TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Florida’s third grade reading scores have improved, but four in 10 third graders in the state remain below grade level, a new report from the Florida Chamber Foundation finds.
The 2026 State of Third Grade Reading Proficiency report finds that 60% of the state’s third graders are reading at or above grade level, which is up from 57% last year and 55% the year prior.
The report details that Gadsden County has the third lowest rate of third graders reading at or above grade level at 43%, which is up 5% from last year.
It also reports that Hamilton County is the sixth lowest at 50%, which is down 5% from last year.
Of Florida’s 67 counties, 49 improved their third-grade reading proficiency from last year, with small, rural counties recording some of the largest gains.
English language learners showed the largest improvement among student groups.
The report finds that chronic absenteeism and poverty remain the clearest predictors of low reading proficiency.
“A child who cannot read at grade level by third grade faces a steeper path forward, and that affects the strength of Florida’s future workforce,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation. “This report gives Florida’s business community a clear picture of where we are making progress, where the gaps remain, and where business leaders can step up to help close them.”
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