[quote=esmith]For a Mandarin-speaking student: 85% (in fact, two thirds of those pass the test by grade 3)
For a Vietnamese or Filipino student: 70%
For a Spanish-speaking student: 38%
[/quote]

Where do you get your statistics? I know that this is only anecdotal, but every Mexican-American I know speaks English. Even amongst their Mexican-American friends and families. And I know a lot of Mexican-Americans.

It usually takes a generation to become fully assimilated. Immigrants might not speak English, but their kids definitely will. And those kids’ kids will probably not know much Spanish. I see this first hand amongst numerous Mexican-American families, where grandchildren are unable to converse with their grandparents. It’s not just language either — other cultural beliefs are usually completely removed/replaced after the 2nd or 3rd generation.

Culture and language are complex beasts. They are not something that can be dismantled and re-configured with ease.