What are the factors affecting the achievement of Hispanic high school youth? Hispanic Americans are the largest growing population in the United States. Currently, Hispanic students make up more than 20% of the U.S. school population and, in 23 of the 50 states, Hispanic students outnumber African American and Asian students. During the 1970s and 1980s the gap between the achievement of Hispanic students and white students narrowed; however, since the 1990s, progress in the academic achievement of Hispanic students has virtually stopped. Like other minority and low-income students, Hispanic students often face challenges within school which can hamper their success, such as: (1) Being enrolled in less rigorous and challenging academic courses; (2) Having under-prepared, less experienced teachers; and (3) Facing low teacher expectations and possible discrimination. Research by groups such as the Education Trust (2003), the North Central Regional Education Laboratory (2004), the Center on Education Policy (2001), and the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (2003) have identified several factors affecting the academic achievement of Hispanic students as well as suggestions for improving their education opportunities: (1) Teacher Quality and Professional Development; (2) Teacher Expectations; (3) Extended Learning Time; (4) Parent and Community Support; (5) Social Support; (6) A Rigorous Curriculum; (7) Knowledge about and Access to Higher Education; and (8) Learning Resources. (Contains 6 online resources.)