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

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.