Literacy Statistics

In Union County

Union County has a graduation rate of 88.5%
15% of persons in Union County over 18 years old do not have a high school diploma
21.1% of Ohio's population hold a bachelor's degree or higher
Only 15.9% of Union County's population hold a bachelor's degree or higher

43% of adults functioning at the lowest literacy level live in poverty, compared to 4% with strong literacy skills
More than 20% of adults read below the sixth-grade level - far below the level needed to earn a living wage
70% of mothers on public assistance have reading skills in the lowest two literacy levels
Children whose parents cannot read are twice as likely to have difficulty learning to read and write
Illiteracy costs the U.S. more then $224 billion a year in lost productivity
Low health literacy costs $73 billion annually in unnecessary doctor visits, hospitalizations and longer hospital stays
75% of unemployed adults have reading and/or writing difficulties
60% of juvenile offenders have problems reading The U.S. ranks 49th among 156 United Nations member countries in literacy – a drop of 18 places since 1950