The Problem
·
The Research
·
The Solution

The Problem

When our children don’t have a strong foundation in literacy skills, reading and math, they will struggle in K-12, higher education and the workforce.

Over 40%

of our children cannot read by third grade.

Lisa Howard reading a book to children.
Children waiting for the bus.

1 in 6

kindergartners fell below the literacy benchmark.

When children cannot read, they cannot learn.

Too Many 3rd graders are not passing reading + cannot read proficiently by 3rd grade. Third grade is a critical benchmark.

Not enough of our schools are using EVIDENCE-BASED READING CURRICULUM and The Five Components of Reading instruction

Too few teachers learn about the science of reading in their preparation programs.

How Are Children in Your Community Doing?

Are our children on track? How are students doing in your area in kindergarten readiness, the 3rd grade reading and math SOL?

Virginia Readiness, Reading + Math Data

Data provided by VDOE and VKRP

County% Ready for Kindergarten (2024)3rd Grade Reading SOL Pass Rate (2023-24)3rd Grade Math SOL Pass Rate (2023-24)
Accomack County51%53%50%
Albemarle County55%70%69%
Alexandria City53%55%56%
Alleghany County60%68%77%
Amelia County61%38%57%
Amherst County61%65%63%
Appomattox County65%80%83%
Arlington County73%77%77%
Augusta County53%64%70%
Bath County80%77%74%
Bedford County61%69%77%
Bland County63%57%78%
Botetourt County67%85%85%
Bristol City57%59%58%
Brunswick County51%65%72%
Buchanan County51%74%72%
Buckingham County64%63%63%
Buena Vista City64%85%79%
Campbell County56%64%76%
Caroline County62%59%63%
Carroll County64%71%77%
Charles City County69%24%32%
Charlotte County64%73%88%
Charlottesville City64%64%60%
Chesapeake City68%74%79%
Chesterfield County60%65%68%
Clarke County77%63%72%
Colonial Beach59%66%77%
Colonial Heights City57%66%70%
Craig County53%57%77%
Culpeper County51%52%62%
Cumberland County72%61%77%
Danville City42%40%41%
Dickenson County58%72%90%
Dinwiddie County50%65%73%
Essex County46%46%74%
Fairfax County62%70%71%
Falls Church City73%84%84%
Fauquier County66%65%71%
Floyd County72%65%67%
Fluvanna County65%59%67%
Franklin City43%41%19%
Franklin County64%71%76%
Frederick County66%59%63%
Fredericksburg City49%41%43%
Galax City69%62%72%
Giles County49%58%49%
Gloucester County68%78%87%
Goochland County74%81%81%
Grayson County64%60%62%
Greene County51%48%69%
Greensville County51%55%78%
Halifax County64%67%72%
Hampton City56%65%72%
Hanover County69%73%82%
Harrisonburg City41%39%46%
Henrico County60%64%66%
Henry County59%68%72%
Highland County87%64%71%
Hopewell City47%45%50%
Isle of Wight County67%50%80%
King George County64%64%69%
King William County63%70%75%
King and Queen County52%51%51%
Lancaster County58%61%59%
Lee County39%64%74%
Lexington City75%96%93%
Loudoun County70%73%79%
Louisa County65%71%86%
Lunenburg County58%62%73%
Lynchburg City57%53%58%
Madison County63%54%57%
Manassas City55%54%46%
Manassas Park City41%43%46%
Martinsville City61%48%53%
Mathews County78%79%81%
Mecklenburg County71%68%75%
Middlesex County65%60%72%
Montgomery County63%72%75%
Nelson County62%67%78%
New Kent County60%71%79%
Newport News City54%52%56%
Norfolk City55%59%57%
Northampton County49%44%36%
Northumberland County68%70%75%
Norton City48%69%65%
Nottoway County54%65%65%
Orange County52%67%67%
Page County59%66%75%
Patrick County55%75%76%
Petersburg City45%39%33%
Pittsylvania County59%73%84%
Poquoson City70%75%75%
Portsmouth City54%55%54%
Powhatan County72%73%75%
Prince Edward County51%53%63%
Prince George County58%72%73%
Prince William County60%73%76%
Pulaski County51%66%68%
Radford City70%73%74%
Rappahannock County47%59%66%
Richmond City50%46%46%
Richmond County49%73%79%
Roanoke City51%47%52%
Roanoke County62%80%83%
Rockbridge County56%69%73%
Rockingham County53%58%63%
Russell County62%71%76%
Salem City58%68%70%
Scott County65%75%80%
Shenandoah County52%56%68%
Smyth County58%71%75%
Southampton County66%62%71%
Spotsylvania County54%62%67%
Stafford County66%62%68%
Staunton City50%71%74%
Suffolk City61%66%75%
Surry County73%76%76%
Sussex County63%71%79%
Tazewell County61%81%85%
Virginia Beach City65%77%76%
Warren County63%62%64%
Washington County71%82%84%
Waynesboro City44%57%60%
West Point60%79%88%
Westmoreland County65%70%70%
Williamsburg-James City County64%68%74%
Winchester City49%52%59%
Wise County53%85%86%
Wythe County54%75%80%
York County68%87%86%
See How Your Area Is Doing