tion. After King County, Yakima, Adams, Franklin, and Grant counties are the largest regions where there is over 30% of the population identifying themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Western Washington represents approximately 54% of the states population and Eastern Washington a 46% representation (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003). The median age of Hispanics living in the United States is 25.9 years. Hispanics in Washington State are younger than the population as a whole. Nearly 12% of the population is under 18 years of age. Hence education success for this population is important.
Defining the terms Hispanic and Latino might be helpful in understanding the population. The Hispanic population in the United States is heterogeneous in nature. It encompasses various subgroups of people with distinct backgrounds. These groups of people represent different historical, economic, political and racial perspectives.
Paniagua (1994) describes that a person is considered ôHispanicö in terms of language skill (Spanish speaking), family name (Spanish surname), or ancestry (Spanish American). A more inclusive definition of Hispanics, are individuals who reside in the United States and who were born in or trace the background of their families to one of the Spanish-speaking Latin American nations or Spain.
Hispanic American, Hispano or Latino are commonly used terms. Latino implies that a person is from a Latin American Country. Hispanic American implies that a person is not only of Spanish origin but that he or she was born in the United States. Currently, the literature suggests that most persons prefer the term Hispanic in its general sense. The Hispanic American population is growing as a result of high birth rates and immigration. Birthrates among Hispanics are increasing by comparison to other minority groups. Additionally infant mortality rates are lower by comparison to White Americans and African Americans mortality ...