Successful transitions back to school and into high school must start this summer
Grade 9 may be the most important year in a student’s high school experience.
Research shows Grade 9 on-track status is the best predictor of whether a student will graduate from high school within four years. Despite its importance, far too many students struggle with the middle-to-high school transition and experience increased anxiety and disengagement. These feelings may be exacerbated by challenging school experiences over the 14 months during the pandemic, particularly for historically marginalized populations.
Nichelle Woodson
Earlier this year, the Connecticut RISE Network released a research report showing Grade 9 students who enrolled in remote learning had 67 percent lower odds of being on track compared to those who chose hybrid learning. While educators have worked heroically to support students throughout remote and hybrid learning, we know we still have a lot of work ahead to get kids back on track and re-engaged in their school communities.