What are some recent statistics about Hispanic Americans?

National Priorities

Currently, 27% of U.S. adults have a college degree. Prominent decision makers, including the federal administration along with major national foundations and organizations, have established a goal to increase that number to 60% by 2025. Given the growth of the Latino population, that goal must undoubtedly take them into account.

• Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2006). American Community Survey. 
• Source: Santiago, D. (2009). Taking Stock: Higher Education and Latinos. Excelencia in Education. 

Demographic Growth

Latinos currently represent 15% of the U.S. population, or 50 million people, and they are projected to represent 28% by 2050, or 128 million people. 

• Source: US Census Bureau study, December 2009.
• Source: Passel and D'Vera, C. (2008). U.S. Population Projections: 2005-2050

Pew Research Center.

Latino growth in K-12

Latinos make up about one-in-five public school students in the United States. The vast majority of them (84%) were born in the US.

• Source: Fry, R. and Gonzales, F. (2008). One-in-Five and Growing Fast: A Profile of Hispanic Public School Students. Pew Hispanic Center.
  

Latino dropout rate

30% of all high school dropouts are Latino students.

• Source: Laird, J., Cataldi, E.F., KewalRamani, A., and Chapman, C. (2008). Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2006 (NCES 2008-053). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC.

Latino college completion

13% of Latinos (ages 26-65) have a BA degree, compared to 17% for African American and 30% for the white population. 

• Source: Pew Hispanic Center (2008). Statistical Portrait of Hispanics in the U.S.

Community Aspirations and Challenges

9 in 10 Latino parents agree that the way to a good job and a comfortable lifestyle is through a college degree. More than three-quarters (77%) of Latinos ages 16 to 25 say their parents think going to college is the most important thing to do after high school. Moreover, six-in-ten (60%) Latinos who have gone to college rank their parents as being the most influential people in their decision to continue their schooling. However, studies have shown that over 65% Latino parents do not have the knowledge to guide their children as they seek to apply and enroll in college.

• Source: Lopez, M. H. (2009). Latinos and Education: Explaining the Attainment Gap. Pew Hispanic Center
• Source: Zarate, M. E. (2007). Understanding Latino Parental Involvement in Education. Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.
• Source: Pedroso, R. (2006). A Gathering Force: A Survey of Two Cohorts of Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholars. MPR Associates, Inc.
• Source: Gasbarra, P. and Johnson, J. (2006). A Matter of Trust: Ten key insights from recent public opinion research on attitudes about education among Hispanic parents, students and young adults. Public Agenda.