Children represent 24 percent of the population, but they comprise 34 percent of all people in poverty. 1 Among all children, 45 percent live in low-income families and approximately one in every five (22 percent) live in poor families. Among children 6 through 11 years old in middle childhood, 45 percent live in low-income families and 22 percent live in poor families. Being a child in a low-income or poor family does not happen by chance. There are a range of factors associated with children’s experiences of economic insecurity, including race/ethnicity and parents’ education and employment. This fact sheet describes the demographic, socioeconomic, and employment characteristics of children in middle childhood and their parents. It highlights the important factors that appear to distinguish low-income and poor children in this age group from their less disadvantaged counterparts

Addy, Sophia D.

Englehardt, William

Skinner, Curtis

English

Children represent 24 percent of the population, but they comprise 34 percent of all people in poverty. 1 Among all children, 45 percent live in low-income families and approximately one in every five (22 percent) live in poor families. Among our oldest children, adolescents 12 through 17 years of age, 41 percent live in low-income families and 19 percent live in poor families. Being a child in a low-income or poor family does not happen by chance. There are a range of factors associated with children’s experiences of economic insecurity, including race/ethnicity and parents’ education and employment. This fact sheet describes the demographic, socio-economic, and geographic characteristics of adolescents and their parents. It highlights the important factors that appear to distinguish low-income and poor children in this age group from their less disadvantaged counterparts

Columbia University Academic Commons

Basic Facts About Low-income ChildrenChildren Aged 12 through 17 Years, 2011Sophia Addy | William Engelhardt | Curtis Skinner January 2013Children represent 24 percent of the population, but they comprise 34 percent of all people in poverty.1 Among all children, 45 percent live in low-income families and approximately one in every five (22 percent) live in poor families. Among our oldest children, adolescents 12 through 17 years of age, 41 percent live in low-income families and 19 percent live in poor families. Being a child in a low-income or poor family does not happen by chance. There are a range of factors associated with children’s experiences of economic insecurity, including race/ethnicity and parents’ education and employment. This fact sheet describes the demographic, socio-economic, and geographic characteristics of adoles-cents and their parents. It highlights the important factors that appear to distinguish low-income and poor children in this age group from their less disadvantaged counterparts.215 W. 125th Street, 3rd FloorNew York, NY  10027-4426Ph. 646-284-9600www.nccp.orgHow many adolescent children aged 12 through 17 years in the United States live in low-income families?There are more than 24 million adolescents 12 through 17 years old in the United States.u	41 percent – 10 million – live in low-income families.u	19 percent – 4.7 million – live in poor families.FACT  SHEE TAdolescents by family income, 2011Low-income41%Abovelow-income59%100-199% FPL22%Less than100% FPL19%2The percentage of adolescent children living in low-income families (both poor and near poor) has been on the rise – increasing from 36 percent in 2006 to nearly 41 percent in 2011. During this time period, the overall number of adolescent children 12 through 17 years old remained relatively constant while the number who were low-income and poor increased by 12 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Has the percentage of adolescents living in low-income and poor families changed over time?Percentage change of adolescents living in low-income and poor families, 2006–2011 2006 2011 Percent changeLow-income 8,869,538 9,966,850 12%Poor 3,915,175 4,695,538 20%051015202530354045201120102009200820072006Percent (%)Adolescents living in low-income and poor families, 2006–201119%41%16%36%Near Poor 100–199% FPLPoor Less than 100% FPLWhat was the federal poverty level (FPL) in 2011?2u $22,350 for a family of four.u $18,530 for a family of three.u $14,710 for a family of two.Is a poverty-level income enough to support a family?Research suggests that, on average, families need an income equal to about two times the federal poverty level to meet their most basic needs.3 Families with incomes below this level are referred to as low income:u $44,700 for a family of four.u $37,060 for a family of three.u $29,420 for a family of two.These dollar amounts approximate the average minimum income families need to make ends meet, but actual expenses vary greatly by locality. In 2011, the cost of meeting basic family needs was about $64,000 per year in Los Angeles for a family of four. In 2010, the cost was $57,000 in Newark, N.J., $47,000 in Billings, Mont., and $42,000 in Jackson, Miss.4 What is the 2012 federal poverty level (FPL)?u $23,050 for a family of four.u $19,090 for a family of three.u $15,130 for a family of two.   3How do adolescents compare to the rest of the population?The percentage of adolescents in low-income families surpasses that of adults. In addition, chil-dren 12 through 17 years old are twice as likely as adults aged 65 years and older to live in poor families. Does the percentage of children in low-income families vary by children’s age?The overall percentages of chil-dren living in low-income and poor families mask important variation by age. Adolescents are less likely to live in low-income families than younger children. Family income by age, 2011Above low-incomeNear poorPoor0 20 40 60 80 10065+years18 to 64yearsLess than18 years12 to 17years59%19% 22%55%22% 22%66%14% 19%66%9% 25%Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.Low-income  45%Low-income  34%Low-income  34%Low-income  41%Percent (%)Percentage of children in low-income and poor families by age, 2011PoorLow-income0102030405012–17 yearsUnder 12 years41%10.0 million47%22.4 million19%4.7 million24%11.4 millionu	47 percent of children under 12 years of age – 22.4 million – live in low-income families.u	41 percent of children 12 through 17 years old – 10 million – live in low-income families.4Does the percentage of adolescents in low-income families vary by race/ethnicity?5Although black, American Indian, and Hispanic adolescents are disproportionately low income, whites comprise the largest group of low-income adolescents.u	28 percent of white adolescents – 3.8 million – live in low-income families.u	60 percent of black adolescents– 2.1 million – live in low-income families.u	35 percent of Asian adolescents – 0.4 million – live in low-income families.u	56 percent of American Indian adolescents – 0.1 million – live in low-income families.u	42 percent of adolescents of some other race – 0.4 million – live in low-income families.u	61 percent of Hispanic adolescents – 3.2 million – live in low-income families.Does the percentage of adolescents in low-income families vary by parents’ country of birth?6u	60 percent of adolescents of immigrant parents – 2.7 million – live in low-income families.u	37 percent of adolescents of native-born parents – 6.9 million – live in low-income families.Percent (%)Race/ethnicity among adolescents by family income, 2011020406080100HispanicOtherAmerican IndianAsianBlackWhitePoorLow-incomeTotal1%1%1%33%32%22%33%38%55%25%21%14% 3%4%4%4%4%4%Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.Percent (%)Percentage of adolescents in low-income and poor families by race/ethnicity, 2011PoorLow-income010203040506070HispanicOtherAmericanIndianAsianBlackWhite42%61%56%35%60%28%20%29%31%15%34%12%   5Parents’ Education7Higher levels of parents’ educa-tion decrease the likelihood that a child will live in a low-income or poor family. Yet, 46 percent of low-income adolescents and 39 percent of poor adolescents have a parent with at least some college education.u	82 percent of adolescents with parents who have less than a high school degree – 2.3 million – live in low-income families.u	59 percent of adolescents with parents who have a high school degree but no college –  3 million – live in low-income families.u	28 percent of adolescents with at least one parent who has some college or more education – 4.6 million – live in low-income families.Parents’ Employment8Although adolescents with a full-time, year-round employed parent comprise almost half of the low-income population, they are less likely to be living in a low-income family, compared to adolescents with parents who work part-time/part-year or who are not employed.u	27 percent of adolescents with at least one parent who works full-time, year-round – 4.9 million – live in low-income families.u	72 percent of adolescents with at least one parent who works part-time or part-year – 3 million – live in low-income families.u	89 percent of adolescents with no employed parents – 2.1 million – live in low-income families.Family StructureForty-eight percent of adolescents in low-income families – 4.7 mil-lion – and 38 percent of adoles-cents in poor families – 1.8 mil-lion – live with married parents.u	29 percent of adolescents with married parents – 4.7 million – live in low-income families.u	64 percent of adolescents with single parents – 5.2 million –live in low-income families.What are the family characteristics of low-income and poor adolescents?020406080100PoorLow-incomePercent (%)Parents’ education among adolescents by family income, 201130%23%31%30%39%46%Some collegeor moreHigh school degreeLess than high school degreePercentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.Percent (%)Percentage of adolescents in low-income and poor families by parents’ employment and education, 2011PoorLow-income020406080100Somecollegeor moreHighschooldegreeLess thanhigh schooldegreeNotemployedPart-timeorpart-yearFull-time,year-round27%7%72%42%89%69%82%49%59%28% 28%11%6Does the percentage of adolescents in low-income families vary by where they live?RegionThe percentage of adolescents in low-income families varies sub-stantially by region.u	33 percent of adolescents in the Northeast – 1.4 million – live in low-income families.u	38 percent of adolescents in the Midwest – 2 million –  live in low-income families.u	44 percent of adolescents in the South – 4 million – live in low-income families.u	43 percent of adolescents in the West – 2.5 million – live in low-income families.Type of AreaSimilarly, adolescents living in rural areas are more likely to live in low-income families compared to those living in urban areas.u	40 percent of adolescents in urban areas – 7.6 million –  live in low-income families.u	46 percent of adolescents in rural areas – 1.7 million –  live in low-income families.Residential Instability and Home OwnershipResearch suggests that stable housing is important for healthy child development.9 However, adolescents living in low-income families were about two times as likely as other children to have moved in the past year and more than three times as likely to live  in families that rent a home.u	17 percent of adolescents in low-income families – 1.7 million – moved in the last year.u	8 percent of adolescents in families with higher income – 1.2 million – moved in the  last year.u	55 percent of adolescents in low-income families – 5.5 million – live with a family that rents a home.u	17 percent of adolescents in families with higher income – 2.5 million – live with a family that rents a home.DCPercentage of adolescents in low-income families by region, 2011South44% Northeast33%West43%Midwest38%0102030405060Not low-incomeLow-incomePercent (%)Residential instability and home ownership among adolescentsby family income, 2011Rent housingMoved within one year55%17% 17%8%   7Are adolescents in low-income families covered by health insurance?10Consistent with research sug-gesting older children in general are particularly at risk of being uninsured, low-income and poor adolescents are more likely to be without health insurance coverage than their younger counterparts, with approximately 14 percent in low-income families and 13 percent in poor families report-ing no insurance coverage of any kind.11 Although close to one-third (31 percent) of low-income adolescents are covered by private health insurance, public insurance reaches more than one-half (60 percent) of low-income children and nearly three-fourths (73 per-cent) of poor adolescents.u	14 percent of adolescents living in low-income families – 1.4 million – are uninsured.u	31 percent of adolescents living in low-income families – 3.1 million – are covered by private insurance.u	60 percent of adolescents living in low-income families – 6 million – are covered by public insurance.Percent (%)Percentage of children uninsured in low-income and poor families by age, 2011PoorLow-income024681012141612–17 yearsUnder 12 years9%13%8%14%Type of health insurance coverage among adolescents by family income, 2011Percent (%) PublicPrivate01020304050607080PoorLow-income31%60%73%19%8EndnotesThis fact sheet is part of the National Center for Children in Poverty’s demographic fact sheet series and is updated annually. Unless otherwise noted, analysis of the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) was conducted by Sophia Addy of NCCP. Yumiko Aratani provided feedback that contributed to the analysis. Estimates include children living in households with at least one parent and most children living apart from both parents (for example, children being raised by grandparents). Children living independently, living with a spouse, or in group quarters are excluded from these data. Children 14 years old and under living with only unrelated adults were not included because data on their income status were not available. Among children who do not live with at least one parent, parental characteristics are those of the householder and/or the householder’s spouse. Special thanks to Morris Ardoin, Amy Palmisano, and Telly Valdellon.1. In this fact sheet, poverty is defined as family income less than 100 percent of the poverty threshold; low income is defined as family income less than 200 percent of the poverty threshold. 2. These numbers are from the federal poverty guidelines issued annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The demographic findings in this fact sheet were calculated using more complex versions of the federal poverty measure – the thresholds issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. Please see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/11poverty.shtml for the 2011 poverty thresholds. For more information on measuring poverty and the differences between the federal pov-erty guidelines and the thresholds, see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.3. Cauthen, Nancy K.; & Fass, Sarah. (2008). Measuring income and poverty in the United States. New York, NY: National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.4. These figures were derived from NCCP’s Basic Needs Budget Calculator.5. In the most recent ACS, parents could report children’s race as one or more of the following: “White,” “Black,” “American Indian or Alaska Native,” or “Asian and/or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.” In a separate question, parents could report whether their children were of Hispanic origin. For the data reported, children whose parent reported their race as White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Asian and/or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and their ethnicity as non-Hispanic are assigned their respective race. Children who were reported to be of more than one race were assigned as Other. Children whose parent identified them as Hispanic were categorized as Hispanic, regardless of their reported race.6. Adolescents living in households with one immigrant parent and one native-born parent (approximately 1.2 million) are not included in these estimates.7. Parent’s education is the education level of the most highly educated parent living in the household. Parents can either have no high school degree; a high school degree, but no college; or some college or more.8. Parent’s employment is the employ-ment level of the parent in the household who maintained the highest level of employment in the previous year. Parents can either have no employment in the previous year, part-year or part-time employment, or full-time, year-round employment. Part-year or part-time em-ployment is defined as either working less than 50 weeks in the previous year or less than 35 hours per week. Full-time, year-round employment is defined as working at least 50 weeks in the previous year and 35 hours or more per week for more than half the year.9. Aratani, Yumiko. (2009). Homeless chil-dren and youth. New York, NY: National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.10. People can report more than one type of insurance coverage. Children not cov-ered by private or public health insurance at the time of the survey are considered uninsured.11. Schwarz, Susan Wile. (2009). Adoles-cent mental health in the United States. New York, NY: National Center for Chil-dren in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.For comparable information about all children, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Under 18 Years, 2011, or about infants and toddlers, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Under 3 Years, 2011, or about young children, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Under 6 Years, 2011, or Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Aged 6 through 11 Years, 2011.

Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Aged 12 through 17 Years, 2011

Basic Facts About Low-income ChildrenChildren Aged 6 through 11 Years, 2011Sophia Addy | William Engelhardt | Curtis Skinner January 2013Children represent 24 percent of the population, but they comprise 34 percent of all people in poverty.1 Among all children, 45 percent live in low-income families and approximately one in every five (22 percent) live in poor families. Among children 6 through 11 years old in middle childhood, 45 percent live in low-income families and 22 percent live in poor families. Being a child in a low-income or poor family does not happen by chance. There are a range of factors associated with children’s experiences of economic insecurity, including race/ethnicity and par-ents’ education and employment. This fact sheet describes the demo-graphic, socioeconomic, and employment characteristics of children in middle childhood and their parents. It highlights the important factors that appear to distinguish low-income and poor children in this age group from their less disadvantaged counterparts.215 W. 125th Street, 3rd FloorNew York, NY  10027-4426Ph. 646-284-9600www.nccp.orgHow many children in middle childhood aged 6 through 11 years in the United States live in low-income families?There are more than 24 million children in middle childhood 6 through 11 years old in the United States.u	45 percent – 10.9 million – live in low-income families.u	22 percent – 5.4 million – live in poor families.FACT  SHEE TChildren in middle childhood by family income, 2011Low-income45%Abovelow-income55%100-199% FPL23%Less than100% FPL22%2The percentage of children in middle childhood living in low-income families (both poor and near poor) has been on the rise – increasing from 40 percent in 2006 to 45 percent in 2011. Dur-ing this time period, the overall number of children in middle childhood increased by three per-cent while the number that was low-income and poor increased by 17 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Has the percentage of children in middle childhood living in low-income and poor families changed over time? Percentage change of children in middle childhood living in low-income and poor families, 2006–2011 2006 2011 Percent changeLow-income 9,331,629 10,879,406 17%Poor 4,228,173  5,370,825 27%01020304050201120102009200820072006Percent (%)Children aged 6 through 11 years living in low-income and poor families, 2006–201122%45%18%40%Near Poor 100–199% FPLPoor Less than 100% FPLWhat was the federal poverty level (FPL) in 2011?2u $22,350 for a family of four.u $18,530 for a family of three.u $14,710 for a family of two.Is a poverty-level income enough to support a family?Research suggests that, on average, families need an income equal to about two times the federal poverty level to meet their most basic needs.3 Families with incomes below this level are referred to as low income:u $44,700 for a family of four.u $37,060 for a family of three.u $29,420 for a family of two.These dollar amounts approximate the average minimum income families need to make ends meet, but actual expenses vary greatly by locality. In 2011, the cost of meeting basic family needs was about $64,000 per year in Los Angeles for a family of four. In 2010, the cost was $57,000 in Newark, N.J., $47,000 in Billings, Mont., and $42,000 in Jackson, Miss.4 What is the 2012 federal poverty level (FPL)?u $23,050 for a family of four.u $19,090 for a family of three.u $15,130 for a family of two.    3How do children in middle childhood compare to the rest of the population?The percentage of children in middle childhood in low-income families surpasses that of adults. In addition, children in this age group are twice as likely as adults 65 years and older to live in poor families.Does the percentage of children in low-income families vary by children’s age?The overall percentages of chil-dren living in low-income and poor families mask important variation by age. Young chil-dren under 6 years of age are the most likely to live in low-income families, followed by children 6 through 11 years old, and chil-dren 12 through 17 years old.u	49 percent of children under 6 years of age – 11.5 million – live in low-income families.u	45 percent of children 6 through 11 years old – 10.9 million – live in low-income families.u	41 percent of children 12 through 17 years old – 10 million – live in low-income families.Family income by age, 2011Above low-incomeNear poorPoor0 20 40 60 80 10065+years18 to 64yearsLess than18 years6 to 11years55%22% 23%55%22% 22%66%14% 19%66%9% 25%Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.Low-income  45%Low-income  34%Low-income  34%Low-income  45%0102030405012–17 years6–11 yearsUnder 6 yearsPercent (%)Percentage of children in low-income and poor families by age, 2011PoorLow-income22%5.4 million25%6.0 million19%4.7 million45%10.9 million49%11.5 million41%10.0 million4Does the percentage of children in middle childhood in low-income families vary by race/ethnicity?5 Black, American Indian, and Hispanic children in middle childhood are disproportionately low-income. Although white children in middle childhood comprise the largest group of children living in low-income families, Hispanic children represent the largest share of poor children in middle childhood.u	32 percent of white children in middle childhood – 4.1 million – live in low-income families.u	65 percent of black children in middle childhood – 2.1 million – live in low-income families.u	31 percent of Asian children in middle childhood – 0.4 million – live in low-income families.u	64 percent of American Indian children in middle childhood – 0.1 million – live in low-income families.u	44 percent of children in middle childhood of some other race – 0.5 million – live in low-income families.u	66 percent of Hispanic children in middle childhood – 3.8 million – live in low-income families.Does the percentage of children in middle childhood, living in low-income families,  vary by parents’ country of origin?6u	64 percent of children in middle childhood with immigrant parents – 2.9 million – live in low-income families.u	41 percent of children in middle childhood with native-born parents – 7.5 million – live in low-income families.Percent (%)Race/ethnicity among children aged 6 through 11 years by family income, 2011020406080100HispanicOtherAmerican IndianAsianBlackWhitePoorLow-incomeTotal1%1%1%37%34%23%32%37%53%23%19%14%3%3%5%4%4%4%Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.010203040506070HispanicOtherAmericanIndianAsianBlackWhitePercent (%)Percentage of children aged 6 through 11 years in low-income and poor families by race/ethnicity, 2011PoorLow-income44%66%64%31%65%32%22%35%35%13%38%13%    5Parents’ Education7Higher levels of parents’ educa-tion decrease the likelihood that a child will live in a low-income or poor family. Yet, 48 percent of low-income and 40 percent of poor children in middle child-hood have a parent with at least some college.u	88 percent of children in middle childhood with parents who have less than a high school degree – 2.4 million – live in low-income families.u	68 percent of children in middle childhood with parents who have a high school degree but no college – 3.2 million – live in low-income families.u	31 percent of children in middle childhood with at least one parent who has some college or more education – 5.2 million – live in low-income families.Parents’ Employment8Although children in middle childhood with a full-time, year-round employed parent comprise about one-half (49 percent) of the low-income population, they are less likely to be living in a low-in-come family, compared to chil-dren in middle childhood with parents who work part-time/part-year or who are not employed.u	31 percent of children in middle childhood with at least one parent who works full-time, year-round – 5.4 million – live in low-income families.u	76 percent of children in middle childhood with at least one parent who works part-time or part-year – 3.5 million – live in low-income families.u	90 percent of children in middle childhood with no employed parents – 2 million – live in low-income families.Family StructureFifty percent of children in middle childhood in low-income families – 5.4 million – and 39 percent in poor families – 2.1 mil-lion – live with married parents.u	33 percent of children in middle childhood with married parents – 5.4 million – live in low-income families.u	70 percent of children in middle childhood with a single parent – 5.5 million – live in low-income families.What are the family characteristics of low-income and poor children in middle childhood?020406080100PoorLow incomeSomecollegeor moreHighschooldegreeLess thanhigh schooldegreeNotemployedPart-timeorpart-yearFull-time,year-roundPercent (%)Percentage of children in middle childhood in low-income and poor families by parents’ employment and education, 2011PoorLow-income31%9%76%48%90%75%88%58%68%35% 31%13%020406080100PoorLow-incomePercent (%)Parents’ education among children aged 6 through 11 years by family income, 201130%22%31%29%40%48%Some collegeor moreHigh school degreeLess than high school degreePercentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.6Does the percentage of children in middle childhood in low-income families vary by where they live? RegionThe percentage of children in middle childhood in low-income families varies substantially by region.u	37 percent of children in middle childhood in the Northeast – 1.5 million – live in low-income families.u	42 percent of children in middle childhood in the Midwest – 2.2 million – live in low-income families.u	48 percent of children in middle childhood in the South – 4.4 million – live in low-income families.u	47 percent of children in middle childhood in the West – 2.7 million – live in low-income families.Type of AreaSimilarly, children in middle childhood living in rural areas are more likely to live in low-income families compared to those living in urban areas. u	43 percent of children in middle childhood in urban areas – 8.2 million – live in low-income families.u	52 percent of children in middle childhood in rural areas – 1.9 million – live in low-income families. Residential Instability and Home OwnershipResearch suggests that stable hous-ing is important for healthy child development.9 However, children in middle childhood living in low-income families were about twice as likely as other children to have moved in the past year and more than three times as likely to live in families that rent a home.u	20 percent of children in middle childhood in low-income families – 2.1 million – moved in the last year.u	10 percent of children in middle childhood in families with higher income – 1.3 million – moved in the last year.u	61 percent of children in middle childhood in low-income families – 6.6 million – live with a family that rents a home.u	19 percent of children in middle childhood in families with higher income – 2.6 million – live with a family that rents a home.010203040506070Not low-incomeLow-incomePercent (%)Residential instability and home ownership among children aged 6 through 11years by family income, 2011Rent housingMoved within one year61%20% 19%10%DCPercentage of children aged 6 through 11 years in low-income families by region, 2011South48% Northeast37%West47%Midwest42%    7Are children in middle childhood in low-income families covered by health insurance?10Among all children in middle childhood, approximately 10 percent in low-income families and 10 percent in poor fami-lies are uninsured. Consistent with research suggesting older children in general are particu-larly at risk of being uninsured, low-income and poor children in middle childhood are less likely than their older counterparts but more likely than their younger counterparts to be without health insurance coverage.11 Although 28 percent of low-income children in middle childhood are covered by private health insurance, public insurance reaches more than one-half (67 percent) of low-income children and 79 percent of poor children in this age group.u	10 percent of children in middle childhood living in low- income families – 1.1 million – are uninsured.u	28 percent of children in middle childhood living in low-income families – 3 million – are covered by private insurance.u	67 percent of children in middle childhood living in low- income families – 7.2 million – are covered by public insurance.Percent (%)Percentage of children uninsured in low-income and poor families by age, 2011PoorLow-income0246810121412–17 years6–11 yearsUnder 6 years10%7%13%10%8%14%Type of health insurance coverage among children in middle childhoodby family income, 2011Percent (%) PublicPrivate01020304050607080PoorLow-income28%67%79%15%8EndnotesThis fact sheet is part of the National Center for Children in Poverty’s demographic fact sheet series and is updated annually. Unless otherwise noted, analysis of the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) was conducted by Sophia Addy of NCCP. Yumiko Aratani provided feedback that contributed to the analysis. Estimates include children living in households with at least one parent and most children living apart from both parents (for example, children being raised by grandparents). Children living independently, living with a spouse, or in group quarters are excluded from these data. Children 14 years old and under living with only unrelated adults were not included because data on their income status were not available. Among children who do not live with at least one parent, parental characteristics are those of the householder and/or the householder’s spouse. Special thanks to Morris Ardoin, Amy Palmisano, and Telly Valdellon.1. In this fact sheet, poverty is defined as family income less than 100 percent of the poverty threshold; low income is defined as family income less than 200 percent of the poverty threshold. 2. These numbers are from the federal poverty guidelines issued annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The demographic findings in this fact sheet were calculated using more complex versions of the federal poverty measure – the thresholds issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. Please see http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/11poverty.shtml for the 2011 poverty thresholds. For more information on measuring poverty and the differences between the federal pov-erty guidelines and the thresholds, see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.3. Cauthen, Nancy K.; & Fass, Sarah. (2008). Measuring income and poverty in the United States. New York, NY: National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.4. These figures were derived from NCCP’s Basic Needs Budget Calculator.5. In the most recent ACS, parents could report children’s race as one or more of the following: “White,” “Black,” “American Indian or Alaska Native,” or “Asian and/or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.” In a separate question, parents could report whether their children were of Hispanic origin. For the data reported, children whose parent reported their race as White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Asian and/or Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and their ethnicity as non-Hispanic are assigned their respective race. Children who were reported to be of more than one race were assigned as Other. Children whose parent identified them as Hispanic were categorized as Hispanic, regardless of their reported race.6. Children 6 through 11 years old living in households with one immigrant parent and one native-born parent (approxi-mately 1.5 million) are not included in these estimates.7. Parent’s education is the education level of the most highly educated parent living in the household. Parents can either have no high school degree; a high school degree, but no college; or some college or more.8. Parent’s employment is the employ-ment level of the parent in the household who maintained the highest level of employment in the previous year. Parents can either have no employment in the previous year, part-year or part-time employment, or full-time, year-round employment. Part-year or part-time em-ployment is defined as either working less than 50 weeks in the previous year or less than 35 hours per week. Full-time, year-round employment is defined as working at least 50 weeks in the previous year and 35 hours or more per week for more than half the year.9. Aratani, Yumiko. (2009). Homeless chil-dren and youth. New York, NY: National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.10. People can report more than one type of insurance coverage. Children not cov-ered by private or public health insurance at the time of the survey are considered uninsured.11. Schwarz, Susan Wile. (2009). Adoles-cent mental health in the United States. New York, NY: National Center for Chil-dren in Poverty, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.For comparable information about all children, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Under 18 Year, 2011, or about infants and toddlers, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Under 3 Years, 2011, or about young children, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Under 6 Years, 2011, or about adolescent children, see Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Aged 12 through 17 Years, 2011. 

Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Aged 6 through 11 Years, 2011

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Basic Facts About Low-income Children: Children Aged 6 through 11 Years, 2011

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