Immigrant Students Dropping Out: A Case Study

One of the student groups who are at a higher risk for dropping out of school are children of immigrants. In the past five years, the United States has experienced a rapid influx of immigrants (McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, & McWhirter, 2013). One in five children come from immigrant families (Fischer, 2010). Many come from Latin America and Asia (McWhirter et al, 2013). Many of these children have a difficult time assimilating into their schools and communities. As a result, they tend to drop out of school. It is critical for counselors and teachers to understand what the risk factors are for this group of students, so they can work to ensure more immigrant children will graduate from high school. The student’s microsystem plays an important role in their lives. The child’s microsystem typically consists of their family. Family tries to help a child cope after a significant transition. Friends come along when immigrant children begin to adjust to their new culture and environment. Some children often reach out to those who are new in
One of the risk factors for immigrant children dropping out of school is poverty. Adolescents who live in poverty often drop out of school because of their desire to work (Behnke, Gonzalez, & Cox, 2010). In many cultures around the world, education is valued because they know it is the only way to get out of poverty. They believe coming to the United States will give their children a better chance of attending school, because mainly the wealthy are able to attend to school. Unfortunately, there are some immigrant parents who blame the schools for not meeting their needs or the needs of their children (Behnke, Gonzalez, & Cox, 2010). Although not necessarily a risk factor, it is imperative for parents, teachers, and counselors to work together in order to provide an environment where immigrant children can thrive and