Reading Proficiency

The Reading Proficiency indicator measures the proportion of students at either the third or fourth grade with the ability to read at, or above, their grade level. By 3 years of age, there is a 30 million-word gap between children from the wealthiest and poorest families. Additionally, 34% of children entering kindergarten lack the basic language skills needed to learn how to read. That is why children with high reading levels by fourth grade are more likely to graduate from high school and have better health as they get older. High reading proficiency has been linked to a reduction in alcohol abuse, violence, diabetes, retinopathy, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, hospitalization, HIV, cancer, and asthma. Although featured in the Educational Opportunities domain, the Reading Proficiency indicator is also tied to the Employment Opportunities, Economic Health, Social Cohesion, Health Systems and Public Safety, and Neighborhood Characteristics domains. The Preschool Enrollment indicator is calculated from the Alabama State Department of Education.

Neighborhood Indicator Value Ranksort descending
Glen Iris 33.8% 1
South Titusville 33.8% 1
Fairview 23.2% 3
Druid Hills 22.9% 4
Penfield Park 22.4% 5
Inglenook 22.2% 6
Five Points South 22.1% 7
Woodland Park 21.1% 8
Roebuck 20.3% 9
Roebuck Springs 20.0% 10
Zion City 19.0% 11
Bush Hills 18.8% 12
Killough Springs 18.8% 12
Thomas 18.5% 14
Ensley Highlands 18.1% 15
Evergreen 18.1% 15
Fountain Heights 18.1% 15
Sherman Heights 17.8% 18
Dolomite 17.8% 18
Brownsville Heights 17.6% 20
Wylam 17.6% 20
Tuxedo 17.5% 22
Oak Ridge 17.5% 22
North Birmingham 16.8% 24
Ensley 16.5% 25
South East Lake 16.2% 26
East Birmingham 15.9% 27
Rising - West Princeton 14.9% 28
Sun Valley 14.8% 29
Maple Grove 14.8% 29
Brummitt Heights 14.8% 29
Echo Highlands 14.8% 29
Apple Valley 14.8% 29
Bridlewood 14.8% 29
Pine Knoll Vista 14.8% 29
Hooper City 14.7% 36
Central City 14.6% 37
Acipco-Finley 14.4% 38
Kingston 14.3% 39
Collegeville 13.7% 40
East Thomas 13.4% 41
Enon Ridge 13.4% 41
College Hills 13.4% 41
Liberty Highlands 13.1% 44
Wahouma 13.1% 44
Smithfield 13.1% 44
Woodlawn 13.1% 44
North Titusville 12.7% 48
Green Acres 12.5% 49
Central Park 12.5% 49
Graymont 12.2% 51
Spring Lake 11.8% 52
Huffman 11.8% 52
Harriman Park 10.8% 54
Fairmont 10.8% 54
North East Lake 10.6% 56
Central Pratt 10.5% 57
North Pratt 10.5% 57
Sandusky 10.5% 57
Smithfield Estates 10.5% 57
South Pratt 10.5% 57
Redmont Park 10.3% 62
Highland Park 10.3% 62
Crestline 10.3% 62
Crestwood South 10.3% 62
Forest Park 10.3% 62
Overton 10.3% 62
Brown Springs 10.0% 68
Norwood 10.0% 68
South Woodlawn 10.0% 68
East Lake 9.8% 71
Riley 9.2% 72
North Avondale 8.9% 73
East Avondale 8.9% 73
Southside 8.9% 73
Eastwood 8.4% 76
Crestwood North 8.4% 76
Oak Ridge Park 8.4% 76
Jones Valley 8.4% 76
Mason City 8.3% 80
Arlington - West End 8.3% 80
Airport Highlands 8.1% 82
West End Manor 7.6% 83
Powderly 7.0% 84
Oxmoor 7.0% 84
Germania Park 6.8% 86
Oakwood Place 6.8% 86
Gate City 6.5% 88
East Brownville 6.0% 89
Tarpley City 6.0% 89
Grasselli Heights 6.0% 89
Roosevelt 6.0% 89
West Brownville 6.0% 89
Hillman 6.0% 89
West Goldwire 6.0% 89
Hillman Park 6.0% 89
Industrial Center 6.0% 89
Garden Highlands 6.0% 89
Belview Heights 4.5% 99

Key Citations:
1. Barrington, Byron L. and Bryan Hendricks. “Differentiating Characteristics of High School Graduates, Dropouts, and Nongraduates” The Journal of Educational Research , Vol. 82, No. 6 (Jul. - Aug., 1989), pp. 309-319.
2. Berkman, Nancy D., et al. "Literacy and health outcomes: summary." (2004).
3. DeWalt, Darren A., et al. "Literacy and health outcomes." Journal of General Internal Medicine 19.12 (2004): 1228-1239.
4. Hernandez, Donald J. 2011. Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation. Baltimore, MD: Annie E. Casey Foundation. April.
5. Lloyd, Dee Norman. "Prediction of school failure from third-grade data." Educational and Psychological Measurement 38.4 (1978): 1193-1200.
6. Paasche-Orlow, Michael K., and Michael S. Wolf. "The causal pathways linking health literacy to health outcomes." American Journal of Health Behavior 31.Supplement 1 (2007): S19-S26.
7. Schillinger, Dean, et al. "Does literacy mediate the relationship between education and health outcomes? A study of a low-income population with diabetes." Public health reports 121.3 (2006): 245.