count, Wallethub ranks New Mexico “just” 49th beating out Louisiana, but overall it is not good news. New Mexico has large numbers of “disconnected youth.” As the time-chart map shows below that means 18-24 year olds not attending school or working.

Given New Mexico’s education shortcomings it is not a surprise that we have the highest percentage of youth without a high school diploma. What is somewhat shocking is that while New Mexico’s overall obesity rate is relatively low, the rate for youth is 4th-highest in the nation. The reasons for this are undoubtedly complicated, but MLG’s harsh COVID lockdowns cannot be dismissed as a cause.

Check out what Wallethub’s analysts had to say about New Mexico here: