A Closer Look: English Language Learners (ELL)

  In 2009, fifty-three percent of English language learner graduates lacked only science to complete a midlevel curriculum compared to 35 percent of non-English language learner graduates.

 Twenty-four percent of English language learner graduates lacked more than one requirement to complete a midlevel curriculum which was not significantly different from the percent of non-English language learner graduates.

• Figure
• Table

Percentage distribution of graduates who attained a standard curriculum but not a midlevel curriculum, by missing requirement and English language learner status: 2009

English language learner status	Why the graduate did not attain a midlevel curriculum
	Science only			Mathematics only			Foreign languages only			More than one requirement
	Percentage of graduates		Standard error	Percentage of graduates		Standard error	Percentage of graduates		Standard error	Percentage of graduates		Standard error
English language learner	53.4	*	(5.19)	16.2		(4.27)	6.4	*	(3.04)	24.1		(4.18)
Non-English language learner	35.1		(1.63)	18.9		(1.65)	17.3		(1.02)	28.6		(1.30)

 

* Significantly different (p<.05) from non-English language learners.

NOTE: As defined in the HSTS, ESL courses are counted as foreign language courses and not English. Details may not sum to total because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, High School Transcript Study (HSTS), 2009.