This study examines the relationship between parental educational expectations and academic self-efficacy among Latino adolescents, with a focus on the moderating role of parental academic socialization messages. The study involved 148 Latino parent-adolescent dyads, with most participants being Mexican origin and mothers. Adolescents reported their academic self-efficacy and perceptions of parental educational expectations, while parents reported on their academic socialization messages, including shame/pressure and effort. The results indicate that parental educational expectations were positively associated with adolescent academic self-efficacy, but this association was stronger when parents transmitted fewer messages of shame/pressure and more messages of effort. The study highlights the importance of nuanced academic socialization messages within Latino families and suggests that schools and educators should recognize and appreciate the cultural variations in parental involvement to better support Latino youth's academic success.This study examines the relationship between parental educational expectations and academic self-efficacy among Latino adolescents, with a focus on the moderating role of parental academic socialization messages. The study involved 148 Latino parent-adolescent dyads, with most participants being Mexican origin and mothers. Adolescents reported their academic self-efficacy and perceptions of parental educational expectations, while parents reported on their academic socialization messages, including shame/pressure and effort. The results indicate that parental educational expectations were positively associated with adolescent academic self-efficacy, but this association was stronger when parents transmitted fewer messages of shame/pressure and more messages of effort. The study highlights the importance of nuanced academic socialization messages within Latino families and suggests that schools and educators should recognize and appreciate the cultural variations in parental involvement to better support Latino youth's academic success.