Youth in the USA
2020. This total has increased by more than one milli - on children since 2019 and is likely even higher due to the last effects of the COVID pandemic. Poverty levels vary across the United States, with Mississippi having the highest percentage at nearly 30 % of its children in poverty. These poverty rates are disproportionately high for children of color. Nationwide, Black (28 %), Indige - nous peoples of America (25 %) and Latino (23 %) youth are more likely to grow up poor when compared to their non-Hispanic white (10 %) and Asian American and Paci - fic Islanders (9 %) peers. As a result, many youth in the United States, especially those who grow up in lower-income urban or rural com - munities will often be focused on trying to break familial cycles of poverty and avoiding a criminal justice system that disproportionately affects poor young people, Black young people, and young people of color. Education can often be seen as a way to break these cycles and to have
a decent career. Alternatively, some youth in these de - mographics may not be so concerned with school and may be more focused on jobs that they have outside of school so that they can make money for themselves and their families. For those youth who grow up in higher- income communities, being college-bound and trying to get into the best university possible is instilled from late middle school to early high school and onward. Youth in higher-income schools and communities will often try to get good grades, be very involved in extracurricular acti - vities, volunteering, and leadership positions in order to be competitive for their college applications. Youth Situated Within Their Communities Young people in the United States are very connected to their social peer groups while attending school. The friend groups that they develop in school and in extra -
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