Report Addresses College Graduation Rates for Latinos
In Texas, which has the country’s second-largest Latino population, experts say that closing the gap in college graduation rates between Latinos and Anglos will be critical to ensuring that the state has an educated workforce in the next 20 years.
A report released today by Excelencia in Education, a national nonprofit that promotes policies aimed at improving Latino achievement in higher education, shows that approximately 17 percent of Latino adults in Texas have an associate degree or higher, compared with 34 percent of all Texas adults. The report notes that the graduation rate for Latino college students in Texas ...
Comments (5)
V Marshall
Funny story. The first time we moved to Texas was in the 80's because of a similar story in CA. Big surprise when you have too many people who need taxpayer provided services and too few people to pay those taxes, you turn to taxing business. Until business leaves. Guess what? All of us who have migrated here have no more loyalty to this state than we did our home state or any of the other states in which we have lived. I guess Latinos are going to have to resort to the same tactic that my husband and I did. Start saving for college tuition BEFORE you have your first child.
Hannah Katz
The article mentions a 17% college graduation rate (associate or higher) among Latinos, compared to a 34% graduation rate overall. It would have been helpful if the graduation rate for other major ethnic groups had been included, such as African Americans, Asian Americans, and Anglos.
I agree we need to close the graduation gap, but only by increasing the rate of groups with lower numbers. Not by lowering any group's graduation rate. And we should be honest that even in an ideal world, every group will not have exactly the same graduation rate. Asians seem to do better than the other groups in the hard sciences, and should not be held back. Nor should we be pushing anyone into a degree program that does not fit their skills, just to make the ethnic numbers work.
We need to provide equal opportunity for all, rather than an ethnic spoils system that seeks to deliver guaranteed equal results.
gypsy314 ne
I am all for educating latinos. I support legal immigration but draw the line when it comes to funding illegal immigration. Put it on the ballot let the American people decide if they want there tax money funding illegal immigration this should settle it once and for all. I also say put it national ballot about deporting the illegal aliens I would venture to say majority would vote to remove the illegal aliens NOW from our borders.
Anyone BUT the fraud and traitor Obama and democrats!
David Spratt
My question is , " What is holding them back?" We already pump over 50 billion into education every year in Texas. This story as well as others sounds as if the 34% of all other adults should feel guilty for their success. As with all things " Latino" there is never a distinction made between legal American Citizens and those who are illegal or the children of illegal parents. If English is not your first language or you live in a home where English is never spoken this could impact your ability to obtain a degree in a country where English is the dominant language. There are many variables at work here. There was no comparison made between Latinos or any other ethnic group other than Whites, or Non- Hispanic Whites. Many of us already pay generous property taxes to support education , so the implication we are not doing enough and that we need to do more is offensive. All children regardless of race, legal status or ethnicity all walk through the same school doors and have access to the same resources as every other child and nobody is denied. It is a matter of personal responsibility and achievement on an individual level , not the failure of society in general. Success is not a given , no matter what race or ethnic group you belong to. I would say that among 2nd or 3rd generation Latinos the rates would probably be much higher. Those recent immigrants are not ingrained with the concept of higher education to the same degree as Americans in general. The Taxpayers of Texas have provided the well,, it is up to you to choose to go and drink from it
Lucia Briones via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Well, at least Texas' percentage is above the Nation's average 11%. However, with college costing more and with financial aid and private student loans becoming harder to receive, that gap won't be closed any time soon.