What is going with our young Hispanics in Massachusetts? Only 57 percent of Hispanic students in that state graduated in four years. The survey began back in 2002 and gathered the number of enrolled freshmen versus the seniors that graduated in 2006.

Education Commissioner David Driscoll had this to say:

“Until we can make a significant impact on keeping kids in school, we’re not going to really make the kind of inroad on the achievement gap,” Driscoll said. “There are a lot of kids who are falling through the cracks and we’ve got to begin there.”

Only 80 percent of the state’s overall students graduated in four years, but, get this, these statistics are actually higher than the country’s average of 70 percent. This is obviously a major issue that transcends race and ethnicity, but, Latinos, we have to do our part.

Message to the young Latinos: In many cases, our parents or grandparents came to this country and worked their nalgas off to give us more opportunities in life. Let’s not throw that away or take it for granted. I know its cliché, but education is truly important to one’s success. Work against the stereotypes that are out there. Study hard, graduate, go to college, excel in your careers, and motivate the next generation to do the same.

Via/SouthCoastToday.com