Hispanic enrollment in elementary and secondary public schools is increasing yet critical inadequacies exist for Latino students regarding segregation and poverty, reading and math performance, and early and high dropout rates at both national and local levels. The President's Advisory study indicates that Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in elementary and secondary public schools. Several studies, including a report of the Harvard Project on School Desegregation to the National School Boards Association, indicate that Latinos are the most segregated minority in America's public schools and that the percentage of Latinos who attend predominately minority schools is increasing.
Segregation is highest in the Northeast region.
The President's Advisory study shows that by age nine, Latino students score lower than white children in reading, math and science. By age thirteen, Latino students are, on average, two years behind in math, reading, and science. Research literature indicates that of all minority groups, Hispanics are the most likely to leave high school. Most reports suggest that although the national drop-out rate has decreased over the last few years, it is still high and Hispanic students are more likely to leave school at earlier ages than other students. The local reality is worse, with the dropout rate among Hispanic student increasing while the total district rate is decreasing.