This article examines the relationship between immigrant generation and high school dropout among Hispanic students. Using the NELS:88 data set, Hispanic eighth grade students were followed for four years to determine if, and when, they dropped out of high school. The findings suggest that, while the odds of early high school dropout are uniformly high among all generations, net of individual and family resources second generation eighth graders are less likely to drop out at any time, and first and second generation sophomores are more likely to complete high school. High educational expectations, family income and past academic performance protect against high school dropout.

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United States educational attainment ethnicity comparative study