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.

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

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.