The Growth of Hispanic Students and English Learners Nationwide—in
Charts
Dalia Gerardo, a bilingual teacher, works with her 2nd grade students at West
Elementary, in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022. Gerardo’s classroom
features bilingual signs that support her English learners—and encourage
monolingual English speakers to engage with Spanish.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
The demographics of public school students are changing rapidly, including in
the South. That means school districts must find ways to meet the needs of an
increasingly Hispanic and multilingual student body, researchers and advocates
say.
In Alabama, for instance, the mostly Hispanic English-learner population grew
from about 2.4 percent to about 5 percent in the last 10 years. In the
Russellville school district in the northern part of the state, English
learners now make up a quarter of the student population.
Flourish logoA Flourish map
Nationally, English learners are one of the fastest-growing student
populations. Yet advocates say state and federal policy and funding lag behind
what’s needed to ensure these students’ linguistic and academic needs are met.
That’s especially the case when it comes to sorting out best practices for
older immigrant students who have less time to become proficient in English
and meet graduation requirements.
Flourish logoA Flourish chart
A majority of the nation’s English learners are Hispanic, itself a
fast-growing demographic within public schools.
Flourish logoA Flourish chart
To adapt to its growing Hispanic and English-learner population, the
Russellville district used federal pandemic relief funding to hire bilingual
instructional aides beginning in 2021. Working primarily with students in
grades K through 2, the aides—in tandem with general classroom teachers and
English-as-a-second-language teachers—have produced results. With the added
support, more of these young students have been reaching their language
proficiency goals.
Flourish logoA Flourish chart
But since the funding for these aides will dry out in May 2024, districts like
Russellville face challenges to sustain initiatives that work for English
learners—both young and older.
To learn more about how this Alabama town is adapting to growing student
needs, read our newly published series.
DIVE INTO THE PROJECT
PART 1 | A Burgeoning Success Story: In one small Alabama city, prioritizing
English learners is the new normal. Learn how the district’s efforts have paid
off.
PART 2 | Gains Under Threat: With funding unstable and major challenges facing
secondary students, Russellville’s English learner journey remains tenuous.
Why Support for English Learners Matters: A bilingual aide now provides the
support she didn’t get as a former English learner. Read her story.
In a Teacher’s Own Words: Teachers need the right mindset to help English
learners—but district leaders set the stage.
The Growth of English Learners, in Charts: Explore the data on the growth of
Hispanic students and English learners nationwide over time.
Witnessing Change in a ‘Little Town for Latinos’: Born in Russellville, Ala.,
to immigrant parents from El Salvador, an English learner reflects on his
journey in this video.
