NCES Publishes Data on Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups

The National Center for Education Statistics of the US Department of Education has published its "Status and Trends in Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups". Among the highlights, the report notes that students of each racial and ethnic group who have completed high school have increased their enrollment in college. The rates of increase vary by ethnic group, however.

The report also states:

Between 1980 and 2008, the racial/ethnic composition of the United States shifted—the White population declined from 80 percent of the total population to 66 percent;the Hispanic population increased from 6percent of the total to 15 percent; the Black population remained at about 12 percent;and the Asian/Pacific Islander population increased from less than 2 percent of the total population to 4 percent. In 2008, American Indians/Alaska Natives made up about 1percent and people of two or more races made up about 1 percent of the population.

In 2008, a higher percentage of Asian children (51 percent) had a mother with at least a bachelor’s degree than did White children (36 percent), children of two or more races (31 percent), Black children (17 percent), American Indian/Alaska Native children (16 percent), and Hispanic children(11 percent).

In 2008, about 29 percent of U.S. adults (25 years of age or older) had at least a bachelor’s degree, including 52 percent of Asian/Pacific Islander adults, 33 percent of White adults,20 percent of Black adults, 13 percent of Hispanic adults, and 15 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native adults.

To review the entire report, go to: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010015.pdf