Alabama Sees Rise in Number of Latino Students

Hispanic students on the rise (The Birmingham News - 6.04.07)

The number of Hispanic students in Alabama public schools increased by 11 percent during the recently ended school year, state enrollment figures show.

During the 2005-2006 school year, 20,386 Hispanic students were enrolled in the state's school districts. During 2006-2007, the total rose to 23,219. Overall, the state's K-12 enrollment was 739,760 and the Hispanic share was slightly more than 3 percent.

In DeKalb County, Latino students made up nearly 50% of Collinsville High School's student body, according to figures compiled in late May by the county school board.

In Albertville in Marshall County, the Hispanic share of the city system's enrollment went from 26 percent in 2005-06 to 27 percent in 2006-07.

In some state school systems and individual schools, primarily in north Alabama, the Hispanic percentages were far higher, and officials at some said they expected their numbers of Hispanic students to further increase in the coming year.

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