Children In EG: Much Better Off Than Most Of State

For most children in East Greenwich, life is good, according to the R.I. Kids Count 2013 Factbook, released Monday. (There were 3,436 children in East Grenwich in the 2010 census. That's a drop from 3,564 children in 2000.) 

The average median income in East Greenwich is $150,000, compared to $68,500 statewide. The number of children who participate in the school breakfast program is 8 percent compared to 35 percent statewide. The teen birth rate is 5.8 percent, compared to 25.5 percent statewide. The high school graduation rate is at 94 percent, compared to 77 percent statewide. 

These are all facts presented in the R.I. Kids Count 2013 Factbook, a "statistical portrait" of the status of the state's children and youth. It's a stark reminder of how very well off EG children are compared to many children in Rhode Island. According to the Factbook, 65 percent of the state's poor children live in just four communities: Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. In total, there are 39,900 poor children in Rhode Island, 17.9 percent of all children.

Still, not all is well in East Greenwich. The Facebook states 8.2 percent of EG children live in families below the poverty level – that's up from 4.1 percent in 2000 (but the 8.2 percent figure is footnoted to read it has "a high margin of error due to small sample size"). 

The percentage of income-eligible children participating in WIC (a government program for "women, infants and children") went from 40 percent 2011 to 57 percent in 2012. Again, the small number of total participants means it doesn't take much change in overall numbers to bring about a big percentage change.

Another area of hardship noted in the 2013 Factbook was the average cost of rent in East Greenwich, which was $1,335 a month, compared to $1,176 statewide.

The number of children enrolled in special education was 14 percent, compared to 18 percent statewide. Those figures have stayed fairly consistent in recent years.

East Greenwich did see a rise in the number of children found to be abused and neglected. In 2008, that figure was 3.6 children per 1,000; in 2012, it had risen to 7.6 children per 1,000. That same statistic statewide saw an increase from 10.7 children per 1,000 in 2008 to 13.9 in 2012.

And there are more East Greenwich children receiving SNAP, or foodstamp, benefits in 2012 – 198 in total, compared to 134 in 2008.

The 2013 Factbook profile for East Greenwich is attached, right. To see the entire report, click here for the Rhode Island Kids Count 2012 Factbook. 

And, a fun EG fact about this year's Factbook: the girl being measured on the cover (pictured here) is none other than East Greenwich resident Hope Gee, daughter of Dana and Mark Gee.