The Academic Trajectory of Children of Immigrants: Consistent Success or Catching-up?

• In Event: 435 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 02. Immigration and Education

Abstract

Children of immigrants have strong academic outcomes in their adolescent, but their prior performance remains understudied. This study examines how early academic trajectories differ by parental nativity. Related research suggests two potential scenarios of children of immigrants’ early academic trajectory: they may enjoy consistent success from the moment they begin school, or they may demonstrate strength only years into formal education. Contrary to the more commonly observed pattern of persistent disparities, the findings show that children of immigrants begin schooling with weaker academic performance on both math and reading scores, but catch up to children of natives during the primary grades.

Author

• Aspen Chen, University of Connecticut