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Posted: 5:07 PM Jan 8, 2009
W.Va. Fares OK in Adult Literacy, but Gaps Persist
Adult literacy rates have improved in West Virginia during the last two decades, but there are still big gaps between poorer, more rural counties and the rest of the state. WEB EXTRA: check out the county-by-county numbers
Reporter: Associated Press Email Address: news@wsaz.com |
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Adult literacy rates have improved in West Virginia during the last two decades, but there are still big gaps between poorer, more rural counties and the rest of the state.
Federal data released Thursday by the National Center for Education Statistics show state and county comparisons in adult literacy for the first time.
The data for 2003, the most recent year available, show that roughly 13 percent of adult West Virginians lack basic literacy skills like being able to read a newspaper article.
That puts the state in the middle of the pack nationally, and is an improvement from 1992, when the figure was 17 percent.
But rural counties like McDowell, Clay, and Lincoln lag behind. Literacy rates are highest in urban counties such as Putnam and Jefferson.
The counties with the highest and lowest rates in West Virginia are:
Highest percentage of adults without basic literacy:
1. McDowell County, 22 percent
2. Clay County, 19 percent
3. Lincoln County, 18 percent
3. Calhoun County, 18 percent
3. Webster County, 18 percent
Lowest percentage of adults without basic literacy:
1. Jefferson County, 10 percent
1. Putnam County, 10 percent
2. Cabell County, 11 percent
2. Monongalia County, 11 percent
2. Ohio County, 11 percent
2. Wood County, 11 percent
Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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