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Rick Scott, Governor
Florida Department of Corrections, Secretary Michael D. Crews

Florida Department of Corrections
Michael D. Crews, Secretary

2008-2009 Agency Statistics first | previous | next
Inmate Admissions

Admissions test at around the sixth grade level; 71% Below GED Prep Level

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 the FY 2008-09. Admissions 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 6.3.

The table below groups the grade levels of the inmates admitted during FY 2008-09 into three different categories -- basic literacy, functional literacy, and GED Prep skills. Again, admissions with unavailable data were not included in the analysis.

  • 71 percent had less than GED Prep skills (less than 9.0 grade level).

  • Almost twenty six percent of the admissions were classified as having functional literacy skills (6.0 to 8.9 grade levels).

 

Testing Education Grade Level at Admission
(First Tests of Adult Basic Education [TABE] Scores)
Grade Level Males Females Total Percent Cumulative Percent
1 - 5   14,862     1,348   16,210 45.6% 45.6%
6     3,936        514     4,450 12.5% 58.1%
7     2,155        295     2,450 6.9% 65.0%
8     1,879        341     2,220 6.3% 71.3%
9     3,357        477     3,834 10.8% 82.1%
10        795        168        963 2.7% 84.8%
11     1,619        371     1,990 5.6% 90.4%
12     2,763        636     3,399 9.6% 100.0%
Data Unavailable     3,575        263     3,838    
Total   34,941     4,413   39,354 100.0% 100.0%
Median 6.2 7.8 6.3    

The table below groups the grade levels of the inmates admitted during FY 2008-09 into three different categories -- basic literacy, functional literacy, and GED Prep skills. Again, admissions with unavailable data were not included in the analysis.

  • 71 percent had less than GED Prep skills (less than 9.0 grade level).

  • Almost twenty six percent of the admissions 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])
Literacy Skill Level White Males White Females Black Males Black Females Other Males Other Females Total Percent Cumulative Percent
Basic Literacy (1.0-5.9) 5,123 593 9,207 717 532 38 16,210 45.6% 45.6%
Functional Literacy (6.0-8.9) 3,980 729 3,739 401 251 20 9,120 25.7% 71.3%
GED Prep (9.0-12.9) 5,931 1,332 2,405 288 198 32 10,186 28.7% 100.0%
Data Unavailable 1,799 147 1,360 107 416 9 3,838    
Total 16,833 2,801 16,711 1,513 1,397 99 39,354 100.0% 100.0%
Median 7.4 9.1 5.4 5.9 5.7 6.3 6.3    
2008-2009 Agency Statistics first | previous | next