Reforming K-12 Education

Policy Stories

Contributing Scholar: Paola Sapienza

Enhancing Education: The Immigrant Effect in U.S. Schools

American classrooms with higher concentrations of foreign-born students see improved test scores among U.S.-born students, suggesting that immigration may strengthen the quality of public education.

Enhancing Education: The Immigrant Effect in U.S. Schools

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Enhancing Education: The Immigrant Effect in U.S. Schools

Comment

Published June 27, 2025

Contrary to common assumptions that immigrant students may strain classroom resources or hinder learning, data shows that classrooms with more immigrant students tend to see improved academic performance among native-born peers. The presence of immigrant students contributes to stronger educational outcomes by fostering a culture of academic engagement. The findings challenge prevailing narratives around immigration and education policy, and highlight how peer dynamics can shape long-term opportunity for every student.

Check out more from Paola Sapienza:

Read "Immigration Meets Prosperity" interview with Paola Sapienza here.
Listen to the Economics, Applied podcast with Paola Sapienza here.
Read "Measuring Environmental Externalities" by Paola Sapienza here.

Learn more about Hoover Senior Fellow Paola Sapienza here.

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The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.