As the Latino population in North Carolina continues to increase, the dropout rate among its students poses a problem within public education.
Experts say low parent involvement in students’ education, a lack of funds for college and many students’ need to work and earn money for their families all contribute to this high rate.
Marisol Jimenez-McGee, advocacy director and registered lobbyist for Raleigh-based advocacy organization El Pueblo, said about one-fourth of Latino youth in North Carolina live below the poverty line.
Combined with the fact that many of these students haven’t gained N.C. residency and can’t go to universities as in-state students — and couldn’t even attend community colleges until six months ago as undocumented students — the incentive to graduate high school is minimal.
“It didn’t create a very good environment for encouraging these kids to stay in school,” Jimenez-McGee said.
According to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, 1,669 out of 77,982 Latino students in North Carolina dropped out of school in the 2003-04 school year. The 2.14 percent mark gave Latinos the second highest dropout rate — topped only by American Indians.
The lowest dropout rate for N.C. students in the 2004-05 school year was in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. The system still is developing programs to minimize the dropout rate.
Kim Hoke, spokeswoman for the school system, said the system’s middle college high school program will begin next year.
The program will allow students to enroll dually at high schools and community colleges. Hoke said dropouts often leave high school for community colleges, so system officials hope dual enrollment will encourage them to stay in the school system.
