---
title: "II. Hispanic Public School Enrollments"
description: "Newly available data indicate that the nation’s Hispanic student population continues to grow. More than 12.4 million Hispanics were enrolled in the nation’s public schools pre-K through 12th grade in October 2011, according to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Overall, Hispanic students make up nearly one-quarter (23.9%) of the nation’s […]"
date: "2012-08-20"
authors:
  - name: "Richard Fry"
    job_title: "Senior Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/richard-fry/"
  - name: "Mark Hugo Lopez"
    job_title: "Director, Race and Ethnicity Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/mark-hugo-lopez/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/08/20/ii-hispanic-public-school-enrollments/"
categories:
  - "Hispanics/Latinos & Education"
---

# II. Hispanic Public School Enrollments

Newly available data indicate that the nation’s Hispanic student population continues to grow. More than 12.4 million Hispanics were enrolled in the nation’s public schools pre-K through 12th grade in October 2011, according to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Overall, Hispanic students make up nearly one-quarter (23.9%) of the nation’s public school enrollment, up from one-fifth (19.9%) in 2005 and 16.7% in 2000.

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/08/phc-2012-08-20-enrollment-02-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2012/08/20/hispanic-student-enrollments-reach-new-highs-in-2011/phc-2012-08-20-enrollment-02-01/)

Growth in the share of Hispanics among all public school students reflects growth in their share among younger public school students. In 2011, for the first time, one-quarter (25%) of public elementary school children were Hispanic. This follows on the heels of other Hispanic student population milestones. In 2007, more than 25% of all kindergarten students were Hispanic for the first time, and in 2006 Hispanics reached the one-quarter milestone among all nursery school students. [4. numoffset="4" Hispanic children made up 26% of public nursery school enrollments in October 2011. However, Hispanic children are less likely to enroll in nursery schools overall than other children. In October 2011, Hispanic children were only 20% of all nursery school enrollments at both private and public schools.] Hispanic children made up 26% of public nursery school enrollments in October 2011. However, Hispanic children are less likely to enroll in nursery schools overall than other children. In October 2011, Hispanic children were only 20% of all nursery school enrollments at both private and public schools.]

In 2011, Hispanics made up 21% of all public high school student enrollments. As students in nursery school progress through kindergarten and into elementary school and high school, Hispanic students will make up a rising share of public high school students and all public school students in coming years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2036 Hispanics are projected to compose one-third of the nation’s children ages 3 to 17 ([U.S. Census Bureau, 2008](http://www.census.gov/popest/)).

---

**Next:** [III. Hispanic College Enrollments](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/08/20/iii-hispanic-college-enrollments.md)