While the United States is often viewed as a land of freedom and opportunity by immigrants looking to come here, there are many issues they face after arriving. One of the main issues is how well immigrant students integrate into the education system and perform in school. Here are the potential struggles for immigrant students in the United States:
- The Language Barrier – Many immigrant students are not fluent in English and therefore struggle when they begin receiving an education in the United States. It’s difficult to learn new information when you don’t fully understand the language your teacher is speaking. This can lead to immigrant students performing poorly in school, having trouble making friends, and falling behind other students in their grade.
- Discrimination and Racism – Immigrant students also have to deal with discrimination and racism from both teachers and other students. “Context of reception,” is a phrase used to help explain how immigrant students perform in U.S. schools based on how they were received by teachers and their fellow classmates. If they are discriminated against, immigrant students tend to perform more poorly in school. On the contrary, if an immigrant student is welcomed and embraced, they feel more comfortable in their learning environment and perform better.
- Poverty – Many immigrant students come from low-income families and therefore do not have the same resources available to them as U.S.-born students. Nearly 45% of immigrant families are considered low-income and the schools that serve poor families tend to underperform compared to schools in wealthier areas.
- Beginning of Schooling – Immigrant families are less likely to put their children in preliminary school programs like preschool and pre-K. This is normally because of issues like poverty, language barriers, and potential discrimination. However, not enrolling immigrant students in early education programs may impact their success in later grades and contribute to them falling behind other students.
International Student Services Association (ISSA) is dedicated to creating a better future for students who are immigrants to the United States by providing information, inspiration, and motivation for students to navigate their education and develop their future careers beyond high school. We want to see immigrant students perform their very best in U.S. schools and avoid any potential struggles by giving them the resources they need to thrive. Find out more about how we help immigrant students and how we can help you get started today!
Written by: Dom Lincoln
