Indy cohort Data breakdown: Student Preparedness
By Stephen Dunn
We asked 315 high school students did they feel prepared for middle school coming from elementary school. 51.1% of students said yes, 28.6% said no, and 20.3% said somewhat. We also asked the same question to the same group of students applying to middle school and high school. The results were somewhat different from elementary to middle school. 38.4% said they did feel prepared for high school. 27.6% said no they did not feel prepared and 34% said they feel somewhat prepared. Overall, more students feel prepared for middle school than high school.
The results from the survey show that students don’t feel comfortable handling information in the higher grade levels. This is reflected in test scores, reading levels, and students’ ability to do general course work. Teachers may not realize how students feel and treat the student as if they aren’t trying. I personally have felt this way and I’ve seen my peers struggle through school, too. It’s also disheartening when teachers pass students knowing that the student does not have the skills to proceed in learning. Students not having access to help systems, tutoring, and support at home also contributes to this.
If your child is heading into middle school, you should try to practice skills outside of the classroom. One of the most crucial times to do this is during long breaks, like the summer. The Brookings Institution, a nonprofit organization that researches social issues, says this occurrence has many names, like summer learning loss, summer setback, or summer slide. Researchers David M.Quinn and Morgan Polikoff show trends, like declines in math were higher than for reading, and that students lose about a month of learning over the summer. One thing families can do to encourage their child to read is to have them get involved with their local IMCPL (Indianapolis Marion County Public Library). Every summer IMCPL has a summer reading program where young readers can read for points and gain prizes. Usually, they hold other educational events for the summer as well. Due to COVID-19, they’re holding online events and doing curbside pick-up.
If your child is coming from middle school to high school, you should involve yourself with their teachers. Involving yourself with your child’s teachers will help the transition process go smoother. You can do daily check-ins with the teacher to make sure your student is doing fine, and if you have a problem with something, make sure you question it from your student and from the student’s teacher. For example, if a student got an F on a test, you should ask about the test and communicate with the teacher. Another thing schools should work on is having more one-on-one time. I believe that academic probation should be an option for students who are under a certain GPA, and they can attend tutoring for a certain amount of times a week. Students should have to fill out a bi-weekly grade sheet with a signature spot that both the teacher and the student have to sign.
