Alberto F. Cabrera

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Latinos journey on the path to collegeThe saga
of one generation of 8th graders

• Alberto F. Cabrera
• Professor
• College of Education
• University of Maryland
• cabrera_at_umd.edu

Prepared for presentation at the Educational
Policy Institute (EPI) Live Webinar September
14, 2007
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Questions guiding the study

• What happened to 1988 NELS 8th grade Latino
  students in the 12 years that followed?
• How did their progress compare to White students
  through the various stages of the educational
  pipeline?
• What factors seem to have the most impact on
  Latino students ability to attain a four-year
  degree?

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What percentage of 8th grader Latino students
went on to postsecondary education after
completion of high school?

• 27
• 66
• 48
• 73
• Not a clue

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(No Transcript)
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Among 8th graders who became postsecondary
education attendees, what percentage of them
secured at least a bachelors degree?

• 14
• 24
• 44
• 84
• Not a clue

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(No Transcript)
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• To what extent are at risk factors present among
  Latino middle school students?

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Based on National Educational Longitudinal Study
1988
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Pathways to Postsecondary Education
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(No Transcript)
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What matters most for the attainment of a
bachelors degree?

• Latino, White, and All Students

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Middle school experiences
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The role of planning parental expectations
for Latino middle school students
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The role of academic preparation
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Postsecondary experiences Performance in college
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In Conclusion

• Latino students are much more likely to earn a
  BA or higher if they
• are supported by their families in the pursuit of
  a postsecondary education
• create a plan by the eighth grade
• take three years of mathematics or more
• start at a four-year institution
• maintain continuous enrollment
• Earn a GPA of 2.50 or above