Part of a series intended to highlight the implications for educational planning of the changing demography of the Southwestern United States, this report on California indicates that the greatest population growth in the next 20 years will occur among minority populations, whose rates of postsecondary educational attainment and socioeconomic status have been low historically. Projections place California's population between 30.1 million and 31.5 million by the year 2000, a 20-year growth rate of between 27% and 33%. Data show that people of Spanish origin accounted for 19.2% of the total 1980 California population but represented 32% of 0-4 age group, which should grow to 40% by 2000. Nationwide figures show that 83% of Whites completed high school compared with 72% of Blacks and 55% of American Indians and Hispanics. National data suggest that smaller percentages of students from low-income families enroll in postsecondary education than students from medium- and high-income families. In California, relatively high percentages of Spanish-origin, Black and American Indian families earned less than $15,000 in 1979. Although each minority has a unique pattern, present enrollment and earned degree patterns show considerable underrepresentation for Hispanics, Blacks, and American Indians at most levels of postsecondary education. (NEC)