America’s Pulse listens deeper. We measure the state of our education, economy, public safety, environment, health, government efficiency, vulnerable populations, and our children – not to fuel political fights, but to illuminate reality.

Why? Every number tells a human story, and every story is a chance to move forward – with clarity, courage, and a shared stake in the future we’re building.

America’s Pulse relies on data collected by federal agencies from all 50 states. This data must follow consistent federal definitions and standards, is required by law, and undergoes audits and independent verification. It is publicly available and tested to ensure historical accuracy and comparability.

While no dataset is perfect, this rigorous, transparent process makes federal data the most reliable, standardized, and comparable source available for measuring state performance.

The Measures

Education

• 2-year Degree

• 4-year Degree

• Average ACT Score

• High School Graduation Rate

• K-8 Testing (4th)

• K-8 Testing (8th)

• Professional/Advanced Degrees

• SAT Mean

Economy

• Adult Poverty

• Child Poverty

• Economic Diversity

• GDP Growth Rate

• Homelessness

• Household Income

• Income Inequality

• Net Job Growth

• New Firms

• Real GDP

• Unemployment Rate

Voice of the Citizen

As users sign up, we collect their ZIP codes to identify and connect them with their elected officials.

Today, elected officials encounter people and engage in conversation, hold town halls, receive letters and phone calls – all random, and much of the feedback is anecdotal. The America’s Pulse app will regularly deliver to each elected official a summary of their constituents’ top priorities and comments, helping them stay informed about what the people they represent want them to focus on.

As we create this connection between citizens and their elected officials, we will learn more about how we can support it and deepen the interaction between citizens and those who represent them.