By: tito guerrero iii

This manuscript has been peer-reviewed, accepted, and endorsed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) as a significant contribution to the scholarship and practice of education administration. In addition to publication in the Connexions Content Commons, this module is published in the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation , Volume 5, Number 1 (January – March 2010). Formatted and edited in Connexions by Julia Stanka, Texas A&M University.

The changing hispanic/latino population in texas and the united states

Tito Guerrero III

Abstract

Between 1990 and 2000, the population of the United States grew by 32.4 million, an increase of 13 percent and the largest growth in population than in any previous decade. Hispanics experienced the largest growth in population (58 percent). When compared to the rest of the population within the United States, the Hispanic population is relatively young. For example, while 25.7 percent of the U.S. population was under 18 years of age in 2000, 35.0 percent of Hispanics were less than age 18. Also, the median age for Hispanics was 25.9 years while the median age for the entire U.S. population was 35.3 years. While Hispanics have made important strides in educational attainment, they still trail both African Americans and Whites in rates of high school completion. They also trail African Americans and Whites in college participation and in the rates of completion of four or more years of college. Similarly, while Hispanics have made significant gains among the teaching ranks at colleges and universities, they still represent a very small proportion of the faculty. A number of steps can be taken to further accelerate the incorporation of Hispanics into the fabric of American life. They are addressed in this paper.