By Traci Shurley

tshurley@star-telegram.com

The number of Hispanic students in U.S. public schools almost doubled between 1990 and 2006, with the ratio of Hispanic students going from one in eight to one in five, according to a study released today.

The Pew Hispanic Center used U.S. Census figures to examine trends in Hispanic student growth. It says Texas is one of four states where the Latino or Hispanic public school population is more than 40 percent of total students.

About 10 million Hispanic students attend public schools, according to researchers.

Researchers also noted that census predictions call for continued growth. By 2050, Hispanic school-age children are expected to outnumber non-Hispanic white school-age children in the United States.

The results included in the report, “One-in-Five and Growing Fast: A profile of Hispanic public school students,” are in line with numbers in some local school districts, especially large districts such as Fort Worth and Arlington.

Hispanic students became the largest student ethnic group in Arlington schools for the first time in 2006, making up 35.7 percent of the student population. In Fort Worth, the percentage of Latino students grew from 28.9 percent in 1990 to 56.8 percent in 2006.

In Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Birdville schools, the change was even greater. Percentages of Hispanic students there tripled from 1990 to 2006, according to Texas Education Agency numbers.

Arlington schools Interim Superintendent Jerry McCullough said increased diversity in schools helps prepare students of all races for life beyond the classroom.

“We live in a very diverse world,” he said. “That’s what they’re going to step into. That’s the advantage of it. Our economy, everything in the nation and the world is very diverse. So, it’s just training.”

The Hispanic student population growth stems in part from a slightly higher fertility rate among Latinos, said Richard Fry, senior research associate for the Pew Hispanic Center. Immigration is the other major factor, he said.

The report focuses mainly on the numbers. But Fry said other research highlights the biggest educational challenge for Hispanic students.

“It’s not that they’re not staying in school. It’s that when you look at the basic achievement indicators … on average Hispanic public school students are well behind their white peers in both math and reading,” Fry said. “They’re behind in elementary school and the gap slightly widens when they get into middle school and it widens slightly further by high school.”

He said several issues contribute to the gap, including that Hispanic students are more likely to come from poor homes than their white counterparts and that they are less likely than whites to have parents who have graduated from high school.

The fact that Hispanic students are often clustered in urban schools also puts them at a disadvantage, Fry said.

The study’s findings weren’t all discouraging. Fry pointed out that, despite some public perception to the contrary, Hispanic public school students are overwhelmingly proficient in English.

Thirty percent said English was the only language spoken in their homes and another 52 percent reported speaking English “very well.”

Other key findings from the report:

·  84 percent of Hispanic public school students were born in the United States. 

·  69 percent of Hispanic students in public schools are of Mexican origin. Puerto Ricans are the second-largest group, with 9 percent. 

·  52 percent of all Hispanic students in the United States live in Texas and California.
Hispanic student populations
A new study examines a near doubling in the number of Hispanic students in public schools from 1990 to 2006. Here’s a look at how the percentage of Hispanic students in some local districts has increased. 

Fort Worth: 28.9 percent (1990-1991) to 56.8 percent (2006-2007)

Arlington: 9.5 percent (1990-1991) to 35.7 percent (2006-2007)

HEB: 6.2 percent (1990-1991) to 21.8 percent (2006-2007)

Birdville: 7.7 percent (1990-1991) to 28.8 percent (2006-2007)

Source: Texas Education Agency

During the ’90s, a group of family members and local supporters proposed the then-new Loop 11 be named for Esquibel.

But the proposal failed to pick up widespread support.

So this time around he wants to see numbers.

“I can see how a good idea can be defeated,” he said.

Mestas was one of the few local candidates present Thursday at a meeting of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

The other November hopefuls present were district judge candidate Juanita Pavlick, Wichita County sheriff candidate Tommy Smyth, county commissioner candidate Ray Gonzalez and U.S. Congressional candidate Roger Waun.

Pavlick took the opportunity to express her thanks for the local chapter of LULAC and all of their efforts.

“I appreciate LULAC and all of their work in defense of the rights of every citizen,” she said.

After the candidates’ speeches, Chapter President Johnny Villastrigo asked for the candidates’ support with their cause.

The local LULAC chapter has been working to honor Esquibel since last year, when they supported naming one of two new elementary schools after him.

“He deserves a skyscraper named after him if you asked me,” Villastrigo said.

A Wichita Falls native of Mexican-American descent, Esquibel spent more than 20 years with the Community Action Corporation, where he managed a series of youth programs, job counseling and adult education classes.

Mestas, who is also a member of LULAC, said recognition of local Hispanics is overdue.

“It is important to acknowledge some of the Hispanics in this community, just as the Prothros and the Yeagers,” he said.

Villastrigo also expressed his excitement for the race for County Commissioner Precinct 1.

“No matter the outcome, we’ll get a Hispanic in that office,” he said.

Mestas, who is of Hispanic descent, is facing off against Gonzalez in the November election, which is a first for Wichita County.

Gonzalez, who has served two terms on the Wichita Falls City Council, urged those present to get more involved with local government.

“The biggest impact is when people show up in numbers on particular issues. When they see you it makes a bigger statement,” he said.

Gonzalez also said he supports the Esquibel cause, but there needs to be a good showing when they present a plan to the City Council.

“They keep calling us the sleeping giant, let’s change that,” he said.