Full Citation

Title: Hispanic Students and the Growth of the U.S. Public Schools: 1900-2008

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2012

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: The growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S. since the 1970s has been dramatic (Verdugo, 2010). And the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that not only are Hispanics now the largest ethnic-racial minority group in the U.S., but that by 2050 Hispanics are projected to be between 25 and 35 percent of the entire U.S. population (see Census website: www.census.gov). There is the sense that Hispanic students have also contributed to the growth of the overall U.S. student population. How much of a contribution, though, is speculative, and for reasons to be discussed below, there are important reasons why this growth is important.The purpose of this chapter is to provide a three-part analysis of the basic demographic information in examining the growth of the U.S. student population from 1900 to 2008, with specific emphasis placed on the fundamental research question: What impact has Hispanic immigrant students had on the growth of the U.S. student population? In attempting to answer this question, analysis consists of: (a) attempting to establish the fact that the Hispanic student population has grown significantly since 1900, compared to growth with that of non-Hispanics, and to assess its impact on the overall U.S. student population growth from 1900 to 2008; (b) evaluate how each of the two components of Hispanic student growth - non-immigrant Hispanic students, and immigrant Hispanic students hascontributed to the overall growth of the Hispanic student population from 1900 to 2008; and (c) compute the share of the total growth in the U.S. student population from 1900 to 2008 that is due to four groups: Non-immigrant Hispanics, immigrant Hispanics, non-immigrant non-Hispanics, and immigrant non-Hispanics, while alsoassessing the contribution each group has made to the overall growth of the U.S. student population from 1900 to 2008.There are at least two reasons why we should be concerned with the growth of the Hispanic student population. First, a large body of research points out that their educational experiences need to be greatly improved (see Verdugo 2006 for a review). Second, students follow their parents, and research indicates that not only is the Hispanic population increasing but that it is moving to areas of the U.S. thathave little or no history with this population. For example, the growing Hispanic student population has challenged school systems in such states as North Carolina,Maine, and upstate New York. The larger picture is not entirely clear and a succinct demographic portrait is needed. Both patterns suggest a line of research that focuses on determining exactly how much of the Hispanic student population has grown. The following section reviews both patterns.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Verdugo, Richard R.

Periodical (Full): The Immigration & Education Nexus

Issue: 1

Volume: 12

Pages: 111-128

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Education, Race and Ethnicity

Countries: