Growing Diversity of U.S. Schools

The high school class of 2025 will be the largest and most diverse group in U.S. history, according to the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE). The 2007 U.S. birth rate climbed past 4.3 million, which was the highest level since the Baby Boomer crest of 1957. But what makes this current trend so unique is the diversity of the student body. In 1995, 73% of high school graduates were white while only 13% were black, 9% Hispanic, and 4% Asian. Following trends, according to Pew Research Center, the 2025 high school graduating class will be 51% white, 14% black, 25% Hispanic, and 8% Asian.

Hispanics will make up the largest growth among the groups. In a study of documenting illegal immigrants from the Pew Research Center Fact Tank from 2012, about 7% of K-12 students had at least one unauthorized immigrant parent. This could factor in to decisions of attending college. As college tuition rates rise families will have to determine if it is affordable enough and if there is value in going to college.