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More than one in five American-born Hispanics with at least one immigrant parent scored below basic, double the rate for second-generation non-Hispanics. Non-Hispanic Americans with at least one immigrant parent were also more likely to be elite — 22 percent, compared with 5 percent of second-generation Hispanics.
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The children of non-Hispanic immigrants, in fact, scored better on average than natives. They achieved scores averaging in the 60th percentile of all examinees. Second-generation Hispanics, meanwhile, were in the 34th percentile.
Richwine said the results are important because the ability to speak and read English well is key to getting high-paying jobs in the United States and avoiding reliance on government-assistance programs. But he said it also is important to the health of democracy.
“The ability to speak English completely fluently is essential for a sense of civic fluency as well,” he said.
Richwine pointed to watching a presidential debate as an example. “You should be able to understand that completely.” [lz_pagination]
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