Impact of Newcomer School Enrollment on School Attendance and High School Dropout

• In Event: Integration of Newcomer and Refugee Students in U.S. Schools

Abstract

Newcomer schools are designed to promote English language acquisition and integration among recently-arrived immigrants, or newcomers. Despite these aims, newcomer schools are controversial given legal concerns with the segregation of students by nationality. Human capital theory suggests that, given their intentional focus on recent immigrants, newcomer schools may help students achieve educational success. In contrast, theories on school racial segregation suggest the opposite. Using school administrative data, this study examines which students are more likely to enroll in a newcomer school and how newcomer school enrollment impacts school attendance rates and high school dropout. Preliminary results show immigrant students from marginalized backgrounds are more likely to enroll in newcomer schools, particularly those who live in immigrant enclaves nearby the school.

Authors

• Brian Holzman, Rice University

• Tori Thomas, Rice University-Houston Education Research Consortium

• Camila Cigarroa Kennedy, Rice University