9 FL Children’s Hospitals Among Nation’s Best: U.S. News Rankings

Nine children’s hospitals in Florida have been named among the best in the country in a new U.S. News & World Report ranking released Tuesday.

The 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals report released Tuesday includes both national and state and regional rankings. They are intended as a guide to assist parents and caregivers, along with their physicians, as they navigate the challenges of finding the best possible care for children with serious illnesses or complex medical needs.

For the second year, it includes an evaluation of the Best Children’s Hospitals for Pediatric & Adolescent Behavioral Health, in which U.S. News evaluated hospitals for their care of children and teens in mental and behavioral health conditions such as autism, anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, language and learning disorders and substance abuse and addiction.

Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News, pointed out data that shows 1 in 5 U.S. children has a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder, and nearly 1 in 3 youth ages 12-17 are navigating a mental or behavioral health condition.

“U.S. News’ continued evaluation of the top hospitals for pediatric and adolescent behavioral health empowers families with the information they need to make the most informed decisions for their child’s well-being and health,” Harder said.

Six of Florida's hospitals were ranked among the top 50 nationally for behavioral health services in the 2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. Here’s how Florida hospitals performed:

• Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg
• Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, top 50 for behavorial health
• Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, top 50 for behavorial health
• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at Memorial, Hollywood, top 50 for behavorial health
• UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, Jacksonville, top 50 for behavorial health
• Nemours Children's Hospital-Florida, Orlando, top 50 for behavorial health
• Holtz Children's Hospital at UM-Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Miami
• Wolfson Children's Hospital, Jacksonville, top 50 for behavorial health
• AdventHealth for Children, Orlando

While the top-performing children’s hospital in Florida, Johns Hopkins ranked fourth in the Southeast.

“We are honored by this recognition most importantly for what it means for the families who depend on us,” Alicia Schulhof, president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s, said in a news release. “Providing for the health and safety of children throughout our community is our mission. Our team is dedicated to providing the best care possible and discovering new ways to give children brighter futures.”

The top five hospitals by selected specialties are:

Pediatric Cancer
1. Cincinnati Children's
2. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
4. Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora)
5. Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus, Ohio)

Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery
1. Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)
2. Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora)
3. Duke Children's Hospital and Health Center (Durham, North Carolina)
4. MUSC Children's Heart Network of South Carolina (Charleston, South Carolina)
5. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Neonatology
1. Boston Children's Hospital
2. Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)
3. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford (Palo Alto, California)
4. Cincinnati Children's
5. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Pediatric Neurology & Neurosurgery
1. Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)
2. Boston Children's Hospital
3. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
4. Children's National Hospital (Washington, D.C.)
5. Cincinnati Children's

Pediatric Orthopedics
1. Children’s Medical Center Dallas-Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center
2. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3. Cincinnati Children's
4. Children's Hospital Los Angeles
5. (tie) Boston Children's Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)

2025-2026 Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll
(Hospitals garnering rankings in multiple specialties, listed alphabetically)

Boston Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital Colorado (Aurora)
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's National Hospital (Washington, D.C.)
Cincinnati Children's
Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus, Ohio)
Rady Children's Hospital (San Diego)
Seattle Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)