Local Facts
According to the 2000 Census data, 39% of the population in Stamford and 21% in Greenwich speaks a language other than English.

An estimated 18% of adults 18 years or older in Stamford and 8.5% in Greenwich do not have a high school diploma.

The poverty rate in Greenwich is 4% and 7.5% of students in the public schools receive free lunch.

The poverty rate in Stamford is 10% and 38% of students qualify for free lunch.
A disproportionate number of students from low income and/or minority families are not meeting state norms on standardized tests in Stamford and Greenwich schools.

National Facts
Below Basic - 14% or 30 million Americans are functioning at the Below Basic level. They can perform only the simplest and concrete literacy tasks, such as signing a form, completing a job application, using the internet or reading a bedtime story to a child. They are likely to live in poverty, and are unable to participate in their children’s education.

Basic Level - 29% or 63 million Americans are at the Basic Level. They can read, but not well and can deal only with simple material. They are unlikely to have the skills required to be gainfully employed or economically self-sufficient.

Impact of Low-Literacy
A high school drop out earns about $240,000 less than a graduate and pays about $60,000 less in taxes.

The average 45 year-old high school dropout is in worse health than the average 65-year old high school graduate.

High school dropouts have a life expectancy that is 9.2 years shorter than graduates.

By age 4, children in low-income families will have heard 13 million words, compared to 45 million words heard by children in professional families.

Literacy Volunteers - Stamford/Greenwich, Inc. 141 Franklin Street, Stamford, CT  06901 Phone: 203-324-5214; Fax: 203-348-8917