NEWARK, N.J. — In the state’s largest city, children are attending school regularly and graduating high school at record rates, according to Newark Kids Count 2026 released today. But the report also finds serious gaps in health care access and housing affordability — with only 43% of expectant mothers receiving early prenatal care and 11% of children lacking health insurance, nearly triple the statewide rate of 4%.

Read full report at acnj.org.

Newark Kids Count 2026 data report provides a comprehensive snapshot of child well-being across nearly 100 key indicators, including demographics, economic security, child health, child protection, and education. The report serves as a critical tool for policymakers, community leaders, and lawmakers to track progress and identify urgent needs across the city.

"Kids Count offers the clearest picture yet of how Newark's youngest residents are faring, and where the city still has work to do," said ACNJ President and CEO Mary Coogan. "Child poverty is declining and median family income is on the rise, but more than half of Newark households are squeezed by housing costs, and the median income of roughly $50,000 still lags well behind the rest of the county and state. Access to school meals, food assistance, and health care remain vital lifelines for Newark families."

This year's report also highlights Arts Ed Newark, a citywide alliance of more than 100 arts organizations, schools, and community partners connecting over 40,000 Newark youth to arts instruction each year — and the link researchers are drawing between arts access and kids showing up to school.

Schools Show Sustained Progress
School enrollment across Newark remains robust, with more than 64,700 pre-K–12 students enrolled for the 2025–26 academic year—67% attending district public schools and 33% enrolled in public charter schools. Within Newark Public Schools (NPS), the share of multilingual learners has grown steadily, from 17% in 2021–22 to 28% in 2025–26.

District high school graduation rates climbed to 90% in 2024–25 up from 85% in 2021–22, while chronic absenteeism fell to 10%—outperforming the state rate of 14%. Third-grade reading proficiency also improved, rising from 19% to 28% over the same period.

"Newark Public Schools and its students are on the rise," said superintendent Roger León. "Our attendance numbers and our graduation rate are the highest they've been in decades, and that's a direct result of the work our principals, teachers, staff, students and families put in every day."
Research suggests arts access may be part of that momentum. Music instruction in Newark Public Schools rose from 58% in 2020 to 98% in 2025, and visual arts access rose from 67% to 90% — mirroring findings that link art education to stronger student engagement and attendance.

"We've watched arts access and school attendance rise together in Newark, and that's not a coincidence. Students with greater arts access tend to attend school more consistently, particularly those who've faced the greatest barriers to regular attendance," said Lauren Meehan, executive director of Arts Ed Newark. "When kids have a reason to create, they show up."

Additional Key Findings:
A Growing, Diverse Child Population
Newark's child population has grown by roughly 11% over the past decade, with foreign-born children making up 13% of the city's total child population. In addition, births to foreign-born women account for six in 10 Newark births. More than half of Newark residents age 5 and older speak a language other than English at home.

Gaps in Early Prenatal Care and Infant Mortality
The share of expectant mothers receiving prenatal care in the first trimester dropped 25% since 2020. In 2024, only 43% of expecting mothers received first-trimester prenatal care, compared with 57% in Essex County and 74% statewide.

The infant mortality rate, while down from 2018–2020 levels, remained higher than county and state averages at 5.8 per 1,000 births in 2021–2023. Among Black infants in Newark, the rate was 9.3, also exceeding county and state figures for the same group.

More Children Tested for Lead
In 2024, more children were tested for lead, with screenings increasing by 19% among children ages 6–26 months and by 17% among children under age 6, since 2020. At the same time, the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels (≥ 5 μg/dL) decreased in both age groups.

Teens: Fewer Arrests, Fewer Teen Births
Juvenile arrests in Newark dropped from 315 in 2021 to 213 in 2025. Births to teens ages 15–19 fell 10% between 2020 and 2024.

Good data drives smart decisions.
Advocates for Children of New Jersey invites local organizations and community members to partner with them in hosting community conversations—using the data to spark meaningful dialogue with officials, evaluate local needs, and advocate for solutions.

“We hope this report will be used as a roadmap for residents, community leaders, and policymakers to strengthen programs, target investments, and track real progress for Newark’s youth. That's why we're kicking off our first community conversation on Tuesday, October 6, and we want Newark residents at the table. Held at the Newark Public Library, join us as we put the data to work and find a path to help shape what comes next, ,” said Alena Siddiqui, ACNJ data analyst and author of the report.

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ABOUT ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN OF NEW JERSEY (ACNJ)
Advocates for Children of New Jersey (acnj.org) is the trusted, independent voice putting children’s needs first for more than 45 years. Our work results in better laws and policies, more effective funding and stronger services for children and families. And it means that more children are given the chance to grow up safe, healthy, and educated.