Median Grade Level Achieved by Inmates Tested Was 6.6

When inmates come into prison, they are tested to determine their educational level in the form of a school grade-level. The table on the right lists the grade levels indicated by the TABE (Tests of Adult Basic Education) scores of those inmates admitted into prison during FY 2005-06. Inmates with unavailable data were not included in the analysis.

• Of all the scores analyzed, the median test score (half the scores were above and half were below this score) was 6.6.
  
  

Testing Education Grade Level at Admission (First Tests of Adult Basic Education [TABE] Scores for FY 2005-06)
Grade Level	Male	Female	Total	Percent	Cumulative Percent
1-5	11,143	1,326	12,469	40.2%	40.2%
6	3,494	519	4,013	12.9%	53.1%
7	2,082	309	2,391	7.7%	60.8%
8	1,942	283	2,225	7.2%	68.0%
9	3,612	446	4,058	13.1%	81.1%
10	767	147	914	2.9%	84.0%
11	1,461	292	1,753	5.7%	89.7%
12	2,712	483	3,195	10.3%	100.0%
Data Unavailable	3,859	221	4,080
Total	31,072	4,026	35,098	100.0%	100.0%
Median	6.4	7.3	6.6

The table below groups the grade levels of the inmates admitted during FY 2005-06 into three different categories - basic literacy, functional literacy, and GED Prep skills. Again, inmates with unavailable data were not included in the analysis.

• 68.0% had less than GED Prep skills (less than 9.0 grade level).
  
  
• Almost 28.0% of the inmates were classified as having functional literacy skills (6.0 to 8.9 grade levels).

Tested Literacy Skill Levels at Admission (First Tests of Adult Basic Education [TABE] for FY 2005-06)
Literary Skill Level	White Males	White Females	Black Males	Black Females	Other Males	Other Females	Total	Percent	Cumulative Percent
Basic Literacy (1.0 to 5.9)	3,825	524	7,018	751	300	51	12,469	40.2%	40.2%
Functional Literacy (6.0 to 8.9)	3,642	679	3,698	395	178	37	8,629	27.8%	68.0%
GED Prep (9.0 to 12.9)	5,855	1,088	2,540	254	157	26	9,920	32.0%	100.0%
Data Unavailable	1,864	123	1,666	75	329	23	4,080
TOTAL	15,186	2,414	14,922	1,475	964	137	35,098	100.0%	100.0%
MEDIAN	8.1	8.4	5.9	5.7	6.2	6.3	6.6