Study: Two-Thirds Of Hispanics In US 15+ Years Can’t Understand English

According to a new study from The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), 67% of Hispanics are not proficient in English even after 15 years living in America.

The study also found that 63% of Hispanics have a “below basic” understanding of English, rendering them functionally illiterate.

CIS added, “The children of Hispanic immigrants score at the 34th percentile, and 22 percent are below basic. In addition, just 5 percent of second-generation Hispanics have ‘elite’ literacy skills, compared to 14 percent of natives overall.”

Jason Richwine, who authored the report, used a test of English literacy from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) As The Washington Examiner noted: 41% of immigrants score at or below the lowest level of English literacy; the average immigrant scores at the 21st percentile of the native score distribution; Hispanic immigrants are at the bottom of the list of immigrants, as their average score falls at the 8th percentile, and they self-report exaggerated English skills; Hispanic immigrants who self-report that they speak English “very well” or “well” fall at the 18th percentile.

Children of Hispanic immigrants score at the 34th percentile, and 22% are below basic. Only 5% of second generation Hispanics have “elite” literacy skills.