Research has indicated that the parents of Hispanic high school seniors place enormous emphasis on education and believe that a college education is an essential prerequisite for a good job and comfortable middle-class life style. However, compared to non-Hispanic Whites or African Americans, Hispanics are less likely to obtain higher education…

Examines the predisposition stage (Hossler and Gallagher, 1987) of the college choice process, especially in relation to minority students. Found that parents and friends play a significant role in college choice; for African American and Hispanic students, institutions' promotional materials, and religious and civic organizations, also influenced…

Female minority students at an urban alternative high school completed interviews regarding perceptions of risk factors for female gang involvement. Peer pressure was the largest influence on female gang involvement. Respondents believed girls might turn to gangs for protection from neighborhood crime, abusive families, and other gangs. Lack of…

The authors present a longitudinal study aimed at understanding the factors that affect educational outcomes for Latinos. They explore Latino students' perceptions of the campus climate, their sense of belonging in college, their analytical skills and abilities, and their development of a pluralistic orientation necessary to function in a diverse…

The study reported in this article examined two Hispanic-serving institutions, Miami-Dade Community College and Santa Monica College, and the innovative transfer agreements they have with Smith College, a highly selective private women's college. Factors that influence the successful transfer of women students to Smith from these HSIs are…

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of, knowledge regarding, and preparation for standardized college admissions exams of 227 urban African American and Latino high school students. Findings include the students' lack of information about the test and their reliance on their relatively uninformed and unavailable school officials for…

This study examined how 16 Black, Latina, and American Indian women science students reacted to their undergraduate science classes. I focused on the meanings they made of the common features of university science documented by Seymour and Hewitt (1997), including large, competitive, fast-paced classes, poor teaching, and an unsupportive culture.…

This research brief summarizes a survey about the effectiveness of programs from Break the Cycle, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and fielding dating-violence prevention programs. The study evaluated "Ending Violence," a three-class-session prevention program. Developed by a Los Angeles-based nonprofit group called Break…

By 2050, Latinos will account for 25 percent of the U.S. population. Despite their increasing numbers, many children of immigrants consider themselves members of a minority group in a way that negatively affects their behavior, school performance, and social integration. Educators need to develop a better understanding of the culture and issues…

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a supplemental peer-tutoring reading program on phonological and reading fluency skills of first graders (N=78) who were in predominantly Hispanic Title 1 classrooms. Sixty-eight percent of the students were Hispanic, all were English speaking. Six classrooms were randomly assigned to either…

This qualitative study focused on African American and Latino high school students perceptions of standardized admission tests, including the Scholastic Assessment Tests (I and II) and the ACT Assessment. Students enrolled in college preparatory classes were interviewed about these tests individually and in focus groups in fall 1998 in their…

Using 118 sixth-grade Hispanic students from 10 California elementary schools, the study indicated that specific power differences (student, parent, and staff power) and curriculum factors (school's level of multicultural curriculum) were indeed mechanisms of symbolic violence as they were related to ethnic salience and attitudes toward students'…

Examined the relationship between self-esteem and sexual behavior and intended sexual behavior among Hispanic middle school students. Student surveys indicated that higher home self-esteem significantly related to reduced likelihood of participation in sexual intercourse (ever) and reduced intent to participate. Higher school self-esteem related…

Videos celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Black History month were presented at two regionally and ethnically distinct college campuses. Students (N=62) were interviewed regarding what attracted them to the video. Students of color commented positively on the cultural content as well as the musical and dance components of each video. Presents…

This report summarizes the following results from Austin Independent School District's student graduating class of 2006: student demographic information, results from their High School Exit Survey responses, their postsecondary enrollment data, and students' academic performance data.