Latinos and
Education:
F
in
is
h W
ha
Explaining the
Yo
t
u St
a
rt
e
d
Attainment Gap
To
d
ay!
by Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center
N
early nine-in-ten (89%) Latino young adults ages 16 to
Organizational Management
25 say that a college education is important for success
in life, yet only about half that number-48%-say that
Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree Completion
they themselves plan to get a college degree, according to a
new national survey of 2,012 Latinos ages 16 and older by
662.254.3347
the Pew Hispanic Center conducted from Aug. 5 to Sept. 16,
www.mvsu.edu
2009.
The biggest reason for the gap between the high value
Latinos place on education and their more modest aspirations
to finish college appears to come from financial pressure to ®
support a family, the survey finds.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of all 16- to 25-year-old sur-
vey respondents who cut their education short during or right
after high school say they did so because they had to support
MADISON
their family. Other reasons include poor English skills (cited
by about half of respondents who cut short their education), METROPOLITAN
a dislike of school and a feeling that they don’t need more
education for the careers they want (each cited by about four-
SCHOOL DISTRICT
in-ten respondents who cut their education short). CONTACT INFORMATION
Latino schooling in the U.S. has long been characterized
by high dropout rates and low college completion rates. Both
http://www.mmsd.org/
problems have moderated over time, but a persistent educa-
US Mail: Human Resources
General Information: 608/663-1879
tional attainment gap remains between Hispanics and whites.
Madison Metropolitan School District
When asked why Latinos on average do not do as well as
FAX: 608/204-0346
other students in school, more respondents in the Pew His-
545 W. Dayton Street
panic Center survey blame poor parenting and poor English
skills than blame poor teachers. The explanation that Latino
Human Resources: 608/663-1693
students don’t work as hard as other students is cited by the
Madison, Wisconsin
fewest survey respondents; fewer than four-in-ten (38%) see
HR Jobline: 608/663-1869
that as a major reason for the achievement gap.
53703-1995
This report was prepared for the Latino Children, Fami-
Experience working cross-culturally and /or
lies, and Schooling National Conference sponsored jointly by
ommitting to work toward improving One’s
the Education Writers Association, the Pew Hispanic Center
own cultural competence, i.e., valuing differ-
and the National Panel on Latino Children and Schooling.
The conference was held on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 at the Pew
ence/diversity, recognizing Personal limitations
Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C. HNM
in one’s skills and expertise, and having the
desire to learn in These areas.
Source: Pew Hispanic Center
WWW.HNMAGAZINE.COM Celebrating over 15 Years of Embracing Diversity 53
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