Giving Compass' Take:

• According to Shawna De La Rosa at Education Dive, Hispanic students have interest in STEM but remain chronically underrepresented.

• How do stereotypes propagate unequal representation in STEM careers? What can we do to draw awareness to this issue and lobby for increased opportunities for other communities, like students of Hispanic descent?

• Learn about how education in the United States lacks Hispanic representation among teachers.

Hispanic students are just as interested in STEM careers as their white and Asian peers but remain underrepresented in STEM occupations, according to the Gen Z Hispanics and STEM report released Thursday by the Student Research Foundation.

Findings say only 20% of Hispanic high school seniors report taking seven or more STEM classes, compared to 31% of over-represented groups of white and Asian students. Hispanic students also have lower GPAs than their peers, and only 42% of Hispanic seniors taking seven or more STEM courses report confidence in the subjects, compared to 53% of the over-represented groups.

Also, 26% of Hispanic students plan to attend community college, compared to 14% of their white and Asian peers. And while female Hispanic students report higher grades than their male peers, only 28% aspire to enter a STEM field compared to 64% of their male counterparts.

The report — produced in partnership with Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), YWCA USA and Google.org — urges schools to continue supporting Hispanic students as they pursue STEM courses and careers, and to provide equitable access to high-quality STEM curriculum. It also suggests educators and other supportive adults should continue to encourage and mentor Hispanic students in the STEM fields, especially female ones.

Read the full article about the representation of Hispanic STEM students by Shawna De La Rosa Education Dive.