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Facts
and Statistics
Literacy Estimates - State and County Level
The National
Institute for Literacy distributed
the publication entitled "The State of Literacy in
America" in 1998. This publication includes a compilation of
literacy proficiency estimates at the national, state,
congressional district and county levels. Dr. Stephen Reder, the
Portland State University researcher hired by the U. S. Department
of Education to conduct the study, calculated the estimates of
adult literacy proficiency by analyzing previous national literacy
studies (National Adult Literacy Survey) and comparing the primary
indicators for literacy found in those earlier studies to local
statistics provided by the Census Bureau.
Literacy skills were
measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with Level 5 reflecting the highest
skills and Level 1, the lowest. Generally, those adults
who score at Level 1 have difficulty performing such everyday
tasks as locating an intersection on a street map, reading and
comprehending a short newspaper article, or calculating total
costs on an order form. "The State of Literacy in
America" provides statistics on only those who scored at
Level 1.
West Virginia Statistics - State Level
West Virginia
ranked 33rd, tied with 3 other states, on the lowest percentage of
adults at Level 1 literacy. The report estimates that 20% of West
Virginia adults function at Level 1, compared to the national
average of 22%. Level 1 literacy rates for all 50 states ranged
from 11% (Alaska, Utah and Wyoming) to 37% (District of Columbia).
Fourteen states showed a higher percentage of adults at Level 1
compared to West Virginia.
West Virginia Statistics - Congressional Districts
District 1 18% at Level
1
District 2 19% at Level
1
District 3 24% at Level
1
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