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Hispanics Enrolling In College At Higher Rate Than Whites

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A record number of Hispanic high school graduates enrolled in college last fall outpacing their white counterparts, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center.

Using U.S. Census data, the study found that seven in 10 Hispanic students, or 69 percent, who graduated in 2012 went on to college compared to 67 percent of white students.

Richard Fry, the study’s author, attributes the increase to the economic recession. Fewer job opportunities could be driving more Latino youths to enroll and stay in college, he said.

But Fry cautioned that the job market may not be the only reason.

“Even before the recession, it was already rising,” Fry said. “So I think the recession is playing a role, [but] I certainly don’t think that’s the only possible factor, and I think that there are some factors that may be contributing that will continue to apply even when the job market does improve.”

What other factors might be at play? One possibility is No Child Left Behind. Fry said the 2001 federal law implemented during the George W. Bush administration not only held schools accountable for raising test scores, it also pushed schools to increase their graduation rates.

“There was a component of it that said, ‘Look, you need to make progress in graduating minority students from high school,’ ’’ Fry said. “I don’t know to what extent, but it’s possible that No Child Left Behind has contributed to why more young Latinos are staying in high school and finishing high school.”

Another point highlighted in report is the value that Latino families place on education. In a 2009 Pew Hispanic Center survey, 88 percent of Latinos ages 16 and older agreed that a college degree was key to getting ahead – a higher figure than the 74 percent who answered the same way in a separate survey of all Americans that year.

“It’s possible that there’s been a rising awareness particularly among Hispanic adults of the importance of a college education and that’s being reflected in the fact of how many high school graduates are actually going on to college,” Fry said.

College enrollment rates are not the only numbers in the report drawing attention. The same analysis found that fewer Latino high school students are dropping out. In 2011, 14 percent of Latino students ages 16 to 24 dropped out compared to 28 percent in 2000.

Despite these new numbers, Fry said it’s important to point out areas where Hispanics continue to lag behind white students. They remain less likely to enroll in a four-year college and are less likely to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Stella M. Chávez is KERA’s immigration/demographics reporter/blogger. Her journalism roots run deep: She spent a decade and a half in newspapers – including seven years at The Dallas Morning News, where she covered education and won the Livingston Award for National Reporting, which is given annually to the best journalists across the country under age 35.