Highest Education Level Attained (5.5)
Clients were asked the highest education level they had attained. Education levels of clients based on their responses are provided in Table 5.5.1.
TABLE 5.5.1
HIGHEST EDUCATION LEVEL ATTAINED
(Adults
Interviewed at A2H Emergency Food Providers)
Clients’ Education Level |
Adult Clients Who Pick Up Food at a Pantry |
Adult Clients at a Kitchen |
Adult Clients at a Shelter |
All Adult Clients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Less than high school |
39.6% |
30.6% |
32.0% |
37.5% |
Completed high school or equivalent degree |
36.6% |
37.6% |
38.0% |
36.9% |
Completed noncollege business/trade/ technical school |
3.4% |
4.0% |
4.0% |
3.6% |
Some college/two-year degree |
15.4% |
21.5% |
19.8% |
16.8% |
Completed college or higher |
5.0% |
6.3% |
6.1% |
5.3% |
TOTAL |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
SAMPLE SIZE (N) |
37,986 |
10,667 |
4,225 |
52,878 |
SOURCE:
This table was constructed based on
usable responses to Question 10 of the client survey.
NOTES:
The
percentages presented in this table are based only on usable responses,
excluding missing, don’t know, and refusal responses. All usable responses
were weighted as described in Chapter 3 and in the Technical Appendix
volume to represent all emergency food
clients of the A2H National Network. The sample sizes (N) also include
missing data.
Missing, don’t know, and refusal responses combined are 1.6% for pantry clients, 1.2% for kitchen clients, 2.6% for shelter clients, and 1.6% for all clients.
As Table 5.5.1 shows, 37.5% of the clients at emergency food programs have not completed high school. The comparable percentage for the entire U.S. adult population is 15.4%. 1 More details follow:
• 36.9% of all clients finished high school but no further education
beyond high school.
• 16.8% of all clients have some college education
or completed a two-year degree.
• 5.3% of all clients have completed
college or beyond.
1 Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2004-2005. Table No. 212