Current Data
Sections
Financial Security
Key Points:
- Increase in labor force
- Texas ranks low in child and economic well-being, health, and in family and community.
Youth Opportunity
Key Points:
- The 2020 pandemic still negatively affects reading proficiency.
- Many children are not read to at home, impacting their reading progression.
- LISD is in a deficit for school funding.
Community Resiliency
Key Points:
- Texas saw a significant increase in infant mortality.
- Lubbock had a total of 603 perpetrators of abuse in 2023.
- There were significant decreases in crime rates in Lubbock from 2022 to 2023.
Healthy Communities
Key Points:
- 13.5% of Lubbock County is without healthcare coverage.
- Lubbock has the highest rate of youth suicide attempts.
Financial Security
Lubbock County saw an increase in employment. However, there was an increase in homelessness and Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE) households. Many individuals are struggling to keep up with rising costs due to inflation.
Over 1/4th
Of population is aged 21-34.
(any race)
62,600
ALICE Households (2022)
By evaluating our community’s needs, we seek opportunities to provide ALICE households with the resources necessary to ensure job security, education, and support.
Improve job quality and employment opportunities for those looking for jobs.
Improve education and training opportunities for people below the ALICE threshold.
Ensure retirement is possible for seniors below the ALICE threshold.
Support solutions that help people who want to enter the labor force.
Unemployment
180%
Increase in Goodwill Career Resource Center clients (since 2022).
5,156+
Workers employed over the last 12 months (Employer Survey, 2023).
2,600+
Workers employed over past 12 months (Employer Survey, 2023)
Lubbock National Bank Economic Analysis (December 2023)
Unemployment (May 2023 – May 2024)
| Month | Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| January 2023 | 3.7 |
| February 2023 | 3.8 |
| March 2023 | 3.6 |
| April 2023 | 2.9 |
| May 2023 | 3.2 |
| June 2023 | 3.7 |
| July 2023 | 3.8 |
| August 2023 | 3.6 |
| September 2023 | 3.2 |
| October 2023 | 3.1 |
| November 2023 | 2.9 |
| December 2023 | 2.7 |
| January 2024 | 3.4 |
| February 2024 | 3.7 |
| March 2024 | 3.6 |
| April 2024 | 2.8 |
| May 2024 | 3.2 |
Lubbock County Needs
2-1-1 Needs/Services
Top requests for 2023:
Housing & Shelter (23.2%)
- Rent Assistance (49%)
- Low Cost Housing (24.1%)
- Repair & Maintenance (14.1%)
- Shelters (9.8%)
Food (26%)
- Help Buying Food (48.1%)
- Food Pantries (47.1%)
Utilities (18.1%)
- Electric (71.6%)
- Gas (12.8%)
- Water (9.6%)
Kids Count Databook State Rankings (TX)
43rd
Overall Child Well-Being (2024)
41st
Economic Well-Being (2024)
25th
Education (2024)
48th
Health (2024)
47th
Family & Community (2024)
Housing
Homeownership & Rent
132,209
Total Housing Units
119,463
Occupied
- Owner Occupied (69,035)
- Renter Occupied (58,844)
54%
Homeownership Rate
$1,103
Median Gross Rent in Lubbock County
Homelessness
PIT Count stands for the Point in Time Count for homelessness in Lubbock. We have seen a 35% increase in chronic homelessness in our community due to a myriad of reasons, some of which include cost of housing, lack of programming, and services not being coordinated.
35%
Increase in PIT count (2024)
240
2023 PIT Count
320
2024 PIT Count
Youth Opportunity
The future of our next generation depends on our commitment to providing the resources not only necessary to survive, but to succeed. Youth opportunity evaluates developmental and environmental factors that impact children in Lubbock.
| School District | Accountability Rating | Total Students | Avg. Teacher Experience | 4-Year Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lubbock ISD | B | 25,551 | 10.4 Years | 90.5% |
| Lubbock-Cooper ISD | N/A | 7,575 | 11.1 Years | 98.9% |
| Frenship ISD | A | 10,860 | 12.9 Years | 98.3% |
| Idalou ISD | A | 1,003 | 15.5 Years | 100% |
| New Deal ISD | B | 725 | 13.1 Years | 100% |
| Shallowater ISD | A | 1,745 | 14.8 Years | 100% |
| Slaton ISD | B | 1,279 | 10.1 Years | 100% |
| Abernathy ISD | A | 820 | 16.4 Years | 96.8% |
| Roosevelt ISD | B | 1,110 | 9.5 Years | 95.8% |
Kindergarten Readiness
Getting children ready for school is about so much more than enrolling them in quality childcare before entering Kindergarten. It requires a multifaceted approach of households having sufficient resources to thrive day-to-day, good health and development for children and women, and access to enriching early learning experiences.
From Birth to Age Six
A child’s brain develops more than at any other time in life.
1,000,000+
New neural connections are created every second
"The brain develops through everyday experiences & positive interactions with parents & caregivers."
75% of Children
in Texas under age six are not read to every day by their familes
750+
Families came to the 2nd Quality Day of Play
In 2024, the South Plains Early Childhood Education Coalition, with Texas Workforce, PBS, and United Way, hosted the 2nd Quality Day of Play. Families and caregivers were invited to bring their children to learn what quality play looks like, and access resources and childcare options. United Way and the South Plains Early Childhood Education Coalition have worked on many Kindergarten Readiness projects, including caregiver and family facing checklists to ensure children are prepared for Kindergarten.
3rd Grade Reading Level (Region 17)
51%
3rd Grade Students were at Meets Grade Level or Above (2022-2023)
46%
4th Grade Students were at Meets Grade Level or Above (2022-2023)
“By fourth grade, mastery of reading becomes key to keeping up in every subject. Children who are not proficient readers by this time are less likely to finish high school, enroll in college or keep pace with the earnings of their peers.” (Kids Count, 2024)
School Readiness Dashboard, Kids Count
Access To Affordable Childcare
$10,600
Average annual cost of care for one child in the U.S. (2023)
220%
Rise in child care costs since 1990.
“Despite gains in recent years, our country is still failing to deliver early childhood education to more than half of its children (54%).”
“High costs burden families, yet child care workers themselves, virtually all women and disproportionately women of color, are poorly paid and often unsupported on the job.”
Student Success
Pandemic Effects On Education
“The pandemic erased decades’ worth of progress that the nation had made in fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math proficiency. In 2022, 74% of eighth-graders were not proficient in math, the worst figure in the last two decades.” (Kids Count, 2023)
66%
4th Graders not Proficient in Reading (2019)
68%
4th Graders not Proficient in Reading (2022)
67%
8th Graders not Proficient in Math (2019)
74%
7th Graders not Proficient in Math (2022)
Region 17 Statistics
46%
Met grade level in 4th grade reading
39%
Met grade level in 8th grade math
The Roots of Learning Challenges
“Too few children are emerging from our high schools ready to earn, in large part because they are not arriving at the schoolhouse door ready to learn. Learning readiness entails much more than preparing a child to begin primary school at kindergarten, although the early years are particularly important. To meet educational milestones, kids of all ages and grades must have what they need to learn each day, from enough food and sleep to a safe way to get to school to support such as tutoring and mental health services.” (Kids Count, 2024)
5.4 Million
Total Students are in Texas Public Schools.
53.5%
Are are at risk for dropping out.
23,408
Elementary school kids are identified as homeless
6,410
Children with case management during the 2022-2023 school year.
“Many underlying causes of chronic absence long predate the pandemic; these include housing insecurity, poverty, unmet basic needs, health issues and student disengagement. However, early research indicates that the pandemic both exacerbated existing attendance challenges and introduced new ones: rising anxiety and other mental health issues, as well as sensitivity among schools, parents and children about students going to school with symptoms of illness.”
Investing in Public Education
School Funding
By September 30th, 2024, states must draw down funding from the $190 billion federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program authorized by several pandemic-era relief bills.
“Public schools serve the public and are funded by the public. This means that all students have access to free schools, regardless of their race, family income or socioeconomic background, religion, citizenship status, or gender. Free public schools enable us to know that any child can learn to read, write, do math and understand important subjects like science and history.” (IDRA)
Community Resiliency
“In 2021, the child and teen death rate was 30 deaths per 100,000 children and youths ages 1 to 19, the highest rate seen since 2007.” (Kids Count, 2023)
Human Trafficking
HB 2313. – to provide training for transportation network companies (TNCs), like Uber and Lyft, so their drivers know how to recognize and report the trafficking of car passengers. SB 1527 – lots of changes (See 88th Legislative Report for highlights)
School & Program Safety
HB 1905 - allows Independent School Districts to open the door to training to the community at districts’ discretion. This bill maximizes taxpayer dollars and evidence-based practices and allows organizations that serve children an opportunity to better protect children, teachers, and staff.
Children’s Advocacy Center provided therapy for over 175 children and 65 adults in 2023. Their community outreach and in-school education and prevention programs reached over 15,000 students.
Child Abuse & Neglect
Infant Mortality
The Parenting Cottage Parents as Teachers program served over 300 families in the past year with education and tools to ensure safety, learning, and better environments for children to grow up.
30+ States
States saw at least slight rises in infant mortality rates (2022)
4 States
States saw a significant increases in infant mortality rates (Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, & Texas)
Lubbock County Statistics
- Neglectful Supervision - 558 (69%)
- Physical Abuse - 109 (13.6%)
- Sexual Abuse - 76 (9.3%)
- Physical Neglect - 41 (5.0%)
- Medical Neglect - 9 (1%)
- Sex Trafficking - 1 (.13%)
- Other (includes Abandonment, Emotional Abuse, Refusal to Accept Parental Responsibility): 10 - 1.25% - 1 (.13%)
- 0-3 years - 309 Victims (42% of total victims)
- 0-5 years - 401 Victims (55% of total victims)
- 6-10 years - 173 Victims (24% of total victims)
- Over age 10 - 161 Victims (22% of total victims)
- Region 2 - Abilene (19.99)
- Region 5 - Beaumont (12.47)
- Region 4 - Tyler (12.32)
- Region 1 - Lubbock (10.39)
Total of 603 perpetrators
- Known by victim (95%)
- Were parents of child victim (76%)
- Were other family members (10%)
- Were parent's partner (7%)
- Were grandparents of victim (2%)
Domestic Violence
1,500
Clients assisted with protective orders, wills, and other family legal services by the Family Legal Services of the South Plains.
1 in 3
Texans will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
80%
Of protective orders are effective in reducing future violence. (Texas Advocacy Project.)
16-24
Year old girls and young women experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, almost triple the national average.
Trafficking
10,359
Situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Hotline (The Polaris Project)
600 Clients
provided with therapy, crisis intervention, and case management by Voice of Hope in 2023.
"Texas has the highest reported number of human trafficking cases in the country." (Texas Advocacy Project)
Crime in Lubbock
Citations, Traffic Stops, and Arrests.
ACEs
2 in 5 Children
have undergone an adverse childhood experience (ACE) experiences. (Kids Count 2024)
“Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). Examples include: Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect, or witnessing violence in the home or community.” (CDC)
Healthy Communities
Lubbock has a higher likelihood of facing barriers to obtaining health care, confronting food insecurity, and mental health professional shortages. Addressing these issues head on promotes healthier individuals and families, setting them up for further success.
Maternal Health
Women With Births In the Past 12 Months
76
Age 15 to 19 Years
2,423
Age 20-34 Years
1,074
Age 35 to 50 Years
“Nearly 1-2 of Texas women of childbearing age with low income do not have health insurance…Texas has the highest percentage of adult women (age 19 to 44) with low incomes do not have health insurance.” (Texas School Readiness Dashboard)
Of these with low income, Hispanic women or most likely to be uninsured.
At Lubbock Children’s Health Clinic, all children can be seen regardless of insurance. If a child needs to be seen for a non-emergency reason, Lubbock Children’s Health Clinic will see patients for a sliding scale fee, that can start as low as $0.
Mental Health
98%
of Texas' 254 counties were wholly or partially designated by the federal government as "mental health professional shortage areas." (Texas Tribune)
"Texas ranks dead last when it comes to access to children's mental health services and 33rd for adult care..." (Mental Health America)
2,000+
People in Texas jails and prisons were waiting for a bed in the state hospital system.
Less than 20%
of Texas' mental health providers speak in languages other than English (2023)
Lubbock Support
In 2023 Family Counseling Services in Lubbock trained 28 master’s level graduate students, 25 Licensed Professional Counselor Interns, 12 Licensed Professional Counselors, and contracted 6 Licensed Professional Counselors learned about private practice by working with FCS to provide services.
Along with many United Way partner agencies, Family Counseling Services provides counseling sessions in Spanish if needed, and can obtain translators for other languages.
Suicide
“Lubbock has the highest rate of youth suicide attempts for children between 6-17 years old.” (Texas Tribune)
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between 15-34 years old in Texas, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Treatment is increasingly hard to find and afford across the state, which has created a problem as the state continues to grow.” (Texas Tribune)
Access to Healthcare
Insurance
81%
Disenrollments from Medicaid were due to procedural denials (Texans Care for Children)
13.5% of Lubbock
County without health care coverage (U.S. Census Bureau)
Food Insecurity
“Hunger is primarily a symptom of economic insecurity. A household income that can’t keep pace with the cost of living combined with unexpected expenses like a car accident or medical emergency can force families to make impossible choices between food and other basic needs. Children, seniors, and people of color bear some of the greatest consequences.” (Feeding Texas)
1/8 Texans
Experience food insecurity
20% Texas Children
Experience hunger
11% Senior Households
In Texas face food insecurity
Lubbock Support
Catholic Charities Diocese has implemented a community food pantry to help Lubbock meet its growing need for food security.
Food insecurity in early childhood is associated with poorer academic and behavioral outcomes in Kindergarten. SNAP “reduces the number of children who have to skip meals and is linked to improved birth outcomes, increased health care access among children, and improved child health.” Yet 1 in 4 eligible Texas families with children are not receiving SNAP.
Next Steps
Upcoming Opportunities:
$33 Billion TX Budget Surplus
Other Legislative Updates
211 Expansion Project
Child Tax Credit & Earned Income tax credit
Childcare expenses & CCS
SNAP - Farm Bill
Key Takeaways
Despite a notable reduction in the poverty rate from 17.9% to 14% over the past decade, Texas still exceeds the national average, ranking 11th among all states and the District of Columbia in 2022. Lubbock has seen a 5% increase in poverty and ALICE populations since 2021. Almost half of Lubbock County households struggle to make ends meet each month.
Poverty rates are particularly high among specific demographic groups. Between 2012 and 2022, children showed the most improvement, though 1 in 5 children are still living in poverty, putting them at a higher risk than any other age group. Additionally, the state has also seen a 57% increase in the ALICE population among people over 65 in the past 10 years.
Texas ranks 43rd for overall child well-being
Since 2011, the total number of individuals experiencing homelessness captured through the annual Point In Time (PIT) Count has decreased by 34.7%. These individuals make up less than 1% of the Lubbock County population (0.08).
In 2023, according to 211, the top three service requests were for Housing (Housing & Shelter (23.2%), Food (26%), and Utilities (18.1%).
Community-based Care in Lubbock County served 2,016 children in 2023. However, there is still a foster care shortage in the South Plains.
Texas saw a 1% increase overall for the 2022-2023 school year for the number of students who were grade-level readers by 3rd grade while Region 17 surpassed the state at a rate of 51%.
Online Recruitment for sex and human trafficking increased 22% in 2020. The most significant increases were seen on Facebook (125% increase) and Instagram (95% increase).
The top three confirmed allegations of child abuse and neglect for 2023 were Neglectful Supervision (69%), Physical Abuse (13.6%), and Sexual Abuse (9.3%) . Often, neglectful supervision is a result of parental drug use.
The murder rate in Lubbock County saw a 38% decrease between 2022 and 2023.
The U.S. surgeon general has called a “mental health pandemic” for youth.
Lubbock County had a 500% increase in the number of reported Syphilis cases from 2019 – 2023.
Sources
| 2-1-1 |
|---|
| Children at Risk |
| County Health Rankings |
| Feeding Texas |
| Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA) |
| Kids Count Databook |
| Living Wage Institute (living wage calculator) |
| Lubbock National Bank, Lubbock Economic Analysis |
| Lubbock Economic Development Alliance |
| Point in Time Count |
| Polaris Project |
| South Plains Food Bank |
| South Plains Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention (SPCCAP) |
| Texans Care for Children |
| Texas Advocacy Project |
| The AP |
| The Perryman Group |
| United for ALICE |
| United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics |
| United States Census Bureau American Community Survey |
| United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Texas Demographic Center |
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