HISPANIC EDUCATIONAL-ATTAINMENT - THE EFFECTS OF FAMILY BACKGROUND AND NATIVITY

We first examine the degree to which foreign birth explains the lower educational attainment of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans compared to white s. Although foreign birth is a partial explanation of group difference s, family structure and parental education are more important explanat ory variables. However, when we consider how the effects of nativity v ary across Hispanic groups, we find that while U.S.-born Mexicans have higher educational attainment than foreign-born Mexicans, U.S.-born P uerto Ricans are no better off than foreign-born Puerto Ricans. We als o find heterogeneity in the educational experiences of U.S.-born Mexic ans. Those with foreign-born parents have higher educational attainmen t than those with U.S.-born parents.