Boone Indicators Dashboard

Juvenile delinquency is the rate of substantiated referrals to the Missouri Juvenile and Family Division for delinquency or status offenses. Status offenses involve acts that are only illegal for children. In Boone County, black youth are almost seven times more likely to be referred to the juvenile division as white youth. According to their website, the purpose of the Juvenile Division of the 13th Judicial Circuit Family Court is to provide programs to help educate juveniles, yet hold them responsible for their actions.

The child poverty rate is the rate of children under the age of 18 who are in poverty, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. In the City of Columbia, black children have a poverty rate almost six times higher than white children. In Boone County, black children have a poverty rate more than four times higher than white children.

Infant mortality is the death of a baby before the baby’s first birthday. The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths that occur for every 1,000 live births. In Boone County, the infant mortality rate for black babies is two and a half times higher than the rate for white babies. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services identifies infant mortality as an important indicator used to measure the health and well-being of a community.

Heart disease mortality refers to the death rate by heart disease, the leading cause of death in the state and the nation. The rate is measured per 100,000 deaths. In Boone County, black individuals are one and a half times more likely to die from heart disease compared to white individuals.

Diabetes hospitalization refers to the rate of hospitalizations with diabetes as the principal diagnosis. The rate is measured per 10,000 hospitalizations. In Boone County, the rate of diabetes hospitalization for black individuals is almost four times higher than for white individuals. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to serious health complications and premature mortality.

Median Family Household Income is a measure of the average income of two or more related people living in a household. In both the City of Columbia and Boone County, the median family income for black families is just slightly more than half of the median family income for white families.

Third grade reading proficiency is a measure of 3^rd grade students who are proficient or advanced in English/Language Arts on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test. In Columbia Public Schools, black students are more than two and a half times less likely to score proficient or advanced on the assessment compared to white students. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education measures reading at the 3^rd grade level because it is closely associated with high school graduation and success later in life.

High school graduation rate is the number of students who graduate within four years with a high school diploma. In Columbia Public Schools, black students graduate at a rate 10% lower than white students. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education identifies high school graduation rates as one of the most important indicators of a school district’s success.