Program works to counter low Hispanic attendance
Rachel McDaniel
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: News
Although 26 percent of the Hispanic Serving Institutions named in the Excelencia study were private schools, for many Hispanic students private schools can be intimidating, said Greg Trevino, director of Inclusiveness & Intercultural Services.
"There's a perception that TCU is unattainable," Trevino said. "Many Hispanic students feel that because TCU is expensive, and because of their own financial situation, there's no way they can afford it."
Many of the students in FWISD high schools don't go to college because of citizenship issues, said Roxanne Wueste, academic coordinator for advanced programs at North Side High School.
"We educate a lot of kids who don't even have a Social Security number, and as soon as they graduate, they become essentially invisible," Wueste said.
North Side High School, located near the Stockyards, is 94 percent Hispanic. The school has a graduation rate of 40 percent, Wueste said. For many of the families, finances play a big role in whether the students go to college or not.
"A lot of Hispanic families can't afford for their kids to go to college because they depend on them to work and to help the family survive," Wueste said.
Despite all of this, North Side had the highest number of Hispanic graduates - five - come to TCU out of all FWISD schools.
Filicia Hernandez, a sophomore business major and graduate of FWISD high school Diamond Hill-Jarvis, said she thinks there aren't enough programs helping Hispanic students get into college.
"No one really talked to us about college," Hernandez said.
Another reason TCU isn't a prime choice for Hispanic students is because of its lack of Hispanic students, Trevino said.
"One reason more Hispanic students aren't coming here is because they know that TCU is a predominantly white campus, and that the minority population - the Hispanic population - definitely is not very big," Trevino said.
Hernandez said people find it surprising she was able to attend TCU.
"There's a perception that TCU is unattainable," Trevino said. "Many Hispanic students feel that because TCU is expensive, and because of their own financial situation, there's no way they can afford it."
Many of the students in FWISD high schools don't go to college because of citizenship issues, said Roxanne Wueste, academic coordinator for advanced programs at North Side High School.
"We educate a lot of kids who don't even have a Social Security number, and as soon as they graduate, they become essentially invisible," Wueste said.
North Side High School, located near the Stockyards, is 94 percent Hispanic. The school has a graduation rate of 40 percent, Wueste said. For many of the families, finances play a big role in whether the students go to college or not.
"A lot of Hispanic families can't afford for their kids to go to college because they depend on them to work and to help the family survive," Wueste said.
Despite all of this, North Side had the highest number of Hispanic graduates - five - come to TCU out of all FWISD schools.
Filicia Hernandez, a sophomore business major and graduate of FWISD high school Diamond Hill-Jarvis, said she thinks there aren't enough programs helping Hispanic students get into college.
"No one really talked to us about college," Hernandez said.
Another reason TCU isn't a prime choice for Hispanic students is because of its lack of Hispanic students, Trevino said.
"One reason more Hispanic students aren't coming here is because they know that TCU is a predominantly white campus, and that the minority population - the Hispanic population - definitely is not very big," Trevino said.
Hernandez said people find it surprising she was able to attend TCU.
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