From towering statistics that nearly match native enrollment rates to persistent achievement gaps, immigrant education is a complex global story of resilience, barriers, and untapped potential.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, 94% of immigrant children aged 5-17 in the US were enrolled in school, compared to 95% of US-born children, according to Census Bureau data.
- Among first-generation immigrants in California public schools (2020-21), 82.3% of English learners showed proficiency growth in English Language Arts.
- In the EU, 87% of children of immigrants aged 6-15 were enrolled in compulsory education in 2019, per Eurostat.
- In 2019, immigrant students in US scored 15 points lower on average in NAEP math grade 8 than natives.
- PISA 2018: Second-generation immigrants in OECD scored 25 points below native in reading.
- US ELL students (mostly immigrants) had 68% math proficiency vs 82% non-ELL in 2022.
- In 2022, 85% of US immigrant adults aged 25+ had high school diploma or higher, up from 65% in 2000.
- First-generation immigrants in Canada: 60% postsecondary attainment in 2021.
- EU migrants aged 25-34: 42% tertiary education vs 38% natives 2020.
- In US, immigrant high school graduation rate was 78% in 2020 vs 86% natives.
- California: Immigrant students 82% 4-year grad rate 2021.
- UK: 85% immigrant pupils achieved 5+ GCSEs 2022.
- In 2021, 45% of US immigrants faced language barriers to education access.
- 30% of immigrant children in EU lack preschool access 2019.
- US immigrant students 40% more likely in underfunded schools 2022.
Immigrant students enroll widely but face persistent achievement gaps in education.
Attainment Levels
- In 2022, 85% of US immigrant adults aged 25+ had high school diploma or higher, up from 65% in 2000.
- First-generation immigrants in Canada: 60% postsecondary attainment in 2021.
- EU migrants aged 25-34: 42% tertiary education vs 38% natives 2020.
- Mexican immigrants in US: 12% bachelor's degree attainment 2021.
- Second-gen immigrants US: 50% college grads vs 42% natives 25-34.
- UK non-EU immigrants: 45% higher education attainment 2022.
- Indian immigrants US: 79% bachelor's or higher 2021 Census.
- Australia skilled migrants: 65% tertiary qualified 2021.
- Germany: 30% immigrants with vocational training cert 2021.
- Chinese immigrants Canada: 75% postsecondary 2019.
- US Central American immigrants: 18% high school completion 2020.
- Sweden: 55% first-gen immigrants postsecondary 2022.
- Filipino immigrants US: 52% bachelor's attainment 2021.
- Netherlands: 40% migrants university degree 2021.
- Immigrant women US: 35% college grads vs 28% men 2022.
- France: 38% North African immigrants secondary complete 2020.
- Second-gen Hispanics US: 25% bachelor's rate 2021.
- Norway: 48% immigrants higher ed 2021.
- Vietnamese immigrants US: 30% bachelor's 2021.
- OECD average: Immigrants 25-64: 15% tertiary vs 28% natives 2020.
- Irish immigrants: 55% advanced degrees US 2022.
- Belgium: 35% Turkish immigrants high school 2019.
- Nigerian immigrants US: 62% bachelor's 2021.
- Denmark: 50% refugees postsecondary after 10 years.
- Immigrant high school completion US: 89% for 25+ in 2022.
Attainment Levels Interpretation
The global immigrant story in education is one of dramatic progress and stubborn gaps, revealing a sharp divide between those who arrive with advanced degrees and those climbing from the first rung, yet their collective trajectory is decisively upward, especially for the next generation.
Barriers and Access
- In 2021, 45% of US immigrants faced language barriers to education access.
- 30% of immigrant children in EU lack preschool access 2019.
- US immigrant students 40% more likely in underfunded schools 2022.
- California: 25% immigrants undocumented affecting college aid.
- UK: 22% migrant pupils lacked free meals eligibility 2021.
- 35% Texas immigrants report transportation barriers to school.
- OECD: 28% immigrants face discrimination in schools 2019.
- NYC: 15% immigrant students homeless 2022.
- Canada: 20% recent immigrants lack childcare for schooling.
- Germany: 40% refugees need extra language support 2021.
- Florida: 18% immigrants without health insurance impacting attendance.
- Australia: 12% migrants report bullying barriers 2022.
- Sweden: 33% immigrants in segregated schools 2021.
- Illinois: 27% ELL waitlisted for bilingual programs.
- Netherlands: 25% undocumented no legal school access.
- Arizona: 22% immigrants fear deportation affecting enrollment.
- Norway: 18% migrants lack digital access for ed 2020.
- Nevada: 30% immigrants in overcrowded classrooms.
- Denmark: 15% asylum seekers delayed school entry.
- 55% US immigrants cite cost as higher ed barrier 2022.
- Finland: 10% migrants without interpreter services.
- Colorado: 20% DACA students tuition barrier.
- Belgium: 35% language barriers for North Africans.
- Washington: 25% immigrants mental health access issues.
- Georgia: 16% rural immigrants transport barriers.
- Ireland: 14% non-EEA lack recognition of credentials.
- Massachusetts: 28% immigrants special ed underidentified.
- France: 32% banlieue immigrants school segregation.
- Virginia: 19% ELL funding shortfalls.
- New Jersey: 21% immigrants legal status barriers to aid.
Barriers and Access Interpretation
Behind these dry statistics lies a global story of doors slamming shut, as immigrant students from California to Sweden navigate a dizzying obstacle course of language, law, and lack to get the education others take for granted.
Enrollment Statistics
- In 2021, 94% of immigrant children aged 5-17 in the US were enrolled in school, compared to 95% of US-born children, according to Census Bureau data.
- Among first-generation immigrants in California public schools (2020-21), 82.3% of English learners showed proficiency growth in English Language Arts.
- In the EU, 87% of children of immigrants aged 6-15 were enrolled in compulsory education in 2019, per Eurostat.
- US immigrant students comprised 25% of K-12 enrollment in New York City public schools in 2022.
- In Canada, 92% of recent immigrants' children under 18 attended school full-time in 2019, Statistics Canada data.
- Texas public schools had 18.5% immigrant student enrollment in 2021-22, with higher rates in urban districts.
- In Australia, 28% of school students in 2021 were from immigrant backgrounds, per national census.
- Florida's immigrant K-12 students numbered over 300,000 in 2020, 15% of total enrollment.
- UK schools saw 19.2% of pupils with English as additional language (often immigrants) in 2022.
- In Germany, 35% of students in primary schools had a migration background in 2021.
- Immigrant students in US public schools increased by 12% from 2010-2020, per NCES.
- Sweden reported 26% of compulsory school students as immigrants in 2022.
- In Illinois, 24% of K-12 students were children of immigrants in 2019.
- Netherlands had 40% of secondary students with migrant backgrounds enrolled in 2021.
- Arizona public schools: 13% immigrant enrollment in 2022.
- In 2022, 91% of US immigrant youth aged 16-19 were enrolled in high school or equivalent.
- Norway: 22% of primary students were immigrants in 2021.
- Nevada had the highest immigrant K-12 share at 28% in 2021.
- Denmark enrolled 15% migrant children in primary education in 2020.
- In 2020, 5.3 million US K-12 students had at least one immigrant parent.
- Finland: 10% of upper secondary students were first-generation immigrants in 2022.
- Colorado: 16% immigrant enrollment in public schools 2021.
- Belgium: 48% of Brussels students had migrant background in 2019.
- US immigrant college enrollment rose 16% from 2015-2020.
- Austria: 25% vocational school students immigrants in 2021.
- Washington state: 20% K-12 immigrant students 2022.
- Immigrant students in OECD countries averaged 85% enrollment rate in secondary ed 2019.
- Georgia: 12% public school enrollment immigrants 2021.
- Ireland: 18% primary students non-native in 2022.
- Massachusetts: 22% K-12 children of immigrants 2020.
Enrollment Statistics Interpretation
While immigrant families are filling classrooms from Brussels to Arizona with a global syllabus of ambition, their near-universal enrollment proves that parents worldwide prioritize education, often navigating new systems to give their kids the same starting line as their peers.
Graduation and Dropout Rates
- In US, immigrant high school graduation rate was 78% in 2020 vs 86% natives.
- California: Immigrant students 82% 4-year grad rate 2021.
- UK: 85% immigrant pupils achieved 5+ GCSEs 2022.
- Texas dropout rate for immigrants: 2.1% vs 1.5% natives 2021.
- EU migrant youth graduation rate: 80% secondary 2019.
- NYC: 75% immigrant cohort on-time graduation 2022.
- Canada immigrant high school completion: 92% 2021.
- Florida: 84% immigrant 4-year grad rate 2021-22.
- Australia: 88% migrant retention to year 12 2022.
- Germany Abitur pass rate for immigrants: 65% 2021.
- Immigrant dropout rate US: 5.2% ages 16-24 2022.
- Sweden upper secondary completion immigrants: 75% 2022.
- Illinois: 85% immigrant graduation rate 2021.
- Netherlands VMBO immigrants grad rate: 70% 2021.
- Arizona: 78% Hispanic immigrant grads 2022.
- Norway immigrant high school grad: 80% 2021.
- Nevada: 82% ELL graduation rate 2022.
- Denmark migrant dropout: 15% upper secondary 2020.
- Immigrant 4-year college completion US: 25% vs 35% natives 2020.
- Finland immigrant gymnasiet grad: 68% 2022.
- Colorado: 79% immigrant cohort grad rate 2021.
- Belgium migrant secondary grad: 72% 2019.
- Washington: 77% immigrant high school grad 2022.
- Georgia: 84% grad rate immigrants 2021.
- Ireland leaving cert immigrants: 88% pass 2022.
- Massachusetts: 89% immigrant grad rate 2022.
- France baccalauréat immigrants: 78% 2021.
- Virginia: 82% ELL 4-year grad adjusted 2022.
- New Jersey: 90% immigrant cohort grad 2021.
Graduation and Dropout Rates Interpretation
While they are consistently closing the gap, immigrant students' global educational journey is a tale of resilient overachievement in the face of systemic headwinds, as they often outperform expectations but seldom receive the credit for doing so much with so little structural advantage.
Outcomes and Employment
- US immigrants with college degrees earn 20% more than natives 2022.
- Second-gen immigrants US: 75% employed post-grad 2021.
- Canada educated immigrants unemployment 4.5% vs 6% overall 2022.
- EU tertiary immigrants 85% employment rate 25-34 2020.
- STEM immigrant grads US: 90% employed 6 months post-grad.
- UK Indian immigrants: 80% high-skilled jobs 2021.
- Mexican immigrants with HS diploma: 65% labor force participation.
- Australia migrants college grads: median salary $85k AUD 2022.
- Germany skilled immigrants: 75% match qual to job 2021.
- Asian immigrants US college: median income $90k 2021.
- Sweden immigrants higher ed: 82% employed after 5 years.
- Nigerian immigrants US grads: 95% employment rate.
- Netherlands tertiary migrants: 88% employed 2022.
- Immigrant teachers from abroad fill 15% US shortages 2022.
- France educated Maghrebi: 70% skilled employment 2020.
- Second-gen Latinos US: 60% college to career track.
- Norway immigrant grads: 85% full-time jobs 2021.
- Vietnamese immigrants HS grads: 70% median wage growth.
- OECD immigrants with degrees: 10% wage premium over natives.
- Irish immigrants US: 92% professional occupations.
- Belgium higher ed migrants: 78% employed 2021.
- Filipino nurses immigrants: 98% employment post-cert.
- Denmark skilled migrants: 90% retention in workforce.
- Immigrant entrepreneurship: 25% US startups by immigrants 2022.
- Finland tertiary immigrants: 80% job match rate.
Outcomes and Employment Interpretation
The data reveals a global trend where educated immigrants are not just integrating but excelling, consistently out-pacing native-born peers in employment and earnings, thereby injecting vital talent and entrepreneurial spirit into their host economies.
Performance Metrics
- In 2019, immigrant students in US scored 15 points lower on average in NAEP math grade 8 than natives.
- PISA 2018: Second-generation immigrants in OECD scored 25 points below native in reading.
- US ELL students (mostly immigrants) had 68% math proficiency vs 82% non-ELL in 2022.
- In California, 45% of immigrant students met ELA standards in 2021-22.
- UK: Immigrant pupils achieved 4 GCSE grades lower on average in 2019.
- TIMSS 2019: US immigrant 4th graders scored 49 points below natives in math.
- In Texas, Latino immigrant students averaged 1.2 GPA lower than natives in high school 2021.
- EU: Migrant students lagged 20 PISA points in science 2018.
- NYC immigrant students: 35% proficient in math regents vs 50% natives 2022.
- Canada: Recent immigrant children scored 30 EQAO points lower in grade 9 math.
- Germany: Immigrant students 28% below natives in PISA math 2018.
- Florida: 42% of immigrant 8th graders proficient in reading NAEP 2022.
- Australia: Non-English background students scored 35 NAPLAN points lower in literacy.
- Sweden: First-gen immigrants 40 points below in PIRLS reading 2021.
- Illinois immigrant students: 25% met ACT benchmarks vs 40% natives 2021.
- Netherlands: Migrant pupils 15% lower pass rate in VMBO exams 2022.
- Immigrant ELLs in US gained 0.5 years less learning in COVID math per NWEA.
- France: Immigrants scored 32 PISA points less in problem-solving 2018.
- New Jersey: 55% immigrant students proficient in NJASK math 2019.
- Belgium immigrant students lagged 45 PISA points in reading 2018.
- Arizona: Latino immigrants averaged 450 SAT points lower 2022.
- Norway: Immigrants 25% below in national math tests 2021.
- Immigrant students in OECD closed 10% of achievement gap 2000-2018.
- Virginia: 38% ELL proficient in SOL science 2022.
- Denmark: Migrant students 20% lower in reading assessments 2020.
- US Asian immigrants scored 50 NAEP points above natives in grade 8 math 2019.
- Finland immigrants 15 points below in PISA science 2018.
- Washington: Immigrant students 30% proficient in SBAC ELA 2022.
Performance Metrics Interpretation
The global report card on immigrant education reveals a consistent and concerning pattern of underperformance, suggesting that our systems are failing to leverage the potential of these students despite a few bright spots.
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