1. “Latinos are not intelligent”  In a study of almost 100 elementary school children in Lexington, we asked about stereotypes toward different Americans and immigrant groups.  Children said:  Mexican immigrant children are not as smart as White or Black Americans.  They did not want to go to school with a Mexican immigrant child as much as with a White or Black American child.  Attitudes toward Mexican immigrants worse than Chinese or British immigrants.

2. “Latinos are not intelligent”  Teachers rate Latino children in bilingual or ESL classes as less academically competent than White/European American peers.  Children are aware of these stereotypes.  Latino students report that teachers often have low expectations for them, often assume their English is poor, and treat them as invisible.

3. “Latinos are not intelligent”  There are important consequences of these stereotypes.  When perceive teacher stereotypes, adolescents are more likely to drop out of high school, more likely to feel academically disengaged.  Among 3 rd and 4 th grade Latino children in Lexington, perceiving teacher and peer stereotypes was associated with more negative academic attitudes and less school belonging (unless at a predominately Latino school).