Hispanic adolescent challenges in the school environment

The world of adolescence challenges students to find their optimal place in and out of school environments. Hispanic students are currently the fastest growing adolescent population in the United States. As a group they continue to face the storms and stress of adolescence and are relentlessly impacted by the socio-political challenges placed on their identities through stereotypes, low expectations, language barriers and questioning the value of their culture. This chapter utilizes the person environment fit theory as a framework to examine existing structures in the pipeline of Hispanic adolescent education. It calls for the re-examination of obstacles faced by Hispanic students during adolescent development to fit into U.S. school environments. Finally, the authors argue for conclusions and recommendations which encourage policy makers and educational leaders to scrutinize Hispanic adolescent realities and create inclusive spaces for educational opportunities.