#Washington, D.C. #Pediatric Care #U.S. News #Best Children's Hospitals

U.S. News Announces the 2025-2026 Best Children's Hospitals

U.S. News & World Report has unveiled its highly anticipated annual rankings of children's hospitals for the 2025-2026 academic year. This marks the 19th edition of the Best Children's Hospitals, a resource that aids parents and caregivers in identifying top-quality pediatric care for their children. Since its inception in 2007, these rankings have served as a vital tool for families navigating the complex landscape of pediatric healthcare.

The evaluation this year includes assessments from 86 notable pediatric hospitals across the United States, along with a second annual appraisal of programs focusing on pediatric and adolescent behavioral health. This new focus reflects the increasing recognition of mental health issues among younger populations. According to Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News, nearly one in five U.S. children are grappling with a mental, emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorder, and it's critical for families to have access to the best resources.

Rankings Overview
U.S. News has categorized the hospitals according to 11 pediatric specialties, ensuring parents have a wide array of options to consult. This year's ranking considers factors such as clinical outcomes, compliance with best practices, and the quality of hospital resources related to patient care, making it essential for parents to consider the Best designation as an indicator of excellence.

Some of the highlighted pediatric specialties include Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cancer, and Neonatology. Below are some of the top-ranked hospitals by region:

• - Mid-Atlantic:

- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Children's National Hospital (Washington, D.C.)

• - Midwest:

- Cincinnati Children's
- Nationwide Children's Hospital (Columbus)

• - New England:

- Boston Children's Hospital

• - Pacific:

- Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Rady Children's Hospital (San Diego)
- Seattle Children's Hospital

• - Rocky Mountain:

- Children's Hospital Colorado

• - Southeast:

- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

• - Southwest:

- Texas Children's Hospital (Houston)

Specialties Highlight
The 2025-2026 rankings also spotlight specific specialties. For example, in Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital leads, while Cincinnati Children’s excels in Pediatric Cancer care. Boston Children’s Hospital tops the list for Neonatology, emphasizing its commitment to providing exceptional care for the most vulnerable patients.

Honor Roll: The following ten hospitals have made it to the Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll for their distinguished offerings:

• - Boston Children's Hospital
• - Children's Hospital Colorado
• - Children's Hospital Los Angeles
• - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• - Children's National Hospital
• - Cincinnati Children's
• - Nationwide Children's Hospital
• - Rady Children's Hospital
• - Seattle Children's Hospital
• - Texas Children's Hospital

This year’s evaluation was conducted in partnership with RTI International, a recognized research firm, validating the rigorous data collection and analysis from 118 children's hospitals and feedback from thousands of pediatric specialists.

Families looking to navigate pediatric care can access the full rankings on USNews.com, where a wealth of information is available, including a Doctor Finder tool to help locate qualified pediatricians in various specialties. The comprehensive rankings will also be featured in the upcoming **U.S. News & World Report's