Parents seeking care for a child with a rare disease or a complex surgery have a new edition of one of the most closely watched hospital rankings. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, U.S. News & World Report named 11 hospitals to its 2026-2027 Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll, including newcomers Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Fierce Healthcare reported. Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, which was on last year's list, did not return.
Many families may not know how the scores are built. More than half of each hospital's score comes from structural measures and processes, which include patient safety practices and how clinical resources are allocated. About a third, depending on the specialty, reflects patient outcomes, and 10% or less comes from physician survey opinion.
That formula shapes what a ranking can tell a parent. It reflects hospital-wide systems and results, not how a particular child will do with a particular care team.
Eleven Hospitals Across Eight States and Washington, D.C.
Along with Lurie and UPMC, the Honor Roll includes Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. It also includes Cincinnati Children's, Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, Seattle Children's Hospital, and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. U.S. News lists Honor Roll hospitals alphabetically rather than in numbered order, so no single hospital is named best overall.
The list usually has 10 hospitals. "Generally, we honor 10 hospitals on our honor roll," U.S. News health data scientist Jennifer Winston told Chief Healthcare Executive, explaining that a tie allowed an 11th hospital this year. Winston said every Honor Roll hospital ranked among the top 50 in every specialty U.S. News evaluated.
This 20th edition of the Best Children's Hospitals rankings evaluated clinical data from 114 of 199 eligible children's hospitals, according to Fierce Healthcare. In all, 90 hospitals in 34 states and Washington, D.C., received recognition, U.S. News said in its announcement.
Specialty leaders are spread across several major metro areas. Boston Children's ranked first in seven of the 10 ranked specialties, while Texas Children's led in cardiology and heart surgery and in diabetes and endocrinology. Children's Health Dallas-Scottish Rite for Children ranked first in orthopedics.
Regional results may be the most useful for families who want care closer to home. Lurie, Cincinnati Children's, and Nationwide tied for first in the Midwest, while Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's National, and UPMC tied in the Mid-Atlantic. Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Seattle Children's shared the top Pacific spot, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta led the Southeast. Children's Hospital Colorado topped the Rocky Mountain region, Texas Children's led the Southwest, and Boston Children's led New England.
Scores Built Mostly on Structure and Safety
U.S. News worked with RTI International, a North Carolina-based research firm, to analyze the data. Hospitals provide clinical information through a detailed survey that covers measures such as patient safety, infection prevention, and nurse staffing, and part of each score comes from surveys of pediatric specialists. U.S. News evaluates 11 specialty areas, including pediatric and adolescent behavioral health, which Fierce describes as an unranked Top 50 list.
Structural measures matter because safety systems and staffing can affect complications and infections. Still, they are not the same as results for a specific condition, and outcomes make up only about a third of a score. The rankings are a media organization's analysis of hospital-reported data and specialist surveys, not a peer-reviewed clinical study.
There is also a coverage gap. Because clinical data came from 114 of 199 eligible hospitals, a children's hospital that does not appear on a list is not automatically a weaker choice. Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News, said the evaluation offers "a clear starting point for parents and referring pediatricians alike."
Using the Rankings Without Overreading Them
For most childhood illnesses, a local pediatrician or community hospital is still the right first stop. U.S. News says the rankings are meant to help families of children with serious illnesses or rare conditions and that a recognized hospital may be worth considering together with the family's own medical provider.
Families in large metro areas without an Honor Roll hospital, such as San Diego, Phoenix, Miami, or Dallas, can check the state and regional rankings U.S. News publishes alongside the national list. Winston said families can use those rankings as a starting point when talking with their doctor and noted that getting treatment close to home matters, according to Fierce.
Parents considering a ranked hospital can ask how many children with their child's condition the team treats each year and what its own outcome data show. They should also confirm that the hospital and its specialists are in their insurance network, since out-of-network care can lead to large bills. Hospital financial counselors can often explain Medicaid, CHIP, or payment options before treatment begins.
Emergencies are different. A child with trouble breathing, a seizure, a serious injury, or signs of severe dehydration should go to the nearest emergency department or get help through 911, rather than being driven hours to a ranked hospital. For a youth mental health crisis, families can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The rankings will also appear in U.S. News' Best Hospitals 2027 Guidebook. Families should check the specialty list for their child's condition rather than relying on the Honor Roll alone, since a child's care team, insurance coverage, and travel distance still shape the real choice.
Key Questions Answered
Which hospitals made the 2026-2027 Honor Roll? The list includes Lurie Children's, Boston Children's, Children's Hospital Colorado, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Children's National. It also includes Cincinnati Children's, Nationwide Children's, Seattle Children's, Texas Children's, and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
What changed from last year? Lurie and UPMC joined the Honor Roll, and Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego is no longer on it. A tie expanded the list from the usual 10 hospitals to 11.
How are the scores calculated? More than half of each score comes from structural measures such as patient safety practices and clinical resources. About a third reflects outcomes, depending on the specialty, and 10% or less comes from physician surveys.
Does a missing hospital mean worse care? Not necessarily. Clinical data came from 114 of 199 eligible hospitals, so a hospital's absence alone is not proof of lower quality.
Should parents travel to a ranked hospital? For serious, rare, or complex conditions, a ranked hospital may be worth discussing with a child's doctor. Insurance coverage, travel costs, and the team's experience with the specific condition also matter.
Where should a child go in an emergency? Go to the nearest emergency department or call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
