State and District-Level Support for Successful Transitions into High School

Author: Herlighy, C.
Publisher: National High School Center
Publication Date: 2007, May
Full text available online at: http://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NHSC_PolicyBrief_TransitionsIntoHighSchool.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

While a variety of programs exist to smooth students' transition from middle to high school, these programs do not consider all the issues. Comprehensive, integrated programs to support ninth-grade transitions need to address the following challenges:

• Establish a data and monitoring system that will both diagnose why students are struggling and be used to hold schools and districts accountable.


• Address the instructional needs of students who enter high school unprepared for rigorous, college preparatory work.


• Personalize the learning environment to lower the sense of anonymity and address individual needs.


• Build capacity within the faculty and school leadership in low-performing schools to address diverse student needs.


• Create connections to the community, employers, and institutions of higher education to better engage students and help them see the relevance of their coursework.

This policy brief provides examples of successful responses to these challenges and identifies related resources. Also, a sidebar briefly outlines some key indicators schools can use to predict which students are likely to drop out.