The Impact of Transitions to Middle and High School

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The authors of this study used statewide administrative data from Florida to estimate the impact of attending public schools with different grade configurations on student achievement through grade 10. Students moving from elementary to middle school suffer a sharp drop in student achievement in the transition year. These achievement drops persist through grade 10.

The authors of this study also find that middle school entry increases student absences and is associated with higher grade 10 dropout rates.

Transitions to high school in grade nine cause a smaller one-time drop in achievement but do not alter students’ performance trajectories.