Hispanic/Latino(a), Gifted

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000, there were 35.2 million Hispanics in the United States, with 20.6 million identifying as Mexican, 3.4 million as Puerto Rican, 1.2 million as Cuban, and 10 million as other Latino. In 2007, the Census Bureau suggested that number had risen to 45.4 million, with approximately 23.5 million Hispanic men and 21.9 million women, making the Hispanic population the largest group of ethnic-racial minorities in the United States. These numbers are projected to increase to 59.8 million by the year 2010, and 102.6 million by 2050.

In 2006, the Census Bureau found that half of the Hispanics in the United States were native to the United States, and the other half were foreign born. Approximately 25 percent of Hispanics entered the United States in the year 2000 or later. Most of those entering the United States were born in Latin America. With these numbers, it is not surprising that approximately 80 percent of Hispanics speak English at home, with almost 20 percent speaking some other language. These statistics help educators and mental health providers understand the necessity of specialized training regarding the needs of this population and pertinent issues to consider when working with gifted and talented Hispanics. It is necessary to consider the particular culture and geographic area from which a Hispanic is coming and how this affects her or his experience with giftedness and the educational system.

Disparities exist with regard to educational attainment. According to the Census Bureau, in 2007, about 60.3 percent of Hispanics age 25 and older completed high school or above compared with 86.2 percent of Whites. Hispanics have the lowest rate of any ethnic-racial minority group in [Page 420]the United States for completing high school. About 12.7 percent of Hispanics completed 4 years of college or more compared with 29.1 percent of Whites.

These disparities widen for advanced degrees. In 2004, the Census Bureau reported that more than 1.6 million Hispanics earned a bachelor's degree; 475,000 earned a master's degree; 110,000 earned a professional degree; and 36,000 earned a doctoral degree. These numbers were much greater among the White population, with more than 27.1 million bachelor's degrees, 10.2 million master's degrees, 2.3 million professional degrees, and nearly 1.7 million doctoral degrees. Thus, educators and mental health providers must foster and encourage those Hispanics who display giftedness whether they have been tested or not. This would help to propel more Hispanics into higher education and to seek advanced degrees, thus using their giftedness and talent. Hispanics often display aspects of giftedness long before they are tested for it, which is often related to Hispanics' ability to speak English. Without English proficiency, giftedness is much more difficult to recognize.

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