10 stats you should know about Philly’s early literacy crisis and movement

DATA

Mar 30

The nation's early literacy crisis and its effects here in Philly are too dire to ignore.

Reading is the foundation of school and life success. When a child reads below grade level, it impacts their ability to learn every subject. The frustration often leads to increased behavioral issues and decreases the likelihood of high school graduation. From crashing confidence to stunting opportunities, the effects of literacy reach far beyond the classroom. But the story doesn’t end there.

Use these statistics to learn a bit more about Philly’s early literacy crisis and the many things happening in Philly to fight it. These are more than just numbers—they're someone's child struggling to get through a chapter, advocates working tirelessly to shake up broken systems, bright spots worth celebrating, and an opportunity to call for change.

71% of fourth graders in Philadelphia are not reading at grade level

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Education and Elevate 215

Philly schools rank fourth from the bottom in reading of the 26 big-city districts

SOURCE: NAEP Reading Assessment

52% of adults in Philadelphia are functionally illiterate

SOURCE: Achieve Now

65% of Philly families report reading almost every day or more

SOURCE: Philly School Experience Survey

1,000+ Reading Captains are helping families in their community raise strong readers, one conversation at a time

SOURCE: Reading Captains, Global Citizen

44 Playful Learning installations are sparking curiosity and fun across Philadelphia.

SOURCE: Playful Learning Fellow, City of Philadelphia

54 public libraries serve the City of Philadelphia

SOURCE: Free Library of Philadelphia

4 affordable, after-school programs offer high-impact tutoring in Philadelphia

SOURCE: K-3 Out-of-School-Time Reading Support in Philadelphia, Strategic Roadmap, Bloom, 2021

1 certified librarian serves in the School District of Philadelphia—a system with over 120,000 students

SOURCE: National Center on Education Statistics, 2021-2022 SY

14 universities in Pennsylvania have committed to training the next generation of teachers in the Science of Reading by getting accredited in IDA’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading

SOURCE: International Dyslexia Association

Everyone has a role to play to grow strong readers.
Let’s find yours.

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