571
Well, this is quite upsetting to read.
(lemmy.nz)
More (not so) fun facts:
54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.
21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.
High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.
1/3 of it being caused by immigration is an angle I'd never thought about that actually makes me feel a tiny bit better
Bingo. My father is an illiterate immigrant but managed to work (in a different time) and retire early as a result. Put me through college. These statistics are depressing at face value but they're not as awful as they might seem.