Is America Illiterate?

Many people hold the general assumption that literacy is simply the ability to read and write. However, the word is actually much deeper than that. Modern day literacy means the ability to read, comprehend, interpret, and communicate using media. It is less about one’s ability to read and more about the utilization of such skills. According to the United States National Center for Education Statistics, 28% of American adults scored at the lowest level of literacy in 2024. This is 9% higher than the 2017 results. 

Out of 31 participating nations, we placed 14th. This makes us on par, maybe even slightly above average. The issue is, literacy is not something that we should be comfortable being mediocre in. American adults aren’t the biggest concern either, it’s our children that we should worry about. The National Assessment of Education Progress (commonly referred to as the “Nation’s Report Card”) showed that reading scores in elementary aged students are down five points compared to 2019.

The fact that the younger generation is becoming less proficient with reading should be deeply concerning for everyone. Reading is essential to life, the job force, and even just general enjoyment. If the future of America lacks literacy, what does that mean for our country? 

According to Allison Rose Socol, the vice president of P-12 policy, practice, and research at EdTrust writes that there are “five widely accepted components that are essential to reading:  phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension”. Even though these standards are “widely accepted”, there is an issue of school funding. American schools require billions more dollars than they are provided with. Underfunding schools forces students to miss out on resources that could be essential to their proficiency in a variety of subjects. 

Aside from just funding, I think there has been a widely-observed cultural shift surrounding education and things like attention span. It is now extremely common for children to grow up with tablets and access to short-form content. Technology is not at all the issue. In the past decade we have seen it used as a useful aid for education. The problem lies within the usage of this tool. When we allow our future generations to spend their early years on Youtube Shorts rather than the alphabet, we will see long-term consequences. 

America as a whole is not illiterate, and we are not doomed. However, we need to start reversing our ways before it is too late. We need to prioritize funding education, stop the normalization of tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) that promote anti-intellectualism, and actually exercise the skills that nourish our literacy. When we allow illiteracy to become standard, we lose all hope for building a better future. 

Shiloh Hodoway (@rlhesq) - Rogers, Arkansas

“PIAAC.” National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a Part of the U.S. Department of Education, nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. 

“U.S. Adults Score on Par with International Average in Literacy Skills, below International Average in Numeracy and Problem-Solving Skills in Survey of Adult Skills.” Press Release - U.S. Adults Score on Par With International Average in Literacy Skills, Below International Average in Numeracy and Problem-Solving Skills in Survey of Adult Skills - December 10, 2024, nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_10_2024.asp. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. 

“NAEP Report Card: Reading.” The Nation’s Report Card, www.nationsreportcard.gov/reports/reading/2024/g4_8/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. 

“Edens Learning Commons: Intellectual Freedom - Literacy: What Is Literacy?” What Is Literacy? - Intellectual Freedom - Literacy - Edens Learning Commons at Columbia College (SC), libguides.columbiasc.edu/literacycourse/literacy. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. 

Otherwisz. “Adult Literacy Rates Declining in New Study – LBN Calls on WNY.” Literacy, otherwisz https://literacybuffalo.org/wp-content/uploads/LBN-Logo-Horizontal-60th-850x307.png, 23 Jan. 2025, literacybuffalo.org/2025/01/23/adult-literacy-rates-are-falling-new-literacy-study-shows-big-problems/.