Motivating Success: The Roles of Mothers and Fathers in Latinx Students’ Educational Outcomes

Latinx students represent a growing population in U.S. schools, yet limited research has examined how maternal and paternal involvement differently shapes educational outcomes by student gender. Using nationally representative data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (Latinx subsample n = 2,217), this study demonstrates how mothers’ and fathers’ involvement predicts educational and academic outcomes. Results indicate small positive associations between parental involvement and academic outcomes, while parental educational aspirations, particularly mothers,’ are more consistently associated with postsecondary enrollment and college degree attainment. These associations are stronger for girls, highlighting the distinct role of maternal aspirations in shaping girls’ educational attainment within Latinx families.