<p>It goes way beyond "being able to apply adequately for college". </p>
<p>The disadvantage begins in elementary school, when unsophistocated parents lack the knowledge or ability to fight for their kid's right to a decent education. What happens? A bright student is tagged as "average" and shuffled through the system without the better opportunities that are offered to bright kids with pushy parents. I saw this first hand at a chamber of commerce education committee meeting where the "solution" to the "increasing Hispanic 'problem' " was touted as "vocational education". </p>
<p>So are these kids at a disadvantage? Absolutely.</p>