The graduation rate for Georgia’s Hispanic students is 64 percent, third-lowest in the nation, according to U.S. Education Department data released Monday.
Language barriers, difficulty transitioning to American schools, the number of courses required to graduate and students who don’t see the correlation between a good education and strong career prospects are some reasons experts and others give for Georgia’s substandard Hispanic graduation rate.
Ensuring Hispanic students are prepared for college and careers will be critical to the state's long-term economic future, as the percentage of Hispanic students in Georgia continues to surge. Between 2004 and 2013, Hispanic enrollment in Georgia's public schools rose from seven to 13 percent, more than any other racial group, according to a state study.
Much of the work to improve the graduation rate is being done through community organizations, foundations and Hispanic students helping their classmates. Read more about it here.
