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In 1994, there were 26.4 million Hispanic Americans living in the Continental United States: 64 percent Mexican Americans, almost 11 percent Puerto Ricans, over 13 percent were from Central and South America and the Caribbean, almost 5 percent were Cuban Americans, 7 percent classified as "other." An additional 3.7 million were Puerto Ricans living on the island of Puerto Rico, bringing the nation's total Hispanic American population to over 30 million. Although Hispanic Americans live in every part of the United States, they are more heavily concentrated in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Puerto Rico, and Texas. Mexican Americans. Today, while the majority of Mexican Americans live in urban areas, significant numbers comprise the three agricultural migrant streams that flow from the south to the north across the country, often twice annually.

Historically, Mexican Americans have been both an urban and rural population. Since the 1600s, Mexicans were the first Americans to establish homesteads in the territories that became Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Since before the turn of the century, Mexican Americans literally built the great southwestern cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, Tucson, Albuquerque, Dallas, and San Antonio. Also, in the 1800's, Mexican American workers participated significantly in the massive industrial expansion in the midwest, from Kansas to Michigan, by building the railroad systems and steel mills. Few Mexican American families, however, received formal education. As Mexican Americans began to attend public schools in significant numbers, starting early in the 20th Century, students faced discrimination due to language, socio-economic, and cultural barriers.

Poor Mexican Americans have always faced de facto segregation through attending schools outside of the white system. Even today, Mexican Americans are likely to attend segregated schools. Untold numbers of U.S.-born Mexican American citizens have suffered civil persecution since the 1800s, which continues to this day. The treatment of many Mexican American children in the public education system perpetuates unequal treatment. No system (not even in the Southwest) comparable to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) was established for Mexican Americans. Hispanic Serving Institutions or "HSIs" have only recently emerged as a distinct category of postsecondary institutions. In spite of very limited educational opportunity throughout the 20th century, Mexican American individuals have distinguished themselves as statesmen, writers, artists, and professionals. However, there has been minimal educational progress for the majority of Mexican American citizens. Even today, most educational services in urban and rural areas where Mexican Americans go to school lack sufficient resources to provide excellence in education.