Do Latino Boys See Bright Do Latino Boys See Bright Futures?:Futures?:

Latino/a Students’ Perceptions Latino/a Students’ Perceptions on College and Financial Aidon College and Financial Aid

Mari Luna De La Rosa, Mari Luna De La Rosa, Ph.D.Ph.D.

“That is, today we grapple with our need to thoroughly understand who we are-gifted human beings-and to believe in our gifts, talents, our worthiness and beauty, while having to survive with the constructs of a world antithetical to our intuition and knowledge regarding life’s meaning.”

Ana Castillo, Massacre of the Dreamers, 1994

Description of High Description of High SchoolsSchools

• 9 low-income high schools in the Los Angeles County area.

• Enrollment from 1,000 to 5,000 students.

• 12th graders from 133 to 734.

•Teachers (both credentialed and uncredentialed) from 47 to 219.•College counselors at each school: 11.•College preparation programs on each campus from 2 to 7.

Description of Latino/a Student Description of Latino/a Student RespondentsRespondents

N=3,032N=3,032• 46% are male.• 54% are in the 11th grade.• 84% are 16 to 17 years old.

• 80% are U.S. citizens.• 96% live with their parents.

• 40% receive mostly C grades.• 57% first to go to college.• 67% have parents with some high school

education.

Latino Boys Plans after Latino Boys Plans after High SchoolHigh School

33%Community

College

41% 4-Year

University

9% Trade

School

8% Military or

Work9%

Not Sure

N=1,393

Latina Girls Plans after High Latina Girls Plans after High SchoolSchool

6.0% Military or

Work

52% 4-Year

University

3% Not Sure

6% Trade School

32% Community

College

N=1,639

““If I Want to Go to College, I Want to Go If I Want to Go to College, I Want to Go Because….” Because….” (% Very Important)(% Very Important)

61.6

48.0

68.2

53.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Family Wants Me to Go Teachers/Counselors Encourage Me

Latino Boys Latina Girls

N=3,032

““When I Think About Paying for College…”When I Think About Paying for College…”(% who Strongly Agree to Agree)

39.443.9

38.232.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Grades Not Good Enough College too Expensive

Latino Boys Latina Girls

N=3,032

““I Will Use Financial Aid Information to….”I Will Use Financial Aid Information to….”(% who Strongly Agree to Agree)(% who Strongly Agree to Agree)

53.6

66.165.5 65.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Talk to Parents Decide about College

Latino Boys Latina Girls

N=3,032

Policy ImplicationsPolicy Implications

• Culture of preparation at high schools shapes college aspiration.

• College and financial aid information framed to create college opportunity.

• Understand the needs of Latino families and their awareness of college opportunity and financial aid.

Contact InformationContact Information

Mari Luna De La Rosa, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

m.lunadelarosa@usc.edu

(213) 821-2131

www.usc.edu/dept/chepa/

Center for Higher Education

Policy Analysis