The Extent and Relevance of Pre-High School Attrition and Delayed Education for Hispanics

Abstract

Hispanics have a high dropout rate from school. Using the 1976 Survey of Income and Education, analyses were conducted to assess when in the schooling process Hispanics drop out from school. Focusing on Hispanics aged 14 to 25 years, findings suggest that 40% of all Hispanic dropouts leave school before reaching the 10th grade, with most of the pre-high school attrition occurring at the junior high school level. Dropping out among Hispanics peaks in the 11th grade (30% of all Hispanic dropouts), followed by a sharp decline in the 12th grade (7%). Pre-high school attrition clearly is a serious problem for Hispanics, suggesting the need for investigation focusing on the critical junior high school period in which significant numbers of Hispanic youth not only drop out of school, but also experience substantial delays in their educational progress. It is also suggested that pre-high school attrition statistics be placed in the category of social indicators which are analyzed on a regular basis for Hispanics, as well as other relevant subgroups, in order to review trends regarding this most serious issue.

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