LAFAYETTE — A comprehensive review of state-level progress released by Tulane University’s Murphy Institute has placed Louisiana 51st in a ranking that measures long-term trends across dozens of indicators. The first-ever State of the States report draws on 31 measures dating back to 1990 to create a picture of how states have changed, and how they compare today.
What the report measured and why it matters
Researchers assembled a bipartisan panel of experts to decide which metrics to include and then compiled data from federal agencies, nonprofits and academic studies. The aim was not merely to produce a scoreboard, but to provide a factual foundation for public policy discussions by showing both performance and trends over time.
“There’s something happening in terms of social goods in Louisiana which is very, very positive,”
The study’s authors noted isolated bright spots in Louisiana — particularly gains in standardized test scores and some measures of residents’ self-reported well-being. But those pockets of progress were not enough to lift the state above the bottom of the overall ranking.
How Louisiana fared
The report rates states on multiple dimensions, including health, education and economic outcomes. Although the study highlights improvements in a few areas, it also underscores persistent challenges that hold the state back compared with national peers. The ranking places Louisiana 51st when comparing combined performance with all other states and the District of Columbia.
- Scope: 31 measures from 1990 onward.
- Method: Indicators approved by a bipartisan board requiring a 75% threshold for inclusion.
- Data sources: Federal, nonprofit and academic datasets.
| Indicator Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Health | Mortality, access to care |
| Education | Test score trends |
| Economy | Employment, income measures |
Local implications and next steps
For policymakers and community leaders across Louisiana, the report provides a consolidated look at where gains have been made and where urgent work remains. Education gains, while encouraging, raise questions about sustaining progress and translating better test scores into broader economic and health improvements. Advocates and officials can use the report as a baseline for targeted initiatives and for tracking whether reforms produce measurable change over coming years.
The authors designed the project to be a tool for public debate, not a definitive judgment. By charting both outcomes and trends, the report aims to help lawmakers and civic groups identify policies that could move the needle on long-standing disparities.
As Louisiana reacts to the findings, residents should expect conversations to center on how to bolster the areas where the state lags and how to preserve the modest improvements the report found. The Murphy Institute’s approach — combining long-term data with expert review — offers a template for tracking progress, but it will be up to local leaders to turn evaluation into action.
