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Despite the challenges, a top group in education said national data on Hispanic students was encouraging and showed solid growth.
The report, “The Condition of Latinos in Education,” paints an accurate profile of Hispanic students, one by spotlighting achievement while countering myths and misperceptions.
The report breaks the perception that the majority of Hispanic students do not have a proficiency in English. According to data, the reality is that only 18% of young Hispanics living in the U.S. are English language learners.
Hispanics, says the report, participate in the U.S. workforce at a higher percentage rate than all other ethnic or racial group.
Amongst the findings that are encouraging: recent high school graduates who are Hispanics enrolled in college at higher rates that their African American and white peers. An overwhelming majority of Hispanic parents said they expect their children to continue with higher education following high school.
Hispanics represent a youthful, fast growing segment of the entire student population in the public school system in the U.S. In 2011, they represented 24% of the entire enrollment in public schools.
It is project they will represent 30% by 2023. With a total population exceeding 53 million, Hispanics were the second largest ethnic or racial group in 2012 in the U.S.
The report notes challenges as well. By 2050, Hispanics are predicted to comprise close to 40% of the population in the U.S. under age 5, but as with African Americans, they are more likely to live in poverty than other groups.
Some criticized the report for bringing too much attention to the successes and not discussing the need to close the gaps that remain in education. The problem continues said some with English and ELL and other issues that needed to be addressed.
The report said that the number of Hispanics earning at least an associate’s degree increased by 71% between 2004 and 2013.
Hispanics in 2012 were more apt to enroll in local community colleges than their white, Asian or African American peers.
