Hispanic students in South Carolina

Lisa Michals:

There are already indicators of what kinds of challenges schools might see more of with an increasing Hispanic student population.

For example, Hispanic students — like black students — exhibit an “achievement gap” when compared with white students on standardized tests. Results for the 2006 Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests show:

66 percent of Hispanic students passed the English/language arts tests; 85 percent of white students passed, and 65 percent of black students passed.

66 percent of Hispanic students passed the math tests; 86 percent of white students passed, and 62 percent of black students passed.

“Both groups (black and Hispanic students) are far behind where white students are,” said Joan Lord, the regional board’s director of educational policy.

Hispanic students also have high dropout rates and are more likely to come from impoverished families, she noted.

“That gives you some hint of the struggle you’re going to have,” Lord said.

Most states that don’t already have a large Hispanic population are facing increases, too.

Language barrier creates legal woes