Frank X. Moraga
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805
Given all the news that funding for public education continues to suffer from the “Cut government spending” crowd, it is surprising that a new Pew Research Center report indicates that Hispanics and blacks are leading the trend of reducing the overall high school dropout rate.
In a report written by Richard Fry based on newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s dropout rate for 18-to-24 year olds reached a record low of 7 percent in 2013, down from 12 percent reported in the year 2000.
While Hispanics still have the highest dropout rate among all racial and ethnic groups, Hispanics reported a dropout rate of 14 percent in 2013, compared with a rate of 32 percent in the year 2000, Fry reported.
Census data also show that more Hispanics were finishing high school and attending college.
The decline in dropout rates come at the same time the Hispanic youth population is booming, growing by more than 50 percent since the year 2000, the Census Bureau reported.
Driving the decline in dropout rates could be the continuing competitive job market.
“… The trend in more Hispanic youth staying in school is occurring against the backdrop of diminishing job opportunities for less-educated workers, including less-educated Hispanic workers. Hispanic students and their families may be responding to the rising returns to a college education by staying in school,” Fry reported.
Education continues to be a top priority for Hispanic families.
Pew Research surveys have reported that education is one of the most important issues for Hispanics, along with health care and immigration.
Fry also reported that Hispanics made up 25 percent of the nation’s public school students in 2013, with that percentage expected to rise to 30 percent by 2022.
The Census data also indicate that Hispanics made up 18 percent of college enrollment in 2013, up from 12 percent in 2009.
However, as a cautionary note, Hispanics still lag behind in earning four-year college degrees.
Hispanic students accounted for only 9 percent of young adults (ages 25 to 29) with a bachelor’s degree, compared to 58 percent for white students ages 18 to 24, Fry reported.
Lack of a strong support group and services on campus (academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, new-student orientation) for many of these first-generation college students are some of the factors cited by educators for the lower college graduation rates for Hispanics.
However, getting full buy-in by college and university administration — funding and policy commitment — continues to be a challenge.
Another factor cited is lack of in-state tuition opportunities for undocumented students.
If we want the next generation of Hispanic youth to succeed, we all need to take an active voice in promoting more scholarship programs for them, advocating for better financial aid opportunities and actively urging administrators to provide equal treatment and opportunities for Hispanics on college and university campuses across the country.
Too often the impression was that Hispanic youth weren’t interested in going to college. They just wanted to get out of school fast and take the first available low-paying job. Statistics are showing otherwise. We all need to step up to help them succeed.
— Frank X. Moraga is editor/publisher of Amigos805. He has served as business editor, director of diversity and general manager of a bilingual publication at the Ventura County Star, and as a reporter in the community editions of the Orange County Register and Los Angeles Daily News. He can be reached at fmoraga@amigos805.com