A donation of books is aimed at increasing reading scores for Dubuque schools with the highest poverty rates.
Our coverage partner KCRG reports students at Audubon, Lincoln, Marshall, and Prescott elementary schools get to pick out two free books at book fairs this week thanks to a $23-thousand dollar donation from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and River Lights Bookstore. The gift allots 2,700 books for Title 1 elementary schools, where about 3 in 5 students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The Dubuque School district says getting more books in kids’ hands helps boost reading scores. 32 percent of students at Title 1 schools in Dubuque were proficient at reading during the 2021-22 school year. As of January 2025, 54 percent of Dubuque’s Title 1 students are proficient readers.
