Teachers in Madison County Work to Keep Literacy Rates Up

Development of children’s literacy starts early — before children are even in the classroom.

While literacy rates were up in Madison County last year, rates were still lower than in 2023. Local librarians and teachers said they are making efforts to keep scores consistent.

“It has had its ebbs and flows, and that’s an area that we’ve started a new curriculum on,” Superintendent of Madison County Joseph Goodroe said. “So, obviously we still have some focus on literacy there.”

In Madison County, 40 percent of third grade children tested at proficient or above in 2025 — 2 points higher than in 2024 but still 5 points lower than in 2023 — according to the Georgia Milestones test scores. (Photo/Laari Ruby)

Some of these programs include storytime reading with a librarian and a STEM-ternoon full of activities every week. They also have after-school tutoring in every major elementary subject and Spanish-speaking materials.

Because literacy is dependent on how much a child reads, educators said, the goal is to increase enthusiasm toward reading.

“Just exposure to books is early literacy, just having books in the home and having kids familiar with even how books works is actually just a part of early literacy,” Librarian and Children’s Specialist Hannah Wolff said.

For more on Madison County’s reading scores, click here.

Laari Ruby and Isabelle Farina are journalism majors at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

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