There are six levels of literacy in the PIAAC scoring system, ranging from below level one to level five. So why doesn’t this map show those levels?
Since this map shows state averages, we used different shading to show more granularity. There are no states that have an average score above level 3 (276–325 points). The national average literacy score is 264, or level 2.
* Below level 1 (0–175 points): Respondents are considered functionally illiterate, or unable to determine the meaning of sentences. * Level 1 (176–225 points): Respondents are considered to have low literacy levels. They can identify basic vocabulary words and can determine meaning within sentences and paragraphs. * Level 2 (226–275 points): Respondents can paraphrase or make low-level inferences. * Level 3 (276–325 points): Respondents can evaluate information at varying levels of inference, determine meaning from larger selections of text, and disregard information that’s irrelevant to the prompt. * Level 4 (326–375 points): Respondents are more likely to use background knowledge to complete tasks, apply non-central or conditional information to evaluations, and discern correct information from competing information. * Level 5 (376–500 points): Respondents can evaluate arguments, process dense texts, apply logical reasoning to draw conclusions, and determine whether certain sources are valid sources of information.
So on a scale of 215.5-294.7, how would you rate your reading ability?
So, obviously this is mostly an issue with illegal immigrants and not accurately reflecting the education level of actual Americans.
Is this English language literacy, or literacy in any language?
Minnesota crushes at everything.
As someone from WV, I’m so, so happy to see our usual foes score below us.
What the fuck does this mean? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
New Mexico really is the Mississippi of the Southwest.
Obligatory Minnesota is good at maps post.
Florida higher than California? Oh shit, this is about to ruffle some feathers on Reddit.
I swear I saw this exact chart with this color scheme and stuff a few days ago
man i knew those folks in Mississippi, louisiana and new mexico were some illiterate chumps.
Guess I failed. Somehow initially read the title as “adultery rates”, not “adult literacy rates”.
Now overlay it with political affiliation
Mississippi: Thank god for Louisiana.
The color scheme feels like it’s lacking contrast. I get the the lower grades are not represented but the first glance leaves the impression that there’s only a minor difference between OR and CA, but one is in the top 10, and the other is in the bottom 10.
Why is the data so outdated? And what do the numbers even mean? It’s not explained anywhere
Also, I would assume this is just English literacy. Which would explain the low rates in Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana as they have a large percentage of people whose native language is not English, especially Texas.
I’m really surprised by AZ. We have the lowest funding of public schools.
I’m a bit shocked to see New York in the bottom 10% of literacy rates; as well as California. I wonder if population density is directly linked to literacy rates.
23 comments
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies [(PIAAC)](https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/skillsmap/)
Tools: Datawrapper, Illustrator
Note: All US PIAAC literacy results are for English literacy. Thanks to u/MelissaMiranti for bringing that up.
County-level data [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/166gpho/adult_literacy_in_the_us_by_county_oc/) (Reddit) and a deeper dive into the data [here](https://usafacts.org/articles/which-states-have-the-highest-and-lowest-adult-literacy-rates/) (website).
There are six levels of literacy in the PIAAC scoring system, ranging from below level one to level five. So why doesn’t this map show those levels?
Since this map shows state averages, we used different shading to show more granularity. There are no states that have an average score above level 3 (276–325 points). The national average literacy score is 264, or level 2.
If you’re curious, here are the proficiency level definitions (simplified) from [PIAAC](https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/measure.asp):
* Below level 1 (0–175 points): Respondents are considered functionally illiterate, or unable to determine the meaning of sentences.
* Level 1 (176–225 points): Respondents are considered to have low literacy levels. They can identify basic vocabulary words and can determine meaning within sentences and paragraphs.
* Level 2 (226–275 points): Respondents can paraphrase or make low-level inferences.
* Level 3 (276–325 points): Respondents can evaluate information at varying levels of inference, determine meaning from larger selections of text, and disregard information that’s irrelevant to the prompt.
* Level 4 (326–375 points): Respondents are more likely to use background knowledge to complete tasks, apply non-central or conditional information to evaluations, and discern correct information from competing information.
* Level 5 (376–500 points): Respondents can evaluate arguments, process dense texts, apply logical reasoning to draw conclusions, and determine whether certain sources are valid sources of information.
So on a scale of 215.5-294.7, how would you rate your reading ability?
So, obviously this is mostly an issue with illegal immigrants and not accurately reflecting the education level of actual Americans.
Is this English language literacy, or literacy in any language?
Minnesota crushes at everything.
As someone from WV, I’m so, so happy to see our usual foes score below us.
What the fuck does this mean? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
New Mexico really is the Mississippi of the Southwest.
Obligatory Minnesota is good at maps post.
Florida higher than California? Oh shit, this is about to ruffle some feathers on Reddit.
So…has this map accounted for ESL speakers?
Reminds me of this 💪
[r/Minnesota meme](https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/s/wiBeKLUnHf)
I swear I saw this exact chart with this color scheme and stuff a few days ago
man i knew those folks in Mississippi, louisiana and new mexico were some illiterate chumps.
Guess I failed. Somehow initially read the title as “adultery rates”, not “adult literacy rates”.
Now overlay it with political affiliation
Mississippi: Thank god for Louisiana.
The color scheme feels like it’s lacking contrast. I get the the lower grades are not represented but the first glance leaves the impression that there’s only a minor difference between OR and CA, but one is in the top 10, and the other is in the bottom 10.
Why is the data so outdated? And what do the numbers even mean? It’s not explained anywhere
Also, I would assume this is just English literacy. Which would explain the low rates in Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana as they have a large percentage of people whose native language is not English, especially Texas.
I’m really surprised by AZ. We have the lowest funding of public schools.
I’m a bit shocked to see New York in the bottom 10% of literacy rates; as well as California. I wonder if population density is directly linked to literacy rates.
They is smart in Minnesotee! Heyuck!