Children raised in intact two-parent households perform better academically and experience lower rates of depression than peers from other family structures, a new study shows. The findings indicate family stability may influence student outcomes more than race, poverty, or other commonly discussed factors.
Two-parent households linked to stronger academic performance
The study, co-authored by Ian Rowe, Brad Wilcox, and Grant Bailey, examined data from the National Survey of Children’s Health. It defined an intact family as one where a child lives with both biological or adoptive parents who are married and share a home.
Students from non-intact households—those with single parents, stepfamilies, or cohabiting couples—were 13% less likely to earn high grades. They also faced a 47% higher chance of behavioral or academic issues reported to parents and were more than twice as likely to report depression.
Rowe, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, stated the disparities remain even after accounting for race and income. “Family structure predicts school problems, academic performance, and depression more strongly than race and poverty,” he said. “Yet it’s rarely part of public discussions about student outcomes.”
Data exists—but isn’t reported
Rowe explained that while some assessments ask students about their household members, the results have never been released publicly.
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Rowe clarified the goal isn’t to assign blame but to recognize a pattern that could improve policies. “Ignoring this factor means missing a chance to help kids,” he said.
The hesitation to discuss family structure partly stems from concerns about stigmatizing single parents. Rowe pointed to the backlash against Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s 1965 report on the Black family, which was criticized for highlighting the rise of single-parent households. “There’s fear that acknowledging this data will lead to unfair judgments,” he said. “But ignoring it harms the children we aim to support.”
If the pattern holds, it could change how schools and policymakers address achievement gaps. Most efforts focus on race, income, or school resources, while family stability receives little attention. Public data might force a conversation about an uncomfortable but consistent finding: children do better in low-conflict, two-parent homes, regardless of background.
Policy shifts could follow
Rowe and Peterson argued that reporting the data could broaden the discussion. “When the government only publishes analyses by race or class, it suggests those are the only factors that matter,” Rowe said. “That limits the debate before it starts.”
Some states have already taken action. Ohio and Utah now include family structure in their education reports. “States test new approaches,” Peterson said. “If they succeed, the federal government may adopt them.”
The study also examined the “success sequence”—life milestones tied to economic stability. Young adults who finish high school, work full-time, marry before having children, and delay parenthood until their mid-20s have a 97% chance of avoiding poverty. Rowe’s organization teaches this framework in school programs, encouraging students to consider how their future family choices might shape their lives.
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“We can’t change the family a child grows up in,” Rowe said. “But we can help them think about the family they build.”
The decline in intact families spans all demographics. In 1960, 88% of children lived with two parents. By the 1990s, that number fell to 70% and hasn’t rebounded. Today, 70% of white children and 30% of Black children live in intact households. Among Asian families, the rate reaches nearly 80%.
“This affects everyone,” Rowe said. “It’s not just about race or class. It’s about the choices society makes.”
Peterson noted an upcoming Harvard conference on homeschooling, where many participants come from intact families, could provide further insights. The larger question remains how to support all families while acknowledging the benefits of stability.
“We’re not saying every child needs two parents to succeed,” Rowe said. “But the evidence is clear: on average, it makes a difference. That’s worth discussing.”
