New generation of native-born Latinos are outperforming other groups

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According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos have made larger gains than other groups. The report, based on data collected by the Census Bureau, shows that as recently as 2000, fewer than half of Latinos enrolled in college within months of finishing high school. In 2012, that figure was 69 percent. Latinos passed another milestone in 2012 when new Hispanic high school graduates became more likely than their white counterparts to go directly to college. “This is the maturation of a big second generation among Latinos- native-born and educated in American schools,” said Richard Fry, the lead author of the Pew Report.

Other key findings include:

  • While the gap is narrowing, Hispanic students are still less likely than Asians, whites, or blacks to attend four-year colleges or go to school full time.
  • According to the survey, Latinos were more likely than white students to say that a college degree is essential to get ahead in life.
  • In 2000, 28 percent of Latinos had neither finished high school nor were attending school. That percentage dropped to 14 percent in 2012. During the same time period, the dropout rate fell from 13 percent to 7 percent among blacks, and from 7 percent to 5 percent among whites.

To turn this into a story:

  • Use this report as a source for a story on the effects of poverty and race on education. Use the tutorials found on the Covering Poverty Blog, especially Covering Poverty and Race and Covering Poverty and Education, for tips on how to measure this.
  • Use Covering Poverty’s “tip sheets” such as 5 things to Know About Poverty and Race, found on the Covering Poverty Blog.
  • Use the Covering Poverty Blog’s Resources page for links to helpful websites for journalists covering poverty.
  • Use this report as a source for a story on how Latino students are outperforming other groups. Interview high school students, counselors and college admissions officers to determine if the new data comports with what they are observing.

Other reporting and commentary from across the web: